The desire for your own dog friend can also lead to a great disappointment. Since a lot of people fall for scammers when buying through an ad. Getting a dog this way is a risk not only from the money point of view, but also with respect to the mental and health condition of the animal. What to watch out for and how to choose a dog in an ad?
More than once, the media informed about scams that happened to people getting their pet on the internet. The most frequent scenarios are, that the scammer gets a lot of money from you, but you never see the animal, or you unwillingly contribute to the abusive trade with animals operated through breeding houses. I’ve already written about the consequences that this has for dogs and cats in the articles A breeding house is a business not only with dogs, but with cats as well and Where we got our Little raisin.
Allegedly, up to 10% of all the dogs in Europe are bought on the internet. People fall for fashion trends and they want breeds that are not as common. Such phenomenon was the toy poodle, for instance. Often time, people from abroad are getting also dwarf breeds such as the Yorkshire terrier. It’s an entirely common thing to shop online, and therefore, we are less cautious. An even though the consumer protection is still increasing, you won’t be able to return a pet bought online so easily.
First of all, you should thoroughly check the seller, for example, whether they have some contact information that can be looked up. They should also have a trade licence and therefore, to be traceable in registers. According to the experts, most resellers prefer e-mail communication and you usually can’t reach them on the phone number they provide. If you look out your dream dog, try calling the seller first. And I recommend trying to agree, that you’ll come to see the dog in person as well. So far, it has never happened to me that a respectable breeder would refuse.
If the “breeder” is luring you in with a suspiciously low price even though it’s a dog with a certification and on top of it a fashionable breed, beware. In this case, the price might be bought out not only by additional costs, that the reseller might want, but also bad health of the dog. You’ll usually find out about this, when you take over the dog. Unfortunately, I’ve also seen a case, when the dog died soon after, since all the vaccinations were neglected and he died of parvovirosis. In a better case, you’ll get a slightly different “size”, than you’ve expected.
Sometimes it also happens, that you’ll get a last minute “discount”, but without any certification and consolation of this kind: “It’s no big deal if you’re not planning to go to exhibitions.” Definitely refuse. The same applies to paying a deposit in advance. If the uncertainty gnaws at you, you can try to seek advice on various forums for breeders and dog owners. If it’s a notorious case, the others will certainly warn you to avoid such purchase.
So, if you decide to buy a dog through an ad, whether a printed one or on the internet, you should definitely try to learn about the origin of the breed, about the conditions in which the puppies live, whether they have been dewormed and vaccinated. The alternative is to buy a dog from a verified breeder or from a breeding station. And if the purchasing process discouraged you, you can follow the motto “don’t buy, adopt” as I do and get a dog from a shelter, where those who were bought as “rabbits in a sack” and pets who fell victim to fraudulent transactions end up.
Do you have experience with getting a dog through an ad? Have you ever encountered a fraudulent offer?
The trend of pets has been a matter of the past 150 years. But what will the next 150 years look like? With the evolution of our society and its values, circuses and zoos are on the radar, and the number of people who do not eat meat, and even vegans,...
Do you have a pregnant cat at home? Is this stage slowly coming to an end and you are starting to panic about the birth? Let me take you through it from the beginning to the end. Let's take a look at when it is necessary to intervene, when the help...
July is the time to prepare for autumn kittens. It's good to remind ourselves what cat pregnancy entails, when and how to prevent it and why.
Outside temperatures suggest that the boater season is just behind the corner. Many people take their family and children on a water adventure. Some boaters even take their four-legged friends along. What can you do to make sure your trip goes...
In the summer, most of us move to the garden, whether at our home or cottage. Of course, we also want to let our rodent friends loose, and simply bringing the cage out won't do it. How can we make a comfortable, safe outdoor enclosure?
Does your cat wander outside? Are you tired of constant meowing and scratching on doors, or constantly opened windows? Then it's time to get your cat a door.
The nutrient requirements of each dog varies depending on its age, physical condition, lifestyle and size. There are many aspects, and you need to take them all into account when choosing your food.
Cats can take a cold a lot harder than we do. For them it's a relatively serious and very contagious viral disease. A cat cold is a combination of diseases, whose symptoms include a cold.
What elements play an important role in cat nutrition, why do they need them and in what proportion should they get them? This is the alchemy behind the preparation of quality cat food.
Although traveling is fun, it can also be stressful. We have to make sure we don't forget anything and that everything goes according to plan. But what if you decide to travel with your little friend, a guinea pig? Let's take a look at what you...
It is a well-known fact about cats that they like lying in the sunlight. However, that doesn’t mean they are never hot and the risk of overheating is not real for them.
The fact that there are different cans and dry food for dogs and cats is not a marketing stunt. Both beasts have their specific nutrition needs which vary in certain aspects and if you give them the wrong food, they will start suffering quite soon.
