Check the seller
- Use the verified contact details shown on the listing.
- Ask how long the seller has owned or bred the animal and why it is available.
- Be cautious if the seller has many breeds or repeatedly avoids direct questions.
PawHome Safety Guide
Buying or adopting a pet safely in Ireland
Take your time, verify the information in the listing and never let a seller pressure you into a decision. A responsible seller should be comfortable answering questions and showing where the animal lives.
Meet the pet properly
- Visit the place where the animal is normally kept rather than meeting in a car park or roadside location.
- For a puppy, ask to see it interacting with its mother and littermates.
- Check that the animal appears alert, comfortable, clean and appropriately socialised.
Review health records
- Ask for vaccination, worming, veterinary and relevant health-testing records.
- Confirm the microchip number and make sure ownership can be transferred to you.
- Contact the named veterinary practice directly if a document or claim concerns you.
Pay carefully
- Do not send money before you have verified the seller and seen the animal.
- Avoid pressure to pay immediately, unusual payment methods or requests for extra transport fees.
- Keep the listing, messages, receipt and a written record of what was agreed.
Important checks for dogs and puppies
In Ireland, a puppy must be at least eight weeks old before it is sold. Dog advertisements must include the dog's microchip number, and the chip should be registered on an approved database. Ask the seller to show the puppy with its mother and confirm that the details on the paperwork match the animal you are viewing.
Read the official Irish rules for pet sales and advertisingWarning signs
Stop if the seller refuses a visit, will not show the animal with its mother, provides conflicting information, uses copied photographs, requests payment before a viewing or tries to move the conversation away from the verified contact details. Report a concerning PawHome listing so it can be reviewed.