PetHome safety hub
How to buy a pet safely in the UK
Most sellers are genuine. The checks below make sure the exceptions never get your money — or your heart.
Step 1
Before you enquire
- Reverse-image-search the photos — stolen pictures mean a scam.
- Check the price against the going rate; 'bargain' pedigrees are bait.
- For licensed breeders, verify the licence number with the issuing council.
- Read the ad critically: multiple breeds or constant litters = dealer.
Step 2
When you visit
- See puppies and kittens with their mother, at the place they were bred.
- Visit more than once — a good breeder encourages it.
- Check the animal is alert, clean-eyed and comfortable with handling.
- Ask about health tests for the breed and see the certificates.
Step 3
Before you pay
- Never pay a deposit before your first visit — no exceptions.
- Refuse couriers, service-station handovers and 'delivery included'.
- Get a receipt and written agreement, and paperwork on the day.
- A puppy or kitten must be at least 8 weeks old before leaving mum.
Walk away if…
- Wants a deposit or 'holding fee' before you've visited
- Offers delivery or a motorway-services handover
- Mum 'is at the vet's' or 'asleep upstairs' when you visit
- Several breeds or repeated litters advertised from one number
- Price far below every comparable advert
- Pressure tactics — 'three other families are coming today'
- No paperwork, or promises to 'post the documents later'
- Asks for payment by bank transfer to a different name
One red flag is a question; two is a pattern; three is your cue to leave — even if the animal is adorable. Especially then.
The law is on your side
Lucy's Law
Puppies and kittens under six months may only be sold by the breeder who bred them, or rehomed through a legitimate rescue. Third-party dealing is illegal in England, Scotland and Wales.
Microchipping
Dogs must be microchipped by 8 weeks (law since 2016); cats in England likewise since June 2024. The seller registers the chip first — transfer it to your name on day one.
The 8-week rule
It is illegal to sell a puppy or kitten under eight weeks old. Ads on PetHome must show a date of birth, and young animals must be advertised with their mother visible.
Breeder licensing
Commercial breeders need a local-authority licence and must display the licence number and issuing council on every advert — exactly as PAAG standards require.
See something wrong? Report it.
Every advert on PetHome has a report button — reports are reviewed promptly and repeat offenders are banned. For animals in immediate danger call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
Frequently asked questions
Should I pay a deposit before seeing a puppy?
No. Never pay anything — deposit, 'reservation fee' or courier charge — before you have visited the animal in person at the place it was bred. Deposit-before-viewing is the single most common pet scam in the UK.
What paperwork should come with a puppy or kitten?
Microchip registration in your name (a legal requirement for dogs and cats), first vaccination record signed by a vet, worming history, and for pedigrees the KC or GCCF registration. A good breeder also provides a contract and a few weeks of free insurance.
How do I check a breeder's licence?
Anyone breeding three or more litters a year in England (or breeding as a business) needs a licence from their local council. Ask for the licence number and issuing authority — both must be shown on their adverts — then verify it on that council's public register.
What should I do if an advert looks like a scam?
Report it. On PetHome every listing has a report button and reports are reviewed quickly. For suspected animal welfare offences contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999, or the seller's local council licensing team.