Hoping to get a new dog for the family but don’t know where to start? Purchasing a new dog from a pet classified site is a popular new option for potential pet owners. You can browse listings all over the country, all from the comfort of your own home. However, it’s important to be wary of scammers — that’s why we’re presenting you with the safest pet classifieds in the US.
There’s a wide range in quality when it comes to the pet classified sites found around the country. Some have scammers posing as legitimate breeders, which you should avoid at all costs. The safest sites take the time to filter out potential fraudsters, so stick to these sites.
How Do You Buy a Dog on Pet Classifieds?
There’s several ways to buy a dog on pet classifieds — the process is quite easy and seamless. Let’s take a look at how you buy a dog on pet classifieds.
1. Research and Preparation
Research the breed, size, temperament and purchase price of the dog that best suits your lifestyle. Additionally, consider ongoing costs like food, vet care and grooming. Once you purchase your dog, make it ready for them.
2. Search for Listings
Easily browse listings by using search filters, narrowing your search to see the breed, age, location and price. This makes it easier to find a dog from the comfort of your home. Pay attention to the details provided in each listing including the dog’s health, temperament and other important things.
3. Evaluate the Seller
Check seller reviews and look for feedback from other buyers to make sure the seller is reliable. Reach out to the seller with questions about the dog’s health and history so that they can provide you with detailed answers. Lastly, ask for health records, vaccination certificates and pedigree papers before purchasing the pet.
4. Request Visual Verification
Always request visual verification once you’ve made contact with a breeder. Showing the dog in different settings is a great idea to ensure the dog is legitimate. Scheduling a video call can be better, too.
5. Arrange a Visit
If possible, plan an in-person visit. When you visit the seller to meet the dog, you can assess its living conditions. You can also meet the parents if you’re purchasing a puppy. This gives you insights into its behavior and size.
6. Negotiate and Confirm Terms
When discussing the details of the contract, make sure you have everything written down on paper. Agree on the price and ask for clarifications of what is included in the sale like health checks, supplies, etc. Once all terms are agreed upon, read the contract thoroughly so that it outlines the terms of sale, including health guarantees, return policies and any conditions of purchase.
7. Payment
When discussing how to pay, always use a secure, traceable payment method like the credit card or paypal. Never use untraceable methods like wire transfers. Be cautious about paying a deposit before seeing the dog in person — this can usually lead to trouble.
8. Arrange for Pickup or Delivery
Once you‘ve paid and signed a contract, it’s time to pick up your dog. If you’re close by, you can arrange to pick up the dog in person. If you’re not nearby, make sure you coordinate all the shipping information to ensure care during the transport process.
9. Final Check Before Purchase
Always have the seller conduct a final examination by a vet to make sure the dog is healthy. Confirm all documentation like health records, microchipping information and everything is provided to you before purchase.
10. Aftercare
Aftercare is important because if you have any questions or concerns about the dog, staying in touch with the seller is a great idea. After the purchase you should also include a vet visit so they can get a thorough check up.
Why Buy a Dog on Pet Classifieds?
Of course, the question that you may ask yourself is why should I buy a dog on pet classifieds? Well, the answer is simple. Let’s take a look at the 10 reasons why you should buy a dog on a pet classified site.
- Wide Variety of Choices: Pet classified sites have diverse breeds and ages, and you can have access to unique or rare breeds.
- Convenience: You can browse listings from the comfort of your own home. You can also use search filters to narrow down your options. These listings will also have detailed information about the dog.
- Potential for Better Pricing: There will be a lot of sellers listing their dogs, which means that you can find competitive pricing compared to breeders in other areas or even pet stores.
- Access to Local and Distant Sellers: You can also find dogs that are available locally, which makes it easier to arrange in person visits. However, you can also access listings from different regions and states.
- Adoption Opportunities: Pet classified sites will also feature dogs from shelters or rescue organizations. This is great if you want to help a dog in need. You can also adopt adult dogs, which gives them second chances by providing them a loving home.
- Direct Communication with Sellers: You get to ask questions when you communicate directly with the seller. This builds a relationship with them, providing you with peace of mind before making a decision.
- Flexibility in Arrangements: You have a chance to work with the seller in arranging meeting times, payment plans, and other things that work better for you.
Tips for Avoiding Scammers on Pet Classified Sites
When perusing through the many dog breeds on the pet classified site, you might run into a pup that you really like. But, you should always be cautious about who the breeder or seller is. There are a few tips that you can follow to avoid scammers on pet classified sites. Let’s take a look at nine trusty tips that will be great to keep on file.
