Standardised mandatory fields

Advice for pet selling websites

We have put together the resource below to help pet selling websites to understand what information should be included in a pet advert. By including this information, those looking for a pet will be less likely to be scammed by bad sellers.

Websites should require anybody advertising a pet for sale to add the following information to the advert.

Standardised fields

  • Private
  • Licensed
    • Licence number and licensing authority should also be supplied
  • Rescue
    • Optional for rescues rehoming: Sociability/friendliness - This could be represented as a scale 1 = limited human contact preferred, to 5 = extremely friendly

Insert country of residence

Insert country of origin

Insert breed information

  • Long-haired
  • Short-haired
  • None
  • GCCG
  • TICA
  • Felis Britannica
  • Male
  • Female

Breeders to include a recognisable photo of young animals with their mother

Insert age

  • Yes
  • No
  • Fully vaccinated
    • Product used and date applied should also be required
  • Partially vaccinated
    • Product used and date applied should also be required
  • Yes
    • Product used and date applied should also be required
  • No
  • Yes
    • Product used and date applied should also be required
  • No

Breed-specific, buyers encouraged to check https://icatcare.org/advice/cat-breeds to find out more.

  • Yes
  • No

Optional supporting wording: ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

  • Yes
  • No

N.b. Yes - must be yes if under 8 weeks/no - if hand reared or over 8 weeks

  • In the home
  • Outdoor pen
  • Indoor pen
  • Yes
  • No
  • Reared with siblings
  • Reared with other animals (specify)
  • Raised with children (specify age)
  • Unknown

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns
  • Private
  • Licensed
    • Licence number and Licensing authority should also be supplied
  • Rescue

Insert country of residence

Insert country of origin

Insert breed here

  • Male
  • Female

Breeders should include a recognisable photo of young animals with their mother

Insert age here

  • Small
  • Medium
  • Large
  • Yes
  • No
  • Alternative Regsitration (specify)
  • Yes
  • No
  • Will be by 8 weeks

N.b. It is a legal requirement for all dogs over 8 weeks of age to be microchipped and registered to their breeder; then for the new owner to transfer the chip to their details

  • Yes
  • No

N.b. Puppies cannot legally be imported under the age of 15 weeks. A red flag should be triggered if a puppy below 15 weeks is listed as having a passport

  • Yes
  • No
  • Reared with siblings
  • Reared with other animals (specify)
  • Raised with children (specify age)
  • Unknown
  • Adult only
  • Any age
  • Primary school age
  • Secondary school age
  • Yes
    • Details of the product used and date applied should also be required
  • No
  • Yes
    • Details of the product used and date applied should also be required
  • No
  • Fully
    • Details of the product used and the date applied should also be required
  • Partially
    • Details of the product used and the date applied should also be required
  • Healthy
  • Health issues
    • Free text for further information
  • Breed suffers from inherited problems
    • Free text for further information
  • Dog health/DNA tested
    • Free text for further information
  • Mother healthy
  • Father healthy
  • Mother/Father have had surgical procedures to correct features that could be inherited by the puppy
  • Dog health/DNA tested
    • Free text for further information
  • Yes
  • No
  • Yes
  • No

Supporting text: ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

Buyers should be encouraged to enter information about the dog's temperament and level of training here

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns
  • Private
  • Commercial
  • Rescue

Nearest town or the county where the equine can be viewed

Insert country of origin

Insert breed information

  • Yes
  • No
  • Yes
    • Foreign POI
    • UK PIO
  • No

Sub question (if yes)


Owner details up to date:

  • Yes
  • No

Include link to DEFRA Horse passport website

  • Stallion
  • Mare
  • Gelding

Ideally for equines photos should be of the front and both sides

Insert age

Insert height

  • Yes
  • No

If yes,

Microchip registered with PIO?

  • Yes
    • Microchip number
  • No

Include link to Central Equine Database

  • Beginner
  • Novice
  • Intermediate
  • Experienced
  • Hack
  • Eventer
  • Dressage
  • Show jumper
  • Hunter
  • Companion
  • Driven
  • Other
    • Free text for further information
  • led
  • Backed
  • Novice
  • Experienced
  • Elite
  • Free text for further information

Free text for description

  • Yes
    • Free text for results
  • No
  • Yes
    • Product used and date given will be required
  • No
  • Yes
    • Product used and date given should be required
  • No
  • Yes
    • Product used and date given should be required
  • No
  • Healthy
  • Health issues
    • Free text for further information

Supporting text: ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns
  • Private
  • Licensed
  • Licence number and licensing authority should be supplied
  • Rescue

Insert country of residence

Insert country of origin

Insert breed information

  • Male
  • Female

Breeders should include a recognisable photo of young animals with their mother

Insert age

  • Yes
  • No

Insert passport status

  • Vaccinated within past 12 months
  • Unvaccinated
  • Too young
  • Yes
  • No

Report button alongside wording e.g. ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns
  • Private
  • Licensed
    • The license number and licensing authority should also be supplied
  • Rescue

Insert country of residence

Insert country of origin

Insert species

An image of the group of fish or fish in the tank would be acceptable

Supporting text: ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

It should be made clear to sellers and buyers that it is an offence to offer a species covered by GB Wildlife Trade Regulations Annex A and listed by CITES for sale without a valid Article 10 Certificate.

