Finding a new pet can be an exciting and emotional experience, but remember, a pet is for life so it is important to get off to a good start. Make the wrong decisions and not only may it prove very costly but you may end up with a sickly pet that will have problems for the rest of its life or worse! It's difficult to think rationally when you first see the cute bundle of fur that may be your companion for the next 15 years so it's best to be prepared in advance. The purpose of this page is to help you make the right decisions on where find your new pet and what to look for when you do. Print it and take it with you as an aide-memoire.
Here are a few do's and don'ts of pet buying. The first part of this page relates largely to dogs and cats but we will touch briefly on other pets at the end.
- Don't buy puppies or kittens from pet shops or dealers. Conscientious pet shop owners realise that they cannot provide suitable facilities for dogs and cats and will not sell them! Most pet shops buy in their stock from unscrupulous breeders and puppy farms.
- Don't buy from an advert on the internet, a newspaper or magazine. Good breeders can sell nearly every animal they can breed by word of mouth and with few exceptions don't need to advertise. Advertisers are nearly always animal dealers.
- Don't agree to meet a 'breeder' in a mutually convenient location or allow them to deliver to your home. They are probably hiding their tracks so you can't find them when things (inevitably) go wrong. A good breeder will insist on meeting you first.
- Don't buy from someone who is selling more than one breed - this is generally the hallmark of an animal dealer.
- Don't buy the first pet you see or be rushed into a decision, check out a few for comparison, you can always come back later and remember, there are plenty more available.
- Don't feel sorry for a cute sickly animal or fall for sob stories, and don't buy from a market or a stranger, you will reget it later.
- Do contact the Kennel Club or the Cat Fancy for a list of breeders and contact them directly but still be wary.
- Do visit the breeder and insist on seeing the litter with their mother. Be very wary if there is more than one litter - this is a hallmark of unscrupulous breeders and dealers. Check the puppies or kittens are home bred, not reared in kennels or outbuildings, or at the very least see how they react in the breeder's home - you want a pet that is socialised to live in your home not a shed! Don't make any compromises on these issues, walk away if there is any doubt.
- Do insist on a written agreement that you can take your purchase back within 7 days if there's a problem and get a vet check as soon as possible*. Ask for all relevant pedigree and fully completed vaccination certificates - if they are incomplete or not available the breeder is probably not genuine.
- Do check with us first, we have years of experience and can advise you where to avoid.
If you just want a moggie or a mongrel, a rescue centre may be a good starting point and you may also be doing an unwanted pet a good turn by giving it a home. You may get lucky and find a litter locally by word of mouth or from a private advert in a local shop window, but still be wary and follow the rules above.
Children's and exotic petsIf you are looking for a children's pet, a reputable pet shop can be the best place. However, inspect the conditions the animals are kept in and if it seems unhygienic or the staff have limited knowledge it is best to walk away.
If you are interested in exotic pets like snakes, reptiles and large birds you will need to find a specialist shop or breeder. Don't buy this type of pet on a whim but do extensive research first into all aspects of their nature and care. Most problems with exotic animals are caused by poor knowledge of their social needs, housing and feeding. Good breeders and shops will not sell you an exotic pet until you can prove you have this knowledge.
* We will give a discount off the first vaccine if you have a vet check with us first.Some useful numbers:
The Kennel Club: 0870 6066750
The Cat Fancy: 01278 427575
Ashford Aquatics (for small pets and exotics): 01784 463830
The Dogs Trust - Harefield: 0845 0763647
