Pet Safety

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Safety Comes First

Welcoming a new pet into your home should be an exciting and rewarding experience.

Unfortunately, not every pet advertisement online is genuine or accurate. SafewayPets was created because of our own experience of pet advertising and our concerns about misleading listings, inaccurate information and people claiming to have animals or documentation that they may not have.

Our aim is to encourage greater transparency and accountability, but no website can guarantee every advertiser or every transaction.

There are several simple precautions you can take to help protect yourself and the animal.

Pet safety starts with taking your time, asking questions and checking important information.

Never Be Afraid to Ask Questions

A responsible breeder or pet owner should understand that you want to know about the animal before making a decision.

Ask about the pet’s age, background, temperament, health and living conditions. Where appropriate, ask about vaccinations, microchipping, veterinary treatment and any health testing relevant to the animal or breed.

If an advertiser is unwilling to answer reasonable questions, consider carefully whether you wish to proceed.

See the Pet Before Making a Decision

Whenever reasonably possible, see the animal in person before agreeing to take it home.

For puppies and kittens, you would normally expect to see where they have been raised and, where appropriate, see them with their mother.

Be particularly cautious if someone continually makes excuses about why you cannot see the animal or where it is being kept.

Never allow excitement about finding the perfect pet to pressure you into making a rushed decision.

Check Important Claims

If an advertisement says that an animal is registered with a particular organisation, has a pedigree, has undergone health testing or comes with particular documentation, ask to see appropriate evidence.

Do not rely solely on what is written in an advertisement.

Where possible, verify important information with the organisation or professional concerned.

Be Careful With Deposits and Payments

Do not send money simply because somebody tells you that other people are interested and you must pay immediately to secure the animal.

Before paying a deposit, make sure you understand:

Who you are paying
What the payment is for
Whether the deposit is refundable
What happens if either party does not proceed
When the remaining balance will become due

Keep copies of relevant messages, payment confirmations and information supplied by the advertiser.

Watch for Warning Signs

Take extra care if:

The price appears unusually low for the type of animal being offered
You are being pressured to pay immediately
The advertiser avoids reasonable questions
Details change during your conversations
Photographs or descriptions don’t seem consistent
You cannot see the animal when you would reasonably expect to
Claims about registration, health testing or documentation cannot be supported
You are asked to use an unusual or unexpected payment method

One warning sign does not necessarily prove that something is wrong, but several inconsistencies are a good reason to stop and investigate further.

Think About the Pet as Well as the Advertiser

Safety isn’t only about protecting the person looking for a pet.

Consider whether the animal appears healthy, appropriately cared for and suitable for your circumstances.

Think carefully about the long-term responsibility involved, including food, veterinary care, insurance where appropriate, training, exercise, accommodation and the time the animal will require.

A pet should never be an impulse purchase.

Keep a Record

Until you are completely satisfied with the arrangement, keep relevant correspondence and information connected with the listing.

This might include messages, the SafewayPets listing number, information supplied by the advertiser and records of any payments you make.

These records can be useful if a misunderstanding or dispute subsequently occurs.

If Something Doesn’t Seem Right

Trust your judgement.

If information doesn’t add up, you feel pressured or you simply aren’t comfortable proceeding, you are under no obligation to continue.

There will be other pets looking for suitable homes.

If you’re concerned about a listing or advertiser using SafewayPets, please contact us and provide the listing number, if known, together with as much relevant information as possible.

We would rather hear about a genuine concern than have a visitor remain silent because they aren’t certain whether something is wrong.

What SafewayPets Is Doing

SafewayPets asks advertisers to provide accurate information and agree to our listing conditions and Terms & Conditions.

Our objective is to encourage responsible advertising and greater accountability while providing prospective owners with information that can help them make informed decisions.

These measures can reduce risk, but they cannot replace your own checks and judgement when deciding whether an animal and advertiser are right for you.

A Safer Pet Community

Responsible advertisers, informed prospective owners and clear communication all contribute to a safer pet community.

Take your time. Ask questions. Check important information. Never feel pressured into making a decision.

Safety comes first — for you and for the pet.