Thinking about giving up your pet?
If you think you might need to give up your pet, visit our 'Giving up your pet' page for some helpful advice and information about your nearest rescue centres.
Advertising Standards
PAAG has created the Advertising Standards as a guideline for classified advertising websites to help them identify bad and/or poor adverts.
Websites must:
Label each advert clearly as to whether the advert is for a private sale I.e. someone who does not require a licence; by a licensed seller; or from a rescue/rehoming centre. Websites should make clear the definitions of each seller category so that sellers can ensure they are advertising in the correct category and buyers can make informed purchases.
Run automated checks for ‘blacklisted’ words/terms, including for banned breeds and prohibited species. These include dogs prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and animals prohibited under the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019.
Filter for other misleading, inappropriate and illegal adverts and take any adverts found or notified down within 12 working hours
Monitor for multiple mobile/telephone numbers and email addresses in private sales and investigate and potentially ban frequent/repeat vendors if they are unable to provide evidence of a Local Authority licence. ‘Frequent’ is defined as the same vendor offering a third different animal (except fish) for sale in a twelve-month period
Permanently ban vendors who attempt to post illegal adverts (on three strikes and out basis)
Not include adverts for farmed animals
Ban adverts of live vertebrate animals as food
Ban adverts offering pregnant animals for sale
Ban adverts offering stud animals, animals in season or animals ‘for rent’ or ‘loan’ within the pet section. Note that this does not prohibit websites from having a separate stud section. Adverts offering horses or donkeys for loan are also acceptable
Remove adverts specifying that the animal is to be used for working, hunting or guarding from the pet section
Cross reference adverts for dogs that have been tail docked with those breeds exempted in England, Scotland and Wales. Remove any adverts for breeds that are advertised as docked but are not an exempted breed, and those exempted breeds that have not been legally docked by a vet
Ban adverts for dogs that have been ear cropped
Ensure that no pets are advertised for swapping with other pets, services or goods
Non-human primates and all other species scheduled by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act should not be offered for sale on general classified advertising websites. It should be made clear to vendors that it is an offence to offer a species covered by GB Wildlife Trade Regulations Annex A without a valid Article 10 Certificate. There are further species which are not suitable for sale on general classified websites and should not be offered for sale on these platforms. These are raptors (including ow
Exclude any advert where there is a reasonable concern for the health and welfare of the animal involved
Ensure that no live vertebrates (including fish) are advertised for sale as deliverable through the postal system (national or international) or deliverable by the seller in-person (unless it is an equine).
Ensure that all dog and cat adverts state whether the animal is, or will be, microchipped. It is a legal requirement for all dogs over 8 weeks of age to be microchipped and registered by their breeder with a compliant database operator; then for new owners to transfer the microchip record to their details. From 10 June 2024, cats are required to be microchipped and registered on a database by 20 weeks of age. Ensure that all equine adverts state that the animal is fully identified (passported -
Ensure that every view item page includes prominent links to PAAG advice on buying and selling an animal
Ensure that every view item page includes prominent links to PAAG approved care information on feeding, housing, handling, husbandry, life expectancy, provision of suitable accessories and veterinary care for the animal being advertised
Provide a clearly visible function for purchasers to report illegal, misleading or inappropriate adverts
Require all vendors to include information relating to the species name (and breed as relevant) and, except for fish, the sex of the animal(s)
Require all vendors to include a recent photograph of the animal(s) they are advertising and monitor for suspicious usage of images. For equines, photos should be from the front and both sides.
Require all vendors to display the age of the animal(s) they are advertising (except for fish). No animal should be advertised for transfer to a new owner before it is weaned and no longer dependent on its parents
Require all vendors to state the country of origin, as well as the country of residence from which the animal is being sold, and ideally the country and/or region if in the UK.
Provide advice and support that encourages responsible rehoming to any sellers offering an animal as ‘free to a good home’
Require all breeders to include a recognisable photo of young animals with their mother (This applies to dogs, cats, rabbit, ferrets and chinchillas)
Legislation
Legislation known as ‘Lucy’s Law’ was introduced in England via the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 and in subsequent Regulations in Scotland and Wales in September 2021.
Under this legislation, it is illegal to sell puppies and kittens under six months old unless the seller has bred the puppy or kitten themselves or are a legitimate rescue centre. However, these Regulations apply to licensed sellers only. The rules on who needs to be licensed in England, Scotland and Wales are set out in the tabs above.
As these regulations apply to licensed sellers only, the legislation does not prohibit those who do not meet the licensing threshold, such as pet owners who have bought a puppy or kitten and are seeking to rehome it, from selling that pet under the age of six months. However, in this event, PAAG would recommend that these pet owners take the puppy or kitten back to the breeder or to a rescue so that the best possible home for that pet can be found.
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 came into force on October 1st, 2018.
These regulations introduced a single licence for pet vending (selling), dog breeding and animal boarding establishments, including home boarders and day care establishments. The Regulations introduced updated practices (found in the Schedules) for each of these activities.
A dog breeder should be licensed if they are breeding 3 or more litters in a 12 month period or are deemed by their Local Authority to be advertising a business of selling dogs. The business test is available here.
Anybody selling animals as pets (or with a view to their being later resold as pets) in the course of a business requires a licence (irrespective of whether they bred the animals). The business test is available here.
It is now a legal requirement that licensed dog breeders and animal sellers include the following information on every advert:
Any advertisement for the sale of an animal must—
(a) include the number of the licence holder’s licence,
(b) specify the local authority that issued the licence,
(c) include a recognisable photograph of the animal being advertised,
(d) (except in the case of fish) display the age of the animal being advertised,
(e) state the country of residence of the animal from which it is being sold, and
(f) state the country of origin of the animal.
In 2019, the Government introduced the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2019. These Regulations came into force in April 2020 and introduced a ban on the commercial third-party selling of puppies and kittens in England.
Dog breeders in Wales producing 3 or more litters in a calendar year are required to have a licence under the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014.
Anybody selling animals as pets (or with a view to their being later resold as pets) in the course of a business also requires a licence (irrespective of whether they bred the animals) under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Wales) Regulations 2021, which came into force on 10th September 2021.
Under the Regulations, any advertisement for the sale of an animal by a licensed seller must:
(a) include the number of the licence holder’s licence,
(b) specify the local authority that issued the licence,
(c) include a recognisable photograph of the animal being advertised,
(d) (except in the case of fish) display the age of the animal being advertised,
(e) state the country of residence of the animal from which it is being sold, and
(f) state the country of origin of the animal.
These Regulations also introduced a ban on the commercial third-party sale of puppies and kittens under the age of 6 months.
The Licensing of Activities Involving Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2021 came into force on 1 September 2021. They replaced previous legislation covering pet sales and dog breeding and introduce new licensing requirements for cat and rabbit breeders, animal welfare establishments (animal sanctuaries and rehoming centres) and other pet rehoming activities, subject to operators meeting the licensing threshold for each activity. These regulations apply to anyone who is:
- Selling animals as pets in the course of a business.
- Engaging in animal rehoming activities (other than operating an animal welfare establishment)
- Operators of animal welfare establishments (AWEs)
- Breeding dogs – 3 or more litters of puppies in any 12 month period
- Breeding cats – 3 or more litters of kittens in any 12 month period
- Breeding rabbits – 6 or more litters of kits in any 12 month period
Under the Regulations, any advertisement for the sale of an animal by a licensed seller must:
(a)include the number of the licence holder’s licence,
(b)specify the local authority that issued the licence,
(c)if the animal being advertised is a dog or cat, include a recognisable photograph of the animal,
(d)(except in the case of fish) display the age of the animal being advertised,
(e)state the country of residence of the animal from which it is being sold, and
(f)state the country of origin of the animal.
