How To Buy A Pet

16/07/2025

Let’s squeak about our feathered friends!🐦

🌍 There are many stars of the bird world: Budgies, Cockatiels, Parrots, Finches, Love Birds, Canaries and Cockatoos, to name a few!🎨 These often-colourful companions bring joy, charm and even chatter, to any home🌈

But before you fall for those beautiful feathers and cheerful chatter, make sure you’re getting a pet bird from a responsible source🎶

📕Research the species and know their needs – Some birds may need a lot of care!✨

💚Let’s keep our feathered Friends safe, singing and well looked after!🎼💙

04/07/2025

🚨Thinking of buying a puppy?🐶Don’t get caught out by puppy smugglers❗

📺TV personality Pete Wicks has teamed up with to share the red flags you need to know before bringing a new pup home🚩🏡

👀Watch Pete’s advice here👉 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dogs-trust_petes-red-flags-when-buying-a-puppy-activity-7342846468875071489-deTl?utm_source=li_share&utm_content=feedcontent&utm_medium=g_dt_web&utm_campaign=facebook🐾

💛For over a decade, Dogs Trust – A proud member of PAAG – Has been working hard to stop puppy smuggling for good💪 Learn more about their powerful campaign and how you can protect dogs (And yourself) Here🔦https://bit.ly/3HPZ1AZ

📣Let’s end puppy smuggling together! 🙌

01/07/2025

Did you find your dog a new owner through a UK selling site in 2023 or 2024? 🐶

This is your chance to have your say about your experience in finding a new home for your dog📢🐕

Bree, a PhD student and vet who gets it, is looking to speak with dog owners who’ve rehomed their dogs through online selling sites💻She’s conducting anonymous, confidential and judgement-free online interviews as part of her research into how and why UK residents use online classified ads to find new homes for their dogs, including your experience before and after the advertising and sale🔎📋

She understands sometimes dogs need a new home, and that the process isn’t always straightforward – Your story can help advance knowledge about rehoming dogs online, which could benefit dog welfare by improving these rehoming practices in the future📚

For full details and to register your interest follow this link or use the QR code👉https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/pre-owned-interviewsm

Let's make the process better for pets and people!🐾

25/06/2025

Scrolling through pet ads online? 🤳 Whether you’re searching for a new furry family member or just browsing, stay alert! 👀 If you spot an advert that seems suspicious or concerning, don’t scroll past – we urge you to report it! 📲 It only takes a minute by following our quick step guide for anything of concern👆 By flagging any concerning ads to the relevant website, you’re helping to crack down on unscrupulous breeders and dealers in their tracks 👏 Together, we can protect pets and promote responsible advertising!✨

17/06/2025

🐀Rats can make amazing additions to a family - They are extremely clever! 💡

🏠 They need to be housed in a spacious cage filled with suitable enrichment to keep them interested and active – They love to run, climb, explore, dig and play!

💤 Rats are night owls – They are at their most active at night and then they sleep their days away

🥗 Rats also need to be fed a quality well-balanced diet

💯 Rats crave mental stimulation so positive reward-based training methods are a wonderful way to learn them new things and build a bond 💙

👪 Rats are very social animals and live in large groups, so are always much happier living with at least one other well-matched companion! 🐀

11/06/2025

🐾Waffles Story 🐶

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tv/article-14797547/I-thought-Id-bought-adorable-miniature-cockapoo-puppy-got-horrendous-shock-months-later-heres-urgent-warning-anybody-wants-one.html

Sadly, PAAG hears about stories like Charlotte’s and Waffle’s all the time. Unscrupulous breeders prey on the emotions of well-meaning families who want to bring a furry companion into their lives. Animals can steal your heart in an instant, so PAAG’s advice is to ask questions and most importantly trust your gut, if something doesn’t feel right, it most likely isn’t. If you’re thinking of bringing a pet into your home, take your time, for both of you. We understand it’s not always easy to know who you can trust, so for more advice on what to look for, be sure to look at our website: https://paag.org.uk/

We think it was so brave of Charlotte to share their story, and most importantly it sounds like Waffle has found a loving home 🏡🐾

Charlotte Fallowfield appeared on the ITV show to chat to hosts Ben Shephard, 50, and Cat Deeley, 48, about the story of how she got her hands on her sweet pooch Waffle.

04/06/2025

🐍Sssnake Ssnapshot!🐍📸

👑 Royal Pythons (A.K.A Ball Pythons) are one of the most popular and fascinating reptiles to keep as pets! With their calm nature and stunning patterns, it’s easy to understand why 💚

These Royal companions, like all animals, have their own needs, including proper housing, feeding and temperature control. Check out “https://paag.org.uk/how-to-buy-a-pet/reptiles/index.html” for more information🐍👈

01/06/2025

Buying a pet isn’t like buying a new pair of shoes - It’s a lifelong commitment! 💯

From their food and vet bills to toys and enrichment, pets need ongoing care, owning a pet comes with long-term responsibilities. 🍴💲

This is why PAAG is deeply concerned about the use of ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Services as an option for pet purchases🔎 Read our full position statement on https://paag.org.uk/news/position-statement-buy-now-pay-later-services/index.html about why these schemes can encourage impulse decisions and why pets shouldn’t be considered as products❌📣

Let's protect pets' welfare by making thoughtful, informed choices – Not financial shortcuts, to ensure animals only go to homes prepared to care for them for life 🏡🎉

23/05/2025

Today’s National Tortoise Day! 🐢 We wanted to take this opportunity to raise awareness about these amazing ancient creatures, so here’s some facts you might not know:

There are many different subspecies of tortoises, but they can often live for many decades, making ownership a very long-term responsibility.

Tortoises need a carefully controlled environment. It’s vital to have the right specialised lighting and 24-hour heating in their vivarium's so they have the best possible homes. This will be an extra cost to consider as the electricity needs to constantly run the equipment to keep them happy and healthy!

Thinking about getting a pet tortoise, but not sure about all the costs that could be involved? Search “Reptiles Cost Calculator” for an estimation on the costs involved when caring for a tortoise and other popular reptiles🐢

20/05/2025

Happy National Rescue Dog Day!🐕 There are thousands of dogs in rehoming centres across the UK waiting to find their forever homes🏡

Thinking about adding a furry friend to your family? Please consider contacting your local rehoming centre and adopting a dog, giving them a second chance at a loving home 🐾

Search “ADCH find a rescue” to find your local rehoming organisation! 🐶

13/05/2025

Let’s talk cats! 😺 It’s a common misconception that cats can be less work than some other pets, but like all animals there are some basics you should consider:

Typically, cats can live for around 14 years, but some can live beyond the age of 20, so they are a big commitment!

Cats also need essential care, like routine veterinary care, which can include: Annual health checks, vaccinations, neutering, routine flea, and worm treatment

It is also now law to microchip your cats, including indoor cats, and for them to be registered on a database by the time they are 20 weeks old

For more useful information on what to consider when getting a feline friend, search “PAAG How to buy a cat” 🐈

09/05/2025

Want to learn more about PAAG and our aims? Here’s some quick-fire facts:

📣 We were set up to combat the growing concerns regarding the irresponsible advertising of pets for sale, rehoming, and exchange

📣 We aim to ensure that pet animals that are advertised for sale are done so legally and ethically

📣 We aim to raise public awareness of the need to act responsibly when looking to buy pets advertised on websites and in publications, and the need to do research before making any purchases

If you would like to learn more about PAAG, our mission and our full members, just search “PAAG” to read more🔎