subject: Pets - Benefits Of Buying Pets Through Classified Ads [print this page] The most common way that people bought pets in the past was through pet stores. Unfortunately, many pet stores are questionable in terms of where they acquire their animals. It is not uncommon to purchase an animal from a pet store at a mark-up, only to find out later that the animal is in poor health. Because of this, it has become necessary to pursue new and different avenues for buying pets besides the commercial pet stores, which care more about the bottom line and profit margin than the health of the animal. One way that you can buy a pet is through online classified ads for your local area.
When you visit online classified ads, the first thing that you may notice is that there are a wide variety of different pets that people are offering for sale. There are two basic types of people selling animals online. Some of these animals are being put up for sale by breeders that raise the animals at home and sell them for a profit. Other animals are being put up for sale by individuals that bought them or came across them but cannot keep them, and therefore are trying to rehome them for a profit. In both cases, most of the animals you find are going to be perfectly healthy and suitable for becoming your pets.
What type of pet are you looking for? Be willing to shop around for a little while to see what you can find online. You will see a lot of the same breeders and animal owners posting in online classified ads, but you will also come across one-off ads from pet owners that are simply looking to rehome their pet. Pay attention to both types of ads when you are looking to buy a pet through online classifieds, because you never know where the gems are going to lay.
Be willing to ask a lot of questions. Ask if the animal has papers, a health certificate, vet records or other proof of health. Play with and handle the animal. Does it appear alert, playful? Is it behaving in a way that is characteristic of the breed or species? If there are any doubts in your mind, then you should not purchase the animal. Ask for a health guarantee from the owner. A legitimate seller will be willing to sign a contract promising the health of the animal for a period of time to give you peace of mind that you can count on.
