Sourcing of pet dogs from illegal importation and puppy farms 2016-2017: scoping research

Run automated checks for 'blacklisted' words/terms such as banned breeds and filter for misleading or inappropriate adverts

Not entirely clear but possible

Not entirely clear but possible

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Not entirely clear but small number of adverts found that breached guidelines

Possible

Possible

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Require all vendors to include a recent photograph of the animal that they are advertising and monitor for suspicious usage of images.

Yes

Yes

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Yes

Yes

Yes

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Require that all adverts display the age of the animal advertised. No pet should be advertised for transfer to a new owner before it is weaned and no longer dependent on its parents.

Yes

Yes

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Yes

Yes

Yes

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Permanently ban vendors - on a three strikes and you're out basis - who attempt to post illegal adverts, and take down illegal/inappropriate adverts within 12 working hours of notification

Possible

Possible

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Possible

Possible

Possible

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Ensure that every view item page includes prominent links to PAAG advice on buying and selling a pet (and specific advice for commonly advertised species), including "pop ups"

No

No - but various links to information, advice and guidance on responsible selling and purchasing on each advertisement webpage.

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

No

No

No - but links to other information, advice and guidance.

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Label clearly on each ad whether it is a private sale, commercial sale or from a rescue/rehoming centre

Yes

Yes

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

No

Yes

No

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Not include adverts for farmed animals or adverts specifying that the animal is to be used for working, hunting, or guarding in the pet section

Such adverts banned and none found

Such adverts banned and none found

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Yes

Yes

Each advert has warning puppy farming and link to further information, advice and guidance.

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Monitor for multiple mobile/telephone numbers and email addresses in private sales and investigate and potentially ban frequent/repeat breeders. 'Frequent' is defined as the same vendor offering a third different animal in a twelve month period

Unclear but is possible

Unclear

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Unclear but possible

Unclear but possible

Unclear but possible

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Ban adverts of live vertebrate animals as food

Such adverts banned

Such adverts banned

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Such adverts banned

Unclear but no such adverts identified

Unclear but no such adverts identified

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Ban adverts offering stud animals, animals in season or animals 'for rent' or 'loan' in pet section. Note that adverts offering horses or donkeys for loan are acceptable

No - adverts for stud dogs identified

Such adverts banned and none found

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Such adverts banned and none found

No -adverts for stud dogs identified

No - adverts for stud dogs identified

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Ban adverts offering pregnant animals for sale

No such adverts identified

Yes

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Yes

Unclear but no such adverts identified

Unclear but no such adverts found

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Ensure that no pets are advertised for swapping with other pets, services or goods

Yes

Yes

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Yes

No (swapping adverts located but not for dogs/puppies)

Unclear but no such adverts found

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Ensure that species scheduled by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act are clearly marked as such and make clear to vendors that it is an offence to offer a species covered by EU Wildlife Trade Regulations Annex A and listed by CITES for sale without a valid Article 10 Certificate. Non-human primates should not be offered for sale.

N/A

N/A

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

N/A

N/A

N/A

Exclude any advert where there is a reasonable concern for the health and welfare of the animal involved

Possible

Yes (adverts mentioning 'designer breeds' banned).

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Possible

Possible

Possible

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Provide a clearly visible function for purchasers to Report illegal or inappropriate adverts

Yes

Yes

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Yes

No

No

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Ensure that no live vertebrates are advertised for sale as deliverable through the postal system, national or international

Yes

Yes

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Yes

Unclear - evidence of links with courier service

Yes

Require all vendors to state the country of residence from which the animal is being sold

Yes

Yes

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Yes

Yes

Yes

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Require all commercial vendors to provide Local Authority licence information when submitting an advertisement

Unclear

Commercial vendors required to submit proof of licence when creating an account

Website unavailable but only small number of advertisements identified

Unclear but such sellers require business account

Commercial sellers required to have licence to sell commercially.

Unclear

Small number of pets (including dogs) for sale

Other Observations

All those posting agree to abide by PAAG guidelines

The PAAG link is not visible on individual advertisement pages. However, is mentioned on terms and conditions page with hyperlink

If an advertiser is breeding and advertising dogs for sale and requires a dog breeding license from their local council, the person needs to be registered as a licensed breeder on the site, and provide with a copy of the license. If site suspects that a licence is required and details have not been provided, we will report this to your local authority

Does not accept adverts for 'designer dogs'

All pets for sale must be available for viewing with their mother (and ideally their father

Advertisements of banned breeds prohibited

Supports PAAG and website includes a link to PAAG.

A max. of 2 litters per year to be sold on site by any single seller

Adverts from puppy farms not accepted. Any such adverts found will be reported to the RSPCA and Trading Standards

Adverts for dogs with docked tails/ears not allowed.

Website provides link to advice

https://www.gumtree.com/content/pet-education/puppies-checklist/

Pet passport required

Does not allow puppy farms to advertise. If you sell more than 4 litters of puppies in a year, by law you must have a "dog breeders license".

Evidence of breeders licence required to place commercial advert.

No link to PAAG.

Stud adverts found

Not clear if ads are domestic, commercial or rehoming (no categories to select)

No clearly visible information on how to report any concerns on advert page

Has advice about buying pet in each ad