Gumtree bans the sale of donkeys
The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) says online classifieds site Gumtree will no longer permit advertisement for the sale of donkeys, mules and their by-products.
NSPCA spokesperson Christine Kuch says the organisation has been lobbying website to stop the trade of animals, and they are delighted at Gumtree’s response.
“Currently donkeys are being brutally slaughtered for their skin. This is a significant step towards our ultimate aim of having no live animals traded online,” says Kuch.
Kutch says advertising the sale of animals is unethical, as it could lead to dubious practices such as backyard breeding, trade in wildlife and exotic animals.
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“Online advertising effectively treats animals as commodities, which they are not. The donkey skin issue has brought the matter to the fore,” says Kuch.
Kuch says the NSCPA hopes other online advertising websites will follow Gumtree’s example.