NSPCA warns against online pet trade
Residents who may have fallen victim to online pet trade scams are urged to report it to the SAPS and open a case of extortion.
Online trade is a common place to find anything from clothing to antiques, but according to the NSPCA, it is not the place to buy a new pet.
Internet scams are rife and money is stolen from unsuspecting families by criminals who prey on the kind heartedness of animal lovers.
Residents who may have fallen victim to online pet trade scams are urged to report it to the SAPS and open a case of extortion.
The NSPCA also advised that victims lodge a complaint with the relevant advertising website.
While the online pet trade is legal, the system allows people to acquire animals without any counselling or advice.
According to the NSPCA, it is concerning that people choose a pet after viewing a snapshot and reading a sketchy description, which may or may not be accurate about the animal’s background, temperament and behaviour.
One of the issues brought to the attention of the NSPCA include cross-bred dogs advertised and sold as pure bred or pedigree.
When trying to identify a real advertisement from a possible fraudulent one, terminology is a giveaway.
On such example is the use of thoroughbred.
A “thoroughbred” is a horse and it speaks volumes about the ignorance of a breeder, or seller, when a dog is advertised as a thoroughbred.
Often people suffer emotionally and lose money when the pet they ordered falls ill soon after arrival.
Anyone who has received an animal which is not well, or which is too young to leave its parents, a complaint should be lodged with the Consumer Commissioner as well as the advertising website.
The NSPCA also warned residents that the decision to open a home to a new pet is an important one, for the home owners as well as for the prospective pet, therefore buying a pet which one has never seen over the internet is not a good idea.
Always beware of ‘free to good home’ ads.
The Internet has become an avenue for people to advertise ‘free to good home’ pets when they move to a smaller property or emigrate.
While this may seem to be an easy way to home a pet, the NSPCA has cautioned that not everyone has an animal’s best interest at heart.
‘Free to good home’ opportunities are used to source, especially large breed, dogs for their export across South Africa’s borders where the fate of these animals is unknown.
The best way to protect yourself and slow down the growth of the puppy and kitten mill trade is to source prospective pets from SPCA’s and other welfare organisations.
Individuals adopting from an SPCA will typically receive accurate information and they will be questioned about their ability to care for the pet they wish to offer a home to.
Pre and post home checks take place and a legally binding agreement is signed by both parties.
The officially adopted policy of all SPCA’s is to “discourage the keeping of domestic animals by those who do not have the facilities, time, financial means or level of interest necessary to ensure a satisfactory standard of care and husbandry for their pets”.
Domestic animals deserve to be loved, cared for, taken to the vet when necessary, played with and taken for walks.
SPCA’s are careful to ensure that these qualities are available in all prospective homes.
Alternately, if a specific breed is required, the NSPCA has urged prospective pet owners to only buy pets from bona fide breeders registered with the relevant organisations.
The NSPCA discourages the keeping of wild animals as pets, since even with the best possible care, wild animals do not thrive in captivity.
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