1. Research the Seller Thoroughly
- Always look for feedback from previous buyers.
- Verify contact information because sellers should provide all contact information and not communicate via email and messaging apps.
- Search for the seller online to see if it’s revealed that they’ve been associated with scams.
2. Watch for Red Flags in Listings
- If it’s too good to be true, then it’s likely a scam.
- Scammers most often use stock photos taken from other websites, so it’s smart to do a reverse image search.
- If buyers provide vague descriptions or they lack detail, then you should steer clear of that particular profile.
3. Communicate Directly
- It’s smart to ask detailed questions. A genuine seller will provide you with detailed answers to all of your questions you have about the puppy.
- Request a phone or video call because scammers will avoid direct communication. A legitimate seller will always be willing to talk by phone or video call.
4. Request Additional Proof
- Ask for new photos and videos of the dog with a specific item (like today’s newspaper). This will prove the dog is real.
- You should also request a virtual tour of where the puppy lives.
5. Be Cautious with Payments
- Never wire money, use gift cards or send money through untraceable payment methods. These tactics are what scammers love to use.
- You should pay through secure, traceable methods instead — credit cards or PayPal.
- Never make upfront payments and stay clear of sellers that demand full payment or large deposits before you’ve seen the puppy.
6. Meet in Person if Possible
- You should visit the seller whenever possible to arrange a meet and greet with the puppy in person. This allows you to verify the puppy’s authenticity and condition.
- It’s always smart to choose a safe, public location and to bring someone with you if possible when doing this face-to-face meet up.
7. Verify Health and Legal Documents
- Always ask for the puppy’s health records including vaccination and deworming certificates. Afterwards, verify these with a veterinarian.
- If the dog or puppy is purebred, make sure that the seller provides official pedigree papers that are registered with an authentic body.
8. Trust Your Instincts
- Always trust your instincts. Scammers will pressure you into buying the dog quickly. If something feels off, don’t proceed with the purchase.
- If you have any doubts about the seller or the transaction, it’s always better to walk away than being scammed.
9. Report Suspicious Activity
- If you encounter a scammer on a pet classified site, report the listing and report the seller to the classified site.
- Another step you should take is to inform authorities about this scam so that they know about the issue at hand.
The Safest Pet Classified Sites
There are many pet classified sites on the internet. Sometimes you have to hone in on a few of them based on the criteria listed above. We have made it a little easier for you. Here are three of the safest pet classified sites in the country.
Pawrade
Pawrade was founded in 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina. It’s an online puppy finder that allows you to choose from hundreds of profiles located throughout the United States. Their goal is to match dogs to the ideal owner. They have a wide selection of dogs, which makes it all worthwhile to peruse through their listings. You can even optimize your search with what you specifically need and want.
When it comes to drawbacks, they only sell primarily puppies — if you want an older or adult dog, you may have to go somewhere else. They also sometimes have breeder information missing.
Puppy Spot
Founded nearly 20 years ago, Puppy Spot is an online platform that connects breeders with puppy buyers. You can choose from hundreds of profiles located throughout the entire country. Puppy Spot is committed to animal welfare and thus, screens all its breeders to make sure they are legitimate and running puppy mills. Moreover, the process of purchasing a puppy is quite seamless with this online puppy marketplace. Lastly, all puppies go through health screenings to ensure they are happy and healthy.
When it comes to drawbacks, there may be lack of follow-up or information when communicating with them.
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club is the official registry of purebred dogs in the United States. Apart from finding dogs to buy, you can also find a lot of educational resources on the site. The American Kennel Club is also a one-stop shop for everything dog related — help from pet experts, FAQs, breed information, veterinarian information, available place to list your dogs to sell and more.
When it comes to drawbacks, the AKC only offers information on purebred dogs, and some breeder information may not be reliable.
CitizenShipper is the Safest and Most Compassionate Pet Transport Solution
These pet classified sites sell puppies and dogs, but also provide you with amazing resources about pets. You also have the option of buying from a breeder, a shelter or a rescue organization.
If you find yourself buying a dog from an out-of-state breeder or shelter, you’ll need to get them home somehow. You could make the drive yourself — which can be time-consuming or expensive. Or you can hire a pet transporter!
Consider hiring a pet transporter on CitizenShipper. Just plug in your dog’s info and get multiple quotes instantly. And just like the safest pet classified sites are full of animal-loving professionals, you’ll work with compassionate transporters that will take great care of your pet as if they were their own. So, how about it? Begin the pet transport process today!
