Arab Al Animals, a local Facebook group to help stray animals in the community find responsible homes, to help reunite owners with their lost pets, to help local owners rehome animals they can no longer care for and to help our local animal shelter residents find loving responsible homes was permanently deleted by Facebook on October 15, 2019.  Facebook stated it violates their community standards.  However, the alleged violations were not outlined.

Local animal advocate Karen McIntyre has worked tirelessly for years to help the animals in Arab, AL and the surrounding communities.  Karen, along with a few dedicated administrators have championed the page to ensure that animals were not sold or flipped and that requested donations were legitimate.  Members were allowed to ask for a small rehoming fee of no more than $30 unless they were a certified 501c3 rescue.  However, most people did not request money, only responsible loving homes for the animals.  The admins strongly suggested members ask for vet references to ensure responsible pet ownership.

Any posts that did not follow the posted guidelines regarding NOT selling animals were removed as soon as an admin saw it.  Any posts that were reported were removed if they did not adhere to the purpose of the group.  It was clearly stated in the pinned post that this was NOT a group to sell animals and in the recent past, member requests required an affirmative answer to not sell animals or ask for a rehoming fee over $30 and their intent of free or a fee must be clearly stated in their post.  If a member request did not answer this question in agreement with this mission or chose to not answer the question, their request to join was declined. Additionally, if the required information was not included with a post, the post was removed, as the admins and majority of the members are adamant about championing for the welfare of the animals of our community.

Over the years, this page has become a critical tool for finding lost animals and placing stray and sick or injured animals in responsible homes in the community or with legitimate rescues. We have a community of people who have transported, fostered or adopted animals for/from rescues and/or donated money to injured or sick animals in the community, be they strays or owners who could not afford veterinarian care.  Karen McIntyre has garnered the support of local veterinarians and city officials through the legitimacy of this group.

Deletion of this group has greatly crippled our community’s ability to help our animals.  The lost animal posts and animals needing homes posts are shared throughout the communities in North Alabama.  This has resulted in many animals being reunited with their owners and stray, sick or injured animals receiving the care and/or homes they so desperately need.  Local 501c3 rescues notify our members of low cost spay and neuter opportunities. This is a much needed resource to help with the decline of so many homeless animals. Our members have been able to get advice and resources on training and vetting their animals from the many knowledgeable members within the group.  This advice has helped animals that may have been abandoned or turned into shelters remain in their homes. This is a win for all involved.

As stated in the appeals to Facebook, if the fee is the problem, the admins will gladly remove it as the purpose of the group is to reunite families with their lost animals or bring needy animals to loving families and provide resources for animals. Admins cannot correct issues that are not known.

There has been no response to the appeals. 

This petition is an attempt to get the Arab Al Animals group restored. The memberships and posts are vital to our citizens and animals and this will not be quickly reincarnated with a new group.  We believe the deletion was unjust and negatively impacts the people and animals in our community.

We believe Facebook’s algorithm is faulty at best and detrimental to the welfare of our citizens and animals. Our community relies on this group to help locate their lost family members, find homes and/or vetting for strays and personal pets, be notified of low cost spay and neuter programs and discuss solutions for the betterment of our local animals. 

Please sign and share this petition if you agree. If you have been helped by the Arab Al Animals Group, please share that information.