These Regulations also introduced a ban on third party sales of puppies and kittens in Scotland.
In Northern Ireland the Welfare of Animals (Dog Breeding Establishments and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 apply. Similarly to England, anybody breeding 3 or more litters in a 12 month period requires a licence.
In addition, all pet sellers require a licence under the Petshops Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000. This applies whether the pet is sold via a traditionally pet shop, or via a seller operating out of a residential premise.
Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and the Welfare of Animals (Northern Ireland) Act 2011, a pet owner has a legal duty to ensure the welfare of their animal(s). A pet’s welfare needs include:
- A proper diet
- Somewhere suitable to live
- Any need to be housed with, or apart from, other animals
- Allowing animals to express normal behaviour
- Protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease
Under the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021, the penalty for failing to care for a pet could be a fine or even a custodial sentence up to five years. Please visit the advice section of this website for more information on caring for your pet.
It is illegal to own a dog prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. If you are found to be in possession of one of these dogs you could face a fine or even a prison sentence. The police may also seize your dog if they think it is a banned type.
If you have any concerns that an animal you are thinking of buying could be a banned type, PAAG’s advice is not to buy it and to report it to the relevant publisher’s customer services or helpline.
The Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) bans ownership, breeding, sale and exchange and advertising for sale of five specified types of dogs. The dogs covered by the ban (under section 1 of the DDA) are:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Fila Brasiliero
- Dogo Argentino
- XL Bully
The ban also extends to any crosses of the above dogs.
It is legal for a veterinary surgeon to dock a puppy of specified breeds from a working bitch. The criteria for ‘working’ are essentially: working to the gun; as a terrier; or for the police or other government agency.
Dogs docked as working dogs must be permanently identified with a microchip and must have a certificate from the veterinary surgeon who docked the puppy. Any dog docked after the legislation came into force must have a certificate.
Irrespective of where they were docked, they may not be shown at shows in England and Wales where the public is charged a fee for admission. However, if the competition is on the ability of the dogs, such as field trials or agility, docked dogs may compete.
- Hunt point retrieve breeds of any type or combination of types.
- Spaniels of any type or combination of types.
- Terriers of any type or combination of types.
Spaniels of the following breeds:
- English Springer Spaniel
- Welsh Springer Spaniel
- Cocker Spaniel,
but not combinations of breeds.
Terriers of the following breeds:
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Cairn Terrier
- Lakeland Terrier,
- Norfolk Terrier
but not combinations of breeds.
Hunt point retrieves of the breeds listed below:
- Braque Italian
- Brittany
- German Long Haired Pointer
- German Short Haired Pointer
- German Wire Haired Pointer
- Hungarian Vizsla
- Hungarian Wire Haired Vizsla
- Italian Spinone
- Spanish Water Dog
- Weinmaraner
- Korthals Griffon
- Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer
- Large Munsterlander
- Small Munsterlander
- Of the type known as spaniel, of any breed or combination of breeds
- Of the type known as hunt point retrieve, of any breed or combination of breeds
- Spaniels of any breed or combination of breeds
- Terriers of any breed or combination of breeds
- Any breed commonly used for hunting, or any combination of such breeds
- Any breed commonly used for pointing, or any combination of such breeds
- Any breed commonly used for retrieving, or any combination of such breeds
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 impacts on the handling of anti-social behaviour involving dogs, and introduced a system of measures (such as, for example, Community Protection Notices) to help prevent incidents involving poorly behaved dogs and their irresponsible owners from spiralling out of control.
Across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland it is a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped.
It is a legal requirement for all cats in England to be microchipped before they reach more than 20 weeks of age.
This allows local authorities to trace stray, abandoned or stolen dogs and cats and reunite them with their owners. The legislation is also anticipated to help identify the owners of troublesome dogs.
They must be chipped by the breeder with the breeder’s details recorded on the microchip. Once you have brought your new puppy or kitten home you must update the details on it to be your own and keep them up to date to ensure it can always be returned to you if lost.
The penalty for failing to have your dog or cat microchipped is a fine of up to £500.
Microchipping is recommended for all pets, but there are no current plans to make microchipping compulsory for any other species.
It is an offence to own, sell or buy an animal included in the Dangerous Wild Animal Act 1976 without a licence obtained from your local authority. This includes crosses with animals such as wolves and wild cats.
Infringements of the licence conditions or failure to obtain a licence are punishable with an uncapped fine.
The GB Wildlife Trade Regulations
The GB Wildlife Trade Regulations protect species which have been identified as under threat from international trade, therefore their trade is regulated. The international agreement regulated wildlife trade is called CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and it's implemented in Great Britain by the GB Wildlife Trade Regulations. These regulations protect species which have been identified as under threat from international trade, and species that are listed on Annex A of the regulations are given the highest level of protection. This means that it is an offence to offer an Annex A species for sale without a valid Article 10 certificate, and the seller's certificate number must be included on any advert for an Annex A species. You can check if you need a CITES certificate here.
The following are groups of animals prohibited from sale under either the Invasive Alien Species Regulations (IAS), Plant Heath Regulations (PH) or Mink Keeping Order (MK).
|
Common name |
Scientific name |
Regulation prohibiting |
|
Coypu |
Myocastor coypus |
IAS |
|
Fox squirrel |
Sciurus niger |
IAS |
|
Grey squirrel |
Sciurus carolinensis |
IAS |
|
Muntjac deer |
Muntiacus reevesi |
IAS |
|
Raccoon |
Procyon lotor |
IAS |
|
Pallas's squirrel |
Callosciurus erythraeus |
IAS |
|
Siberian chipmunk |
Tamias sibiricus |
IAS |
|
Small Asian mongoose |
Herpestes javanicus |
IAS |
|
South American coati |
Nasua nasua |
IAS |
|
Mink |
Mustela vison |
MK |
|
Common name |
Scientific name |
Regulation prohibiting |
|
Indian house crow |
Corvus splendens |
IAS |
|
Ruddy duck |
Oxyura jamaicensis |
IAS |
|
Sacred ibis |
Threskiornis aethiopicus |
IAS |
|
Common name |
Scientific name |
Regulation prohibiting |
|
Slider terrapin |
Trachemys scripta (all subspecies) |
IAS |
|
North American bullfrog |
Lithobates (Rana) catesbeianus |
IAS |
|
Common name |
Scientific name |
Regulation prohibiting |
|
Amur sleeper |
Perccottus glenii |
IAS |
|
Topmouth gudgeon |
Pseudorasbora parva |
IAS |
|
Common name |
Scientific name |
Regulation prohibiting |
|
Apple snail |
Pomacea spp |
PH |
|
Asian hornet |
Vespa velutina |
IAS |
|
Chinese mitten crab |
Eriocheir sinensis |
IAS |
|
Marbled crayfish |
Procambarus fallax f. virginalis |
IAS |
|
Red swamp crayfish |
Procambarus clarkia |
IAS |
|
Signal crayfish |
Pacifastacus leniusculus |
IAS |
|
Spiny-cheek crayfish |
Orconectes limosus |
IAS |
|
Virile crayfish |
Orconectes virilis |
IAS |
It is a legal requirement that an equine has to have a passport (which requires the equine to be chipped):
- 6 months after birth or by the end of the year of their birth, whichever is later, in England, Wales & Scotland
- A year after birth (in Northern Ireland)
- Before they are moved off a derogated area (there are areas in Wales and England – such as the New Forest – where semi-ferals do not need to be identified)
- Before they are sold
It is the responsibility of the Passport Issuing Organisation – not the equine owner – to register the details of the equine with the Government approved ‘microchip’ database (CED for Wales, England & NI, and SED for Scotland).