Adopting responsibly and avoiding bad sellers

Where your pet comes from matters. Adoption gives an animal a second chance, and careful buying helps stop puppy farms and illegal trading that cause real suffering.

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Why consider adopting

• Shelters and rescue groups in the UAE care for many animals that were abandoned or given up, as Khaleej Times reported in 2017.
• Dubai Municipality says some animals from its trap, neuter, vaccinate and return work are offered for adoption through its website.
• Rescues can often tell you about an animal's personality, which helps you find a good match for your home.
• Be honest about your home, time and family: Dogs Trust Ireland says reputable breeders ask about your living situation, experience and readiness, and a good rescue should too.

Red flags in a seller

• Dogs Trust Ireland lists warning signs: frequent adverts for new litters, several breeds for sale at once, and refusing visits where the dogs live or suggesting a public meeting place.
• Other red flags include not letting you see the mother with her puppies, puppies without a microchip, offering paperwork 'later' and pressure to pay quickly.
• Dogs Trust Ireland says puppies should stay with their mother and littermates until they are at least 8 weeks old.
• The Scottish SPCA advises against buying online or from anyone where you cannot verify where the dog has come from.
• In the UAE, Dubai Municipality