Buy a Puppy Online, Tips & Advice

Buying a Puppy Online

According to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association, last year more than 200,000 puppies were bought online by American families eager to find just the right pet for themselves or their kids.

A main advantage to searching online is the obvious ease and convenience of selecting from a far greater variety of puppy breeds, sizes, temperaments and "cuteness" quotient.

A typical search often starts with picture galleries of adorable puppies - often accompanied by descriptions of behavioral habits and temperament ("great with kids!") - making prospective buyers feel confident they will be making the right decision.

Then all they have to do was await delivery of their healthy and happy puppy...

Puppy Buyer Beware

But not all online puppy tales have a happy ending.

Although sellers will invariably ensure a bouncing, healthy puppy, upon arrival puppies have been reported either sick, suffering from a chronic illness, or to have suffered injuries in transit.

In more outrageous cases, buyers waited weeks for delivery only to find that they had become victims of fraud - being charged hundreds of dollars for a non-existent puppy that will never arrive.

While the Web may hold dangers for unsuspecting consumers, buying a puppy online does not have to be fraught with misleading information.

Before you surf for your favorite mixed-breed or pedigree puppy, first check out tips on securing just the right pup for you or your family, with helpful how-to's from the experts, plus general puppy buying advice at other top sites on the Web:

Contact - Does the seller have a phone number? Dial it now and see if it's correct and in working order.
Verify - The names, phone numbers or e-mail addresses of people who have bought puppies from the online seller. Contact other customers to ensure that they have had honest and helpful dealings with the seller and their overall satisfaction with them
Search Online - Enter the seller's name in any of the popular search engines to see if their name comes up on Web sites, forums, or message boards to find out if any complaints about the seller have been posted.
BBB - Check with the Better Business Bureau in the seller's area to see if any complaints have been filed.
Extra Steps - Set aside funds in an escrow account. Search for "escrow service" to set up an account, then release the funds only upon the arrival of a healthy, happy puppy.

Related Tips & Advice on Buying A Dog or Puppy:

Buying a Puppy- Humane Society

Buying a Purebred Puppy

Buying a Dog

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