Buyer's guide
What to ask, which documents to collect, the red flags to watch for, and how we will and won't contact you.
Before you start
A pet is a commitment of many years. These are worth settling before you look at listings.
- Who will feed, walk and spend time with the pet every day, including when you travel?
- Does your home, and your housing society, allow the pet you have in mind?
- Have you budgeted for food, vaccinations, vet visits, grooming and boarding, not just the price?
- Does anyone at home have allergies, or a pet already that needs a gentle introduction?
Questions to ask about a pet
Send these through your enquiry. Pet Assured passes them on and keeps your contact details private.
- What is the date of birth, and how old will the pet be when it comes home?
- Which vaccinations and deworming are done, when, and what is due next?
- What has it been eating, and how often?
- Can you see the mother, or photos and records of both parents?
- How does it behave around children, strangers and other animals?
- Are there any known health problems, and has a vet examined it recently?
- What comes with the pet: records, food, a carrier, anything else?
Documents to collect
- A vaccination record signed and stamped by a vet, with dates and the next due date.
- A deworming record, with dates.
- The vet exam details: the date, and the vet or clinic who did it.
- The microchip number, if the pet has one.
- KCI registration papers, if a dog is sold as registered. They record a dog’s registered lineage. They don’t prove health or temperament.
Every sale through Pet Assured ends with a certificate and a printable pet record, listing the checks as they stood on delivery day. Keep it with these documents for your vet.
Red flags
Walk away, or talk to us first, if you notice any of these, on Pet Assured or anywhere else.
- Pressure to decide quickly, or to pay a large advance before you've seen anything.
- You can't see the pet, its mother or where it is kept, even on a video call.
- A price far below other listings for the same breed in your city.
- No vaccination record, or one without a vet's name and stamp.
- After paying, you're asked for extra “courier”, “vaccination” or “insurance” fees to release the pet.
- The pet seems very young. Ask a vet what age it should be before leaving its mother.
How Pet Assured will and won't contact you
We will
- Post updates on your enquiries and orders in your dashboard.
- Arrange payment with you ourselves, and confirm it in writing.
- Tell you which checks are done, and which aren’t, before you decide.
We won’t
- Ask for your password or a one-time passcode (OTP).
- Ask you to pay a contributor directly.
- Ask for extra fees to release a pet after a sale is agreed.
When your pet comes home
- Book a visit with your own vet in the first week, and take the pet record with you.
- Keep the food the same for the first few days, then change it gradually if you need to.
- Give them a quiet space of their own while they settle in.
- Note the next vaccination and deworming dates somewhere you'll see them.
This guide is general advice, not veterinary or legal advice. Something about a listing doesn’t look right? Tell us.
Ready to look?
Every pet on Pet Assured shows which checks are done, who did them, and when.
Illustrative photo