  • Wild caught
  • Captive bred
  • Not known

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns
  • Private
  • Licensed
    • Licence Number and Licensing Authority should be supplied
  • Rescue

Insert country of residence

Insert country of origin

Insert breed information

  • Male
  • Female

Breeders to include a recognisable photo of young animals with their mother

Insert age

  • Yes
  • No
  • Yes
  • No

N.b. Buyers should be encouraged to ask the seller for a vaccination card

  • Yes
  • No
  • Adult only
  • Any age
  • Primary school age
  • Secondary school age

Optional supporting text: ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns
  • Private
  • Licensed
    • Licence number and licensing authority should be supplied
  • Rescue

Insert country of residence

Insert country of origin

Include details on the breed/variety

  • Male
  • Female

N.b. Chinchilla breeders should include a recognisable picture of the young animals with their mother

Insert age

  • Yes
  • No

Optional supporting wording: ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns

Standardised fields for exotic pets

Insert species information

  • Private
  • Licensed
    • Licence number and licensing authority should also be supplied
  • Rescue

Insert country of residence

Insert country of origin

Where Annex A-listed

  • Male
  • Female
  • Unknown

Insert a recognisable photo of the individual(s) for sale

Insert age information if known.

If unknown:

  • Neonate (results in advert being stopped)
  • Juvenile
  • Adult

Optional field for microchip/leg ring number

  • Wild caught
  • Captive bred
  • Unknown
  • Hand reared
  • Parent reared
  • Long-term captive
  • Ranched
  • Farmed

Report button alongside wording e.g. ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

Information regarding wild-caught/captive: Wild-caught animals can experience more health and welfare problems than captive-bred, due to the stress of capture, transport and adapting to captivity.

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns

Insert species information

  • Private
  • Licensed
    • Licence number and licensing authority information should also be supplied
  • Rescue

Insert country of residence information

Insert country of origin

Where Annex A-listed

  • Male
  • Female
  • Unknown

Include a recognisable photo of the individual(s) for sale

  • Age if known (this is the default option)
  • Unknown

If unknown:

  • Neonate (results in advert being stopped)
  • Juvenile
  • Adult

Optional field for microchip/leg ring number

  • Wild caught
  • Captive bred
  • Not known
  • Hand reared
  • Parent reared
  • Long-term captive
  • Ranched
  • Farmed

Report button alongside wording e.g. ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

Information regarding wild-caught/captive: Wild-caught animals can experience more health and welfare problems than captive-bred, due to the stress of capture, transport and adapting to captivity.

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns

Please note, PAAG members who specialise in exotic species have recommended that these species are not suitable for sale on classified sites

Insert species information

  • Private
  • Licensed
    • Licence number and licensing authority information should also be supplied
  • Rescue

Insert country of residence

Insert country of origin

Where Annex A-listed

  • Male
  • Female
  • Unknown

Include a recognisable photo of the individual(s) for sale

  • Age if known (this is the default option)
  • Unknown

If unknown:

  • Neonate (results in advert being stopped)
  • Juvenile
  • Adult

Optional field for microchip/leg ring number

  • Wild caught
  • Captive bred
  • Not known
  • Hand reared
  • Parent reared
  • Long-term captive
  • Ranched
  • Farmed

Report button alongside wording e.g. ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

Information regarding wild-caught/captive: Wild-caught animals can experience more health and welfare problems than captive-bred, due to the stress of capture, transport and adapting to captivity.

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns

Insert species information

  • Private
  • Licensed
    • Licence number and licensing authority information should also be supplied
  • Rescue

Insert country of residence

Insert country of origin

Where Annex A-listed

  • Male
  • Female
  • Unknown

Include a recognisable photo of the individual(s) for sale

  • Age if known
  • Unknown

If unknown:

  • Neonate (results in advert being stopped

  • Juvenile

  • Adult

Optional field

  • Wild caught
  • Captive bred
  • Not known
  • Long-term captive
  • Ranched
  • Farmed

Report button alongside wording e.g. ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns

Insert species information

  • Private
  • Licensed
    • Licence number and licensing authority should also be supplied
  • Rescue

Insert country of residence

Insert country of origin

Where Annex A-listed

  • Male
  • Female

Include a recognisable photo of the individual(s) for sale

  • Age if known
  • Unknown

If unknown:

  • Neonate (results in advert being stopped

  • Juvenile

  • Adult

Optional field

  • Wild caught
  • Captive bred
  • Not known
  • Hand reared
  • Parent reared

Report button alongside wording e.g. ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns

Insert species information

  • Private
  • Licensed
    • Licence number and licensing authority should also be supplied
  • Rescue

Insert country of residence

Insert country of origin

Where Annex A-listed

  • Male
  • Female
  • Unknown

Include a recognisable photo of the individual(s) for sale

  • Age if known
  • Unknown

If unknown:

  • Neonate (results in advert being stopped

  • Juvenile

  • Adult

  • Wild caught
  • Captive bred
  • Not known
  • Long-term captive
  • Ranched
  • Farmed

Report button alongside wording e.g. ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns

Insert species information

  • Private
  • Licensed
    • Licence number and licensing authority should also be supplied
  • Rescue

Insert country of residence

Insert country of origin

Where Annex A-listed

  • Male
  • Female
  • Unknown

Include a recognisable photo of the individual(s) for sale

  • Age if known
  • Unknown

If unknown:

  • Neonate (results in advert being stopped

  • Juvenile

  • Adult

  • Wild caught
  • Captive bred
  • Not known

Report button alongside wording e.g. ‘The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) promotes responsible pet advertising to help protect animal welfare. That’s why [website] works to ensure our adverts meet PAAG’s Minimum Standards. If you spot an advert that does not meet these standards, please report the advert to [website] and we will take action. Find more information on buying your pet here.’

Specify

  • Accepts returns
  • Does not accept returns