Advice

Like any classified ads website, it is always best to see the item you’re interested in buying BEFORE parting with ANY money.  If you’re looking to buy an inanimate object such as a new dog collar and lead or rabbit hutch and the item is going to be shipped to you then fair enough, take the risk (although Pets-4-U strongly recommend only dealing with PayPal as at least you’ll have some buyer protection if you use them).

If you’re wanting to buy an animal on here, please don’t fall for the age-old scam of “send us a deposit and we’ll hold it til you get here to see it”.  This is nearly always the last time you’ll see that money and you’ll probably never get to see what the deposit was meant for.  Any reputable seller on here won’t expect any payment before you’ve seen the animal.  Even if ultimately you’re going to be having the animal shipped to you (say a puppy or kitten that isn’t old enough to part from its mother at the time you see them), you should still make sure you have seen the animal.  Breeders that ask for a deposit once you have been to see your future pet and chosen one from the litter are well within their rights to ask for a non-refundable deposit if the animal is too young to be parted from its mother, so this is perfectly normal – but don’t part with any money before first choosing and seeing the animals.

Here are some other tips to help keep you safe and savvy when buying from online classified ads websites, especially when dealing with animals:

1. Keep a regular string of conversation (via telephone or email) going throughout the purchasing process – it is always polite to let a person know when you want to visit to see the prospective new pet, or, when waiting for something to arrive in the post, its always best to let people know its arrived safe and sound.

2. Make sure you keep a record of your payment to the person if paying them remotely (i.e. not on a “cash in hand” basis). Pets-4-U highly recommends using PayPal when making online payments of any kind as they offer some protection towards buyers.

3. Ensure that you are buying what you want and not what you have just fallen for after looking at an adorable photograph! Be aware that pets of all kinds take up time, energy and of course money!

4. If something appears to be too good to be true, it probably is – be extra cautious! A pedigree dog that normally sells for £800 a pup being advertised “free to good home with papers, fully up to date with vaccinations” is unlikely ever to be genuine.  Ask yourself why they aren’t selling the animal instead of giving him/her away free.

5. If buying a puppy, kitten or any other young animal, ensure it is old enough to be parted from its mother.  Do you research before deciding to buy an animal.

6. Keep an eye on all animals you go to see and only buy one after you’re certain it is healthy.  Look for signs of dehydration, fleas, worms, lacklustre coat, dull eyes, etc.  Any young animal especially should be lively and happy to see you.  Don’t be tempted to go for the runt of any litter and also don’t readily take on an animal that runs and hides or lunges at you with its teeth showing – use common sense – if it doesn’t feel or look right, avoid it.

7. In the case of horses and ponies, if you are looking to purchase one to be ridden, ensure you are allowed to ride it on inspection – no reputable horse seller would say this was an unreasonable request.  Pets-4-U strongly recommend getting all equines vetted before purchase at your own cost.

8. NEVER go to meet anyone wanting to sell something to you outside of their own homes – there is no reasonable reason why you shouldn’t see the animal in its home environment – if they insist on meeting you elsewhere, politely tell them you’ll go elsewhere (and let us know which user it was too please!)  There is a good chance that seller is trying to pass animals off that might be from terrible homes.  This is how puppy farming works….

9. Reputable breeders of any animal will be more than happy to offer advice so don’t be afraid to ask.

10. If you see or hear something suspicious, please let us know as it is YOU that help US combat puppy farming and such-likes.  Without you telling us these things, we’d never necessarily know that a certain seller wasn’t reputable.

11. On buying an animal, you should aim to get it checked out by a vet within a few days of purchase.  Always consider insurance too for the animal. In the case of dogs and horses, third party insurance is critical.

12. If a breeder asks for a deposit to hold an animal until it is old enough to go to its new home, this is fine, but ensure you see the animal first and make sure the breeder is aware of which animal the deposit is for.  Again, keep in touch with the breeder until the animal is ready to come and live with you.

