2 Top Pet Breeders & Adoption Companies

How to check a breeder or adoption website

Pet sales attract fraud because buyers are emotional and often pay before they meet the animal. Before sending a deposit, slow down and check who you are dealing with. A listing site is not the breeder; it often hosts ads from many separate sellers.

• Meet the animal: visit in person, or at least ask for a live video call showing the puppy or kitten and its mother.
• Records: ask for vaccination and vet records with the clinic's contact details, and call the clinic to confirm.
• Paperwork: get a written contract covering health guarantees, return terms and what happens to the deposit.
• Adoption groups: rescues and shelters usually have an application, a home check and a published adoption fee.

Warning signs and how to protect yourself

Requests for payment by gift card, wire transfer, payment apps or cryptocurrency, refusals to show the animal live, and new fees for crates, insurance or vaccines after you have paid are common signs of fraud. Stop and do not send more money.

Stolen photos are often reused. A reverse image search can show whether the same pictures appear elsewhere.

On CandorRated, company pages show who runs the website, how long its domain has existed, the contact details we found and reviews. A very new domain or no traceable contact details is a reason to be extra careful. Filtering by country and city helps you find sellers you can visit.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to have a puppy shipped?

Some genuine breeders do ship, but fake pet sites rely on shipping as an excuse. Picking up in person is safer.

What does a health guarantee usually cover?

It varies. Read which conditions are covered, for how long, and whether you must return the animal to claim.