Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

[four paws Hatchling Find all posts View Profile Close four paws]

Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

FOUR PAWS is interested in your experience!!

There are many people who sell animals using classified ad sites, such as Gumtree, FreeAds, Dogs&puppies, Loot, Friday-Ad, Preloved, etc . Have you or your friends bought an animal online and had a bad experience? For example, the animal was ill, illegal, had fake paperwork, kept in poor conditions, or not as described in the advert? Then, please write to us!! We are looking for stories which we can use for our campaign work. Whether you bought a dog, cat, exotic pet, fish, bird or small mammal (i.e. rabbit), we are interested in hearing about your experience. Of course we treat your information confidentially and we’ll contact you before using or publishing your story.

Please share your story with us by sending an email to online-pets(at)vier-pfoten.org .Your support will help us make these sites more secure and protect animal welfare. To find out more about our work visit four-paws.org.uk

Please include in the email: the classified site you’ve used, the animal’s species/breed, a photo of your pet (if possible), date of purchase, your story, and if possible a copy/receipt of the online advert.

[LPC Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close LPC]

Re: Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

Warmest greetings! Please note that you created two identical threads, which is contrary to forum rules. Probably you did not realise that any thread by a new member which contains links is automatically sent for moderation by the system. I have now approved this thread, so it is viewable publicly.

I have deleted your duplicate thread and this one remains. I have looked at your website and was impressed.

I have no experience of buying an animal using a classified ad site. I have always got a pet from a shelter, or on occasions we were given an animal by a neighbour.

Getting a pet via a classified site is a bad idea: not only for the prospective genuine purchaser, but also for the seller. There have been quite a few cases in the press where pets have been bought for small sums by people who subsequently tortured and killed them. See, for example, the case of Nicolino Camardi: http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...month-sentence There are lots of others like that.

So I'm glad that you are publicising this issue. I really like your site, especially this page: http://www.four-paws.org.uk/sponsor-an-animal/

Many blessings to you for the work you are doing to help pets without homes!

[four paws Hatchling Find all posts View Profile Close four paws]

Re: Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

Hello LPC,

Thank you for your support!!

Nowdays,more and more people buy pets online and some classified ad sites have none or vey little control on messages. These can seriously put a risk the welfare of the animal and buyers can end up with an illigal, ill, or harmed animal.

We agree with you, buying a pet online is not ideal. But if people want to get their animal through a claasified ad site then we want to make sure that both the buyer and the animal are safe. This is why this research is so important!!!

Apologies for posting the thread twice, I thought it didn't go through.

[Tobi Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tobi]

Re: Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

Yes, thank you for all you do, Four Paws. I sincerely wish it was illegal to trade animals on classified ad sites! It would be impossible to trade hard drugs! And these are living creatures....and yes, unspeakable harm can happen to them. Also puppy mill breeders sell on these sites.

[Lurcher Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lurcher]

Re: Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

Thanks for highlighting this Four Paws, I am now following you on your social media sites.

[Mylo Hatchling Find all posts View Profile Close Mylo]

Re: Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

I haven't done this myself, but would be interested to read the article once it has been written. Please keep us updated!

[Bellaswan0010 Hatchling Find all posts View Profile Close Bellaswan0010]

Re: Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

Yes, My friend buy a dog online. there are some issues with that dog which will be resolved later.So Here is some suggestion which you can follow when you buy a dog online.

• First get some information about the dog. This will help you to understand about his background and behavior.
• The age of dog should be between 8 weeks -15 years.
• Check the medical and behavioral problems of a dog .
• You also have to be thoughtful about the dog problems like aggression and medical issues.
• Study behavior of dog. He should not be extra aggressive in nature.

[andrea01 Cub Find all posts View Profile Close andrea01]

Re: Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

Selling pets on classified ad sites is really trendy nowadays but I haven't buy any and I don't want to purchase one. I guess its better if you'll buy it on a pet shop instead, I am not saying that the websites that you have mention above is not credible enough, is just that I wanna see it on hand. Maybe it will always be best to conduct a research first before finalizing your decision.

[PreserveTheTiger Hatchling Find all posts View Profile Close PreserveTheTiger]

Re: Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

I haven't personally but a few of my friends have and they've had no problems. As long as you go see the animal in person yourself, and ensure they have all their shots done and so on you should be fine. Plus you can save a lot of money buying off a classified site.

[Tampa Pest Control Hatchling Find all posts View Profile Close Tampa Pest Control]

Re: Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

I don't get my pets through classifieds, but I don't think it's wrong to do so. As noted by PreserveTheTiger, as long as you can see proof of vaccinations, that's a good start. Many breeders sell their puppies through classifieds and most of them are legitimate and good to their animals. It's really up to the buyer to do their due diligence.

[mattfrain Hatchling Find all posts View Profile Close mattfrain]

Re: Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

Well, buying pets online is not bad but it can be risky because all the breeders are not honest and good to the animals. I personally think online buying is okay for buying clothes and accessories. I will prefer buying pets offline.It is my personal thought though. I think you can be on the safer side if you follow these guidelines
1. meet the breeder and puppy physically.
2. meet the puppy parents and check their health
3. Do Not make the payment in cash
4. check if the site has any authentication measures for the breeders.
5.chose the classified sites which has some measures to help the buyers to have a good buying experience. Those sites have most of the genuine breeders registered there.
6. A good breeder will ask a lot of questions about your home environment.

[marnia28 Cub Find all posts View Profile Close marnia28]

Re: Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

I only prefer to don't buy pets. please adopt pets. Yes, various classified sites are selling own pets. But I have shelter and put those pets who lives on roads or they don't have a home.

[marnia28 Cub Find all posts View Profile Close marnia28]

Re: Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

No, I don't prefer to buy on classified ads. I just prefer to adopt animals. I am following the slogan "Adopt Don't Shop"

[LPC Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close LPC]

Re: Have you bought a pet from a classified ad site?

Good for you, marnia28!