Its all common sense stuff but stuff that often gets forgotten about when dealing with a much-wanted new pet. Sometimes people fall for animals for the wrong reason (especially children!)

Never purchase an animal you’re not 100% confident you can care for, have the time for and have the money in place to look after. If getting a new pet, always ensure you have read up about its care BEFORE acquiring it (again, sellers should be happy to offer advice too).

If you purchase something that you later realise isn’t suitable, it is YOUR responsibility to find a suitable new home for the animal.  There are numerous animal rescue centres (including ones specialising in exotics, birds, rodents, etc) dotted around the country but please don’t take the decision to rehome lightly – there are already a lot of animals in rescue centres looking for homes.  The seller of the animal has no legal obligation to have the animal back unless the animal is not as described.  Obviously complaints regarding an animals health should be taken up with the person you bought the animal from but, again, there is no legal obligation for the seller to pay for veterinary treatment or indeed accept the return of the animal.  If you suspect the seller was aware of a previous medical problem but did not divulge this information, please let us know, but again, there is no legal reason why you won’t just have to keep the animal and treat its ailments yourself.  The animal is YOUR responsibility as soon as money has been exchanged.

Don’t purchase or agree to purchase rare breeds or live-caught animals (you should always insist on seeing documentation to prove an animal has been captive bred).  If you see any advertised on here that don’t seem right, please do let us know as we screen adverts but sometimes things do get past us.  Don’t feed the illegal trade of importing species from the wild.  Pets-4-U appreciates it when its users to inform us of adverts that don’t seem quite right so please don’t hesitate to email us if you spot something that seems strange.

Remember that is a grey area of the law to willingly feel live prey (such as mice or rats) to reptiles unless it is a last resort to keep the reptile alive.  The “Rodents –> For Food” category is designed for those selling pre-frozen rodents for the use as food.

Adverts for illegal or banned animals or banned breeds will be deleted as soon as they are spotted.

Dangerous Dogs and Banned Breeds

It is illegal to own a dog prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.  If you are found to be in possession of one of these dogs you could face a fine or even a prison sentence.  The police may also seize your dog if they think it is a banned type.  Similarly some animals such as wolf hybrids and venomous snakes will require a licence under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.

If you have any concerns that an animal you are thinking of buying could be a banned type, Pets-4-U strongly advise you not to buy it and to report it to the relevant authorities (and also email us to let us know so that we can swiftly remove and ban the user who posted the advert).

The Dangerous Dogs Act bans ownership, breeding, sale and exchange and advertising for sale of four specified types of dogs.  The dogs covered by the ban (under section 1 of the DDA) are:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Braziliero

The ban also extends to any crosses of the above dogs.  Some advertisers may attempt to advertise the following descriptions of dogs within advertisements.  The following descriptions may apply to prohibited breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 or animals requiring a licence under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and it is an offence to advertise prohibited breeds.  Banned types of dogs are sometimes advertised with the following names:

• American Staffordshire Bull Terriers (Am Staffs)
• Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier (ISBT)
• Irish Blue or Red Nose Staffordshire
• Red Nose Terrier
• American Bulldogs
• PBT
• Bandog
• Bandogge
• Tosa
• Wolf Hybrid

Or any crosses of the above.

The following terms should arouse suspicion, or suggest a dog fighting and/or illegal possession:

• Blocky
• Leggy
• Long legged
• Game
• Gameness
• Game Bred
• Pit Proven
• Proven
• Red Nose

Whether a dog is a banned type depends on what the dog actually looks like, rather than the breed or name by which it is called.  It is the characteristics of a dog which are most important in judging whether it is banned.

If a dog fits one of the descriptions, it may be treated as a banned type no matter what type or breed its parents were.

For more information please visit the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website or contact Defra on 08459 33 55 77. (Link opens in a new window).

Good luck and take care out there – sadly scammers are all around us these days, don’t let yourself get scammed!!