Difference between revisions of "Buy a Puppy Online Safely"
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===Finding a Reliable Breeder Online=== | ===Finding a Reliable Breeder Online=== | ||
| − | #Search online for a breeder or rescue club within driving distance. Consider finding a breeder that’s close enough to make a personal visit. Visiting a breeder’s facilities is one of the clearest ways to see how legitimate they are. Trust breeders who are proud to show you their property.<ref>http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/tips/buying_puppy.html</ref> | + | #Search online for a breeder or rescue club within driving distance. Consider finding a breeder that’s close enough to make a personal visit. Visiting a breeder’s facilities is one of the clearest ways to see how legitimate they are. Trust breeders who are proud to show you their property.<ref name="rf1">http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/tips/buying_puppy.html</ref> |
#*If they don't want to show off their facilities or take pride in them, steer clear. | #*If they don't want to show off their facilities or take pride in them, steer clear. | ||
#*Ask to see the facilities in full when you visit. Look for clean conditions and animals’ general demeanors to gauge the breeder’s quality. Dogs should be friendly, social, and not shy away from you or other visitors. | #*Ask to see the facilities in full when you visit. Look for clean conditions and animals’ general demeanors to gauge the breeder’s quality. Dogs should be friendly, social, and not shy away from you or other visitors. | ||
| − | #*Make sure the location breeds only one or a few types of dogs. The breeder should not specialize in more than a few breeds and should provide living space appropriate for dogs' size and breed.<ref>http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/pets/puppy_mills/find_responsible_dog_breeder.pdf</ref> | + | #*Make sure the location breeds only one or a few types of dogs. The breeder should not specialize in more than a few breeds and should provide living space appropriate for dogs' size and breed.<ref name="rf2">http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/pets/puppy_mills/find_responsible_dog_breeder.pdf</ref> |
#*They should be knowledgeable about their breeds' characteristics, history, and any potential genetic or developmental concerns. They should openly and clearly help you understand the type of dog you're buying. | #*They should be knowledgeable about their breeds' characteristics, history, and any potential genetic or developmental concerns. They should openly and clearly help you understand the type of dog you're buying. | ||
| − | #Talk to the breeder on the phone. If you find a breeder that’s too far away to visit, ask for a phone number, or call the number posted on their website. While email will probably be your initial means of communicating, never a buy a puppy unless you’ve spoken directly to the breeder.<ref | + | #Talk to the breeder on the phone. If you find a breeder that’s too far away to visit, ask for a phone number, or call the number posted on their website. While email will probably be your initial means of communicating, never a buy a puppy unless you’ve spoken directly to the breeder.<ref name="rf2" /> |
#*Breeders who ask to speak on the phone or volunteer their phone number in the first few emails are the most trustworthy. Look for a breeder who is easily accessible and is open about their contact information. | #*Breeders who ask to speak on the phone or volunteer their phone number in the first few emails are the most trustworthy. Look for a breeder who is easily accessible and is open about their contact information. | ||
#*If they don't offer a phone number right away, try writing, "I'd really like to speak over the phone. I'm more comfortable making a purchase from someone I've had a conversation with, and I have a lot of questions about the process." | #*If they don't offer a phone number right away, try writing, "I'd really like to speak over the phone. I'm more comfortable making a purchase from someone I've had a conversation with, and I have a lot of questions about the process." | ||
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#*Ask them if they've heard of that particular breeder and if they know anything about their practices. | #*Ask them if they've heard of that particular breeder and if they know anything about their practices. | ||
#*Ask if they have any recommendations, especially if you're doing research on a breeder in your own area. | #*Ask if they have any recommendations, especially if you're doing research on a breeder in your own area. | ||
| − | #Look for breeders who ask you questions. When you speak with the breeder on the phone, pay attention to the questions they ask you. Don’t trust a breeder who isn’t interested in learning more about you, as they are more likely to be interested only in making money.<ref | + | #Look for breeders who ask you questions. When you speak with the breeder on the phone, pay attention to the questions they ask you. Don’t trust a breeder who isn’t interested in learning more about you, as they are more likely to be interested only in making money.<ref name="rf2" /> |
#*They should ask you if you’ve ever owned a dog, why you are interested in purchasing a dog, and about details regarding your family and who will be the primary caregiver. | #*They should ask you if you’ve ever owned a dog, why you are interested in purchasing a dog, and about details regarding your family and who will be the primary caregiver. | ||
| − | #Ask to see personalized photographs. Don’t settle for the pictures that advertise your prospective dog online. Ask the breeder to see a range of photographs from different ages. In addition, ask the breeder to place a small card in photographs of the dog with your name or the date written on it.<ref | + | #Ask to see personalized photographs. Don’t settle for the pictures that advertise your prospective dog online. Ask the breeder to see a range of photographs from different ages. In addition, ask the breeder to place a small card in photographs of the dog with your name or the date written on it.<ref name="rf2" /> |
#*Ask for several angles so you can verify that the card wasn’t edited into the image. | #*Ask for several angles so you can verify that the card wasn’t edited into the image. | ||
#*Also ask the breeder to see photos of your potential dog’s parents. | #*Also ask the breeder to see photos of your potential dog’s parents. | ||
===Avoiding Problems=== | ===Avoiding Problems=== | ||
| − | #Consider adopting from a shelter or rescue club. The easiest way to avoid an online scam is to adopt from a local shelter or breed rescue club. Adopting instead of shopping online will eliminate all risks associated with buying online, including having your money stolen or never receiving your dog. In addition, adopting helps curb pet overpopulation, and avoids the risk of supporting a puppy mill, which mass produces animals in poor living conditions.<ref>http://www.aspca.org/animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/why-you-should-never-buy-puppy-online</ref> | + | #Consider adopting from a shelter or rescue club. The easiest way to avoid an online scam is to adopt from a local shelter or breed rescue club. Adopting instead of shopping online will eliminate all risks associated with buying online, including having your money stolen or never receiving your dog. In addition, adopting helps curb pet overpopulation, and avoids the risk of supporting a puppy mill, which mass produces animals in poor living conditions.<ref name="rf3">http://www.aspca.org/animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/why-you-should-never-buy-puppy-online</ref> |
| − | #Be extra careful when browsing free classifieds. When searching online for a reliable breeder, you’ll find plenty of legitimate ads on sites that list classifieds for free. However, you’ll have to spend extra time double checking these ads. Online scammers are more likely to post on sites that do not require a fee to post ads, such as Craigslist.<ref>http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/scammingbuyers.htm</ref> | + | #Be extra careful when browsing free classifieds. When searching online for a reliable breeder, you’ll find plenty of legitimate ads on sites that list classifieds for free. However, you’ll have to spend extra time double checking these ads. Online scammers are more likely to post on sites that do not require a fee to post ads, such as Craigslist.<ref name="rf4">http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/scammingbuyers.htm</ref> |
| − | #Look for obvious website errors. Online scams typically copy and paste text from legitimate breeder sites. They also lift photographs from legitimate websites, but caption them incorrectly.<ref>http://nopetstorepuppies.com/buying-a-puppy-online-is-bad-too</ref> | + | #Look for obvious website errors. Online scams typically copy and paste text from legitimate breeder sites. They also lift photographs from legitimate websites, but caption them incorrectly.<ref name="rf5">http://nopetstorepuppies.com/buying-a-puppy-online-is-bad-too</ref> |
#*Look for passages of text that seem inconsistent, as if one paragraph were stolen from a legitimate source and the next poorly written. | #*Look for passages of text that seem inconsistent, as if one paragraph were stolen from a legitimate source and the next poorly written. | ||
#*Look for photographs that are captioned incorrectly. For example, you might see a picture of one breed but its caption names it another breed. | #*Look for photographs that are captioned incorrectly. For example, you might see a picture of one breed but its caption names it another breed. | ||
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#*A legitimate puppy finder company will have a proven track record, previous customers you can talk to, and a social media page where you can double check comments. | #*A legitimate puppy finder company will have a proven track record, previous customers you can talk to, and a social media page where you can double check comments. | ||
#*Puppy finders are not escrow companies. In other words, they don’t hold money until you receive your money in order to secure the transaction. If a breeder or puppy finder makes any such claims, they are most likely illegitimate. | #*Puppy finders are not escrow companies. In other words, they don’t hold money until you receive your money in order to secure the transaction. If a breeder or puppy finder makes any such claims, they are most likely illegitimate. | ||
| − | #Sign a well-defined contract. The breeder should provide a thorough contract that includes a health guarantee. A good breeder will have you agree to return the dog in the event that you can no longer care for it. In addition, they will provide documentation proving the dog’s breeding line has been tested for genetic and other health defects.<ref | + | #Sign a well-defined contract. The breeder should provide a thorough contract that includes a health guarantee. A good breeder will have you agree to return the dog in the event that you can no longer care for it. In addition, they will provide documentation proving the dog’s breeding line has been tested for genetic and other health defects.<ref name="rf2" /> |
| − | #Make sure the breeder offers a guarantee. A good breeder will offer a guarantee in case your puppy or dog shows signs of health problems within the first several days of ownership. Take your new dog to the vet within 24 hours of picking it up or having it shipped.<ref | + | #Make sure the breeder offers a guarantee. A good breeder will offer a guarantee in case your puppy or dog shows signs of health problems within the first several days of ownership. Take your new dog to the vet within 24 hours of picking it up or having it shipped.<ref name="rf2" /> |
#*Ask the breeder about their guarantee prior to finalizing your purchase. If they don’t offer a guarantee, find another breeder. | #*Ask the breeder about their guarantee prior to finalizing your purchase. If they don’t offer a guarantee, find another breeder. | ||
| − | #Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram. Never use an unsecured wire transfer service when making a purchase online. If something goes wrong, these services will not help you get your money back.<ref>https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/and-they-called-it-puppy-love</ref> | + | #Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram. Never use an unsecured wire transfer service when making a purchase online. If something goes wrong, these services will not help you get your money back.<ref name="rf6">https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/and-they-called-it-puppy-love</ref> |
#*Use your credit or debit card that will allow you to dispute a transaction. | #*Use your credit or debit card that will allow you to dispute a transaction. | ||
#*Before handing over your credit card number, ask the breeder for their merchant number. Call your credit card company to verify that the number is legitimate. | #*Before handing over your credit card number, ask the breeder for their merchant number. Call your credit card company to verify that the number is legitimate. | ||
