Pet Buying Guide
Breeders provide customers with an easy opportunity to buy kittens or puppies. Most of the time, these will be healthy animals that will make great pets. As with anything involving money, however, there are nefarious and unscrupulous folks out there who are just looking to make a quick profit and move on. Even with the best intentions, it’s possible that the kittens or puppies you buy online will be unhealthy. Some might even be disfigured or terminally ill, particularly from overseas.
1. Be vigilant and curious.
Start with the breeders themselves. Check them out. Read reviews. Pay special attention to peer reviews if any. Rip-off artists will quickly make negative names for themselves. Also, if you like brachycephalic breeds, please remember that these breeds will have respiratory issues their whole lives. Each of these breeds also has its own set of problems beyond those involving breathing. Research the history of the breed that interests you, and be sure to discuss things with the breeder you choose.
2. Never buy a puppy or kitten without viewing.
Yes, hitting "pay now" on a website is easy and quick. And, it is possible that the pet you receive will be just fine. But, that process is rife with problems. First, unless you meet the dog in person and experience its personality firsthand, it’s possible for the breeder to do a "bait and switch" and send you another dog or cat. A video call is also a bad idea because it’s easy to fake a "happy home" with actors and different dogs. When you visit a breeder to get to know the pet you wish to buy, it’s a great idea to take photos of the dog or cat and to make note of distinguishing characteristics of the animal. That way, it wouldn’t be possible to switch the pet you buy for a different one.
3. Questions, Questions, Questions
You should also write down questions in your notebook. Any legitimate breeder will be happy to answer them honestly and forthrightly. In fact, if a breeder shies away from questions, no matter how idyllic everything else seems, then you should nix the deal immediately and walk away. Here’s a good starter list:
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR:
Right off the bat, learn to recognize scammers. They will promise the world, and there will be no pet. If the breeder demands payment/deposit before even meeting your new pet, walk away, especially if the person wants a wire transfer, cash app or Western Union payment (all these options have no buyer protection). A lot of these scammers either used to be breeders or have "studied up" to know what to say on good-looking websites. Some might even pay some of their ill-gotten gains to have great advertising. If they get caught, they shut up shop and do it all again. The only true defense is to buy from a local breeder and meet the pet before you buy.
Mills are evil.
Puppy Mills, also called puppy farms, are operations where the breeders produce many more pets than can be safely sold. Some mills have over 500 dogs. The animals are often brutalized and live in unsanitary conditions. A lot of the time, they’re packed in so tightly as not to be able to move. Or, they’re in cages so small that they cannot even turn around. They should be illegal everywhere, but some states and countries allow them. They even "sell in bulk" to pet stores that are either unaware or don’t care.
Never go anywhere to see and meet your new pet other than the breeder’s own place of business or residence. If the breeder says, "I’ll meet you in the parking lot at the mall," then that is a giant red flag, and you should walk away.
Again, always buy local.
It follows that if you’re supposed to meet your pet first, then you obviously cannot buy from abroad unless you can whisk off at a moment’s notice to a different country. Puppies and kittens from abroad might have intestinal parasites. Some countries consider normal if puppy has Giardia, so breeder may ship over to US without any prior treatment even if issue is known. Pet health care, especially emergency care to save your pet’s life, is not cheap. It might be multiple thousands of dollars. So, even if the price of the pet from overseas is far less expensive than it might be locally, then you will wind up paying much more in healthcare costs for your pet.
1. Be vigilant and curious.
Start with the breeders themselves. Check them out. Read reviews. Pay special attention to peer reviews if any. Rip-off artists will quickly make negative names for themselves. Also, if you like brachycephalic breeds, please remember that these breeds will have respiratory issues their whole lives. Each of these breeds also has its own set of problems beyond those involving breathing. Research the history of the breed that interests you, and be sure to discuss things with the breeder you choose.
2. Never buy a puppy or kitten without viewing.
Yes, hitting "pay now" on a website is easy and quick. And, it is possible that the pet you receive will be just fine. But, that process is rife with problems. First, unless you meet the dog in person and experience its personality firsthand, it’s possible for the breeder to do a "bait and switch" and send you another dog or cat. A video call is also a bad idea because it’s easy to fake a "happy home" with actors and different dogs. When you visit a breeder to get to know the pet you wish to buy, it’s a great idea to take photos of the dog or cat and to make note of distinguishing characteristics of the animal. That way, it wouldn’t be possible to switch the pet you buy for a different one.
3. Questions, Questions, Questions
You should also write down questions in your notebook. Any legitimate breeder will be happy to answer them honestly and forthrightly. In fact, if a breeder shies away from questions, no matter how idyllic everything else seems, then you should nix the deal immediately and walk away. Here’s a good starter list:
- Has my pet had its first vaccinations?
- Is this Mom’s first litter?
- If not, how many has she had?
- Does my pet have a microchip?
- May I please see my pet’s pedigree?
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR:
Right off the bat, learn to recognize scammers. They will promise the world, and there will be no pet. If the breeder demands payment/deposit before even meeting your new pet, walk away, especially if the person wants a wire transfer, cash app or Western Union payment (all these options have no buyer protection). A lot of these scammers either used to be breeders or have "studied up" to know what to say on good-looking websites. Some might even pay some of their ill-gotten gains to have great advertising. If they get caught, they shut up shop and do it all again. The only true defense is to buy from a local breeder and meet the pet before you buy.
Mills are evil.
Puppy Mills, also called puppy farms, are operations where the breeders produce many more pets than can be safely sold. Some mills have over 500 dogs. The animals are often brutalized and live in unsanitary conditions. A lot of the time, they’re packed in so tightly as not to be able to move. Or, they’re in cages so small that they cannot even turn around. They should be illegal everywhere, but some states and countries allow them. They even "sell in bulk" to pet stores that are either unaware or don’t care.
Never go anywhere to see and meet your new pet other than the breeder’s own place of business or residence. If the breeder says, "I’ll meet you in the parking lot at the mall," then that is a giant red flag, and you should walk away.
Again, always buy local.
It follows that if you’re supposed to meet your pet first, then you obviously cannot buy from abroad unless you can whisk off at a moment’s notice to a different country. Puppies and kittens from abroad might have intestinal parasites. Some countries consider normal if puppy has Giardia, so breeder may ship over to US without any prior treatment even if issue is known. Pet health care, especially emergency care to save your pet’s life, is not cheap. It might be multiple thousands of dollars. So, even if the price of the pet from overseas is far less expensive than it might be locally, then you will wind up paying much more in healthcare costs for your pet.