How to Get a Free Rhodesian Ridgeback Safely in the United States

Why are Rhodesian Ridgebacks given away for free?

Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue, Inc. says some dogs come from loving homes after an owner dies or moves into care, moves where pets are not allowed, or divorces. Others are given up because the owners were unprepared for the breed's needs or did not train their dogs. The Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States (RRCUS) adds that impulse buyers who cannot live with a Ridgeback often decide the dog has to go.

Rescued Ridgebacks are rarely less than a year or two old, the club says, and some were given up for destructive behavior or lack of training. Ask the owner directly, and listen for a clear, consistent answer.

What does a free Rhodesian Ridgeback really cost?

What red flags should you watch for with a free Ridgeback?

• Fees first. The FTC warns about free pets that come with charges for shipping, crates or insurance before you see them.
• A very young puppy. Pennsylvania, for example, bans transferring any dog under eight weeks, even for free.
• Breeding talk. An intact dog offered with breeding rights may be a resale or breeding setup rather than a pet placement.
• Vague behavior answers. Ask about bites, guarding, cats and strangers; the breed standard calls Ridgebacks reserved with strangers.
• No records. A Ridgeback with no vet history needs a full workup before you rely on it as healthy.

What questions should you ask before taking a free Ridgeback?

1. How old is the dog, and how long have you had it?
2. Why are you rehoming it, and has it lived with children, dogs or cats?
3. Has it ever bitten, chased livestock or escaped a fence?
4. Did it have dermoid sinus surgery as a puppy, or any lumps or draining spots on its back?
5. Has it had thyroid testing, hip or elbow X-rays, or a hearing problem?
6. Is it spayed or neutered and microchipped, and which vet has its records?
7. Can I contact the breeder? The breed club's code makes breeders responsible for dogs they bred.

Ask through the listing's messages so you have the answers in writing.

Which health checks matter for a free Rhodesian Ridgeback?

• Dermoid sinus. The AKC calls it a tube-like opening in the skin, present at birth; ask your vet to feel along the neck and back, where it can become infected.
• Thyroid. The club calls autoimmune thyroid disease the most common disease in the breed; weight gain, lethargy and skin problems are reasons to test.
• Hearing. The club says Ridgebacks can inherit a deafness that appears by about nine months; a BAER test confirms it.
• Joints and eyes. Hip and elbow dysplasia and small cataracts occur in the breed.

Book a full vet exam within a few days, and do not let a free dog meet your other pets until it has been checked.

How do you meet the owner and the dog safely?

• Meet in daylight at the owner's home, so you see where the dog lives, and bring another adult.
• Walk the dog on a leash and watch it with traffic, people and other dogs.
• Do not test it off leash in an open area; the AKC says Ridgebacks should be off leash only when safely enclosed.
• Have a vet or shelter scan the microchip; the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup shows which registry holds it.
• Get a short signed note transferring ownership, with both names and the date.

Are there better options than a free Ridgeback?

Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue, Inc. evaluates dogs in foster homes and spays or neuters every dog before placement, which a free listing rarely does. You can also search free Rhodesian Ridgebacks and save the search on PetzLover to hear about new listings near you. If you want a puppy with known parents, read how to buy a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy; owners placing a dog can read how to give away a Rhodesian Ridgeback without risk, and breeders can read how to sell Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies.