Desmond Bellamy, PETA Australia
The sad story of a dog named Trixie should remind us that not everyone on the internet can be trusted.
Trixie lived in Bundaberg with some people who could not look after her, and so they advertised her on Facebook last month as ‘Free to a good home’. She was picked up by someone who immediately blocked Trixie’s previous family online.
A couple of weeks later, Trixie was found by a council animal control team with multiple severe lacerations to her face. It is likely that she was used as a bait dog to train fighting dogs.
Trixie has since received veterinary care and is in a foster home.
If you are thinking of giving away animals online free, please think again. Unscrupulous, greedy people watch for opportunities to find new victims.
Having a companion animal in your home is a long-term, significant commitment. But if you need to rehome them use a shelter, because potential adopters will be screened, home checked and followed up.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
