Monday is National Dog Day, so it’s a great time to visit the Better Business Bureau’s Pet HQ for tips on everything from finding a good trainer to traveling with your pet, choosing a veterinarian and more.
BBB also offers a number of tips for anyone thinking about adding a furry friend to their family. Puppies are playful, affectionate and sweet, but don’t let that stop you from doing your research and thinking carefully before adopting or purchasing a puppy.
— Advance planning and important considerations
There are many practical issues to consider before adopting or buying a puppy. As well as the initial cost of the puppy, there can be significant ongoing costs. As well as food and medical care for many years, you will probably also want to consider the cost of toys, accessories and possibly ongoing grooming costs. You will also need to consider the cost of a dog sitter or boarding facility if you have to travel without your pet.
It’s a good idea to create a budget in advance to estimate whether you can adequately care for your puppy while also paying other bills.
Puppies can also be time consuming as you will need to schedule time for walks, training and grooming. This is a good time to assess whether you really have enough space for your dog to live, especially as he grows, as well as an adequate area to walk your puppy.
Next, think about your lifestyle and schedule to make sure you get your puppy at a convenient time. Around the holidays, just before a move, or during times of financial strain can prove especially difficult to bring a new pet into the family. It can also be stressful for the puppy, who may act out if they don’t feel comfortable and safe in their new home.
You can also research different dog breeds before making your decision. Some breeds are better with children than others, and some are more social. Decide which factors are important to you and go from there.
— Find a source you trust and avoid puppy scams
Once you’ve decided the time is right and you can afford a puppy, make sure you get the puppy from a source you trust and want to support. BBB recommends that you support businesses and breeders that meet standards and provide appropriate living conditions for their animals. You should also check your local laws to see if any special registration or licensing is required for reputable providers.
This can be especially important if you plan to purchase a pedigree dog, as they are often used as bait for puppy scams. Being well-informed can help you avoid scams that target consumers who may not know how to best evaluate breeders or who want to avoid paying high prices for highly sought-after dogs.
In a puppy scam, the scammer typically offers to sell purebred puppies on their website for a fraction of the usual price. Victims are then asked to pay by bank transfer or through a cash payment app before the animal is shipped to them. You should never send electronic money to someone you don’t know well, especially since bank transfers or cash payment apps don’t leave a written trail. Once the money is received by the scammer, you have no way of retrieving it if there is a problem.
BBB has investigated hundreds of pet-related scams and received numerous reports through the BBB Scam Tracker of a puppy or other pet not being delivered after payment was made.
Here is a list of additional tips for anyone looking to give a new family member a forever home:
– Consider adoption or purchasing locally. If you can’t visit the owner or breeder in person before paying and taking your puppy home, you should avoid purchasing a puppy, bird, or other pet from another state. If you get a pet delivered from another area, you don’t really know how healthy or young it is, or if the pet even exists.
Puppy scams usually begin with the loss of money for the pet, but victims report additional losses from payments to a fraudulent transportation company that claims additional funds are needed to purchase a special crate to transport the puppy.
– Find out about the seller and get references. Visit BBB.org to check the reputation of an online seller, breeder or dealer. Ask the breeder for references and contact people who have purchased puppies from them in the past. Try to talk to people who have had their dog for a while to check for problems that may not be immediately obvious, such as genetic issues.
– Request medical records and family trees. Get a written record of all medical treatments your puppy has received, including vaccinations and antibiotics. Bring the records to your veterinarian at the first checkup, which should take place within a few days of your puppy returning home. Contact a dog breed authority such as the American Kennel Club, which can provide tips on finding a breeder, questions, and other information.
— Check information. Remember that a dishonest seller’s paperwork may not be genuine. Report a suspected pet scam to the BBB Scam Tracker and look for clues by searching for similar scams. Take your time, do your research, and consider taking home a rescued pet from a local shelter.
– Don’t be swayed by a fancy website. A flashy website is not a sign of ethics or integrity. Fraudulent websites appear and disappear like a game of cat and mouse. You can right-click on an image and use a service like Google Lens to do a reverse image search and see if the same pets are offered at other web addresses – a sign that you may be on a scam site.
– Make sure the price makes sense. Check multiple sources to find out the average price of a particular breed. If the price you are quoted is unusually low, that is a warning sign.
– Beware of emails that contain numerous spelling and grammatical errors. Many pet-related fraud cases come from abroad and these could be clues.
Buying a puppy can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also be quite a complicated process. Taking your time and considering all aspects will increase your chances of finding the right pet for you and getting it from a reputable seller.
If you have questions, you can contact your Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia BBB at 423-266-6144 or email [email protected].
Michele Mason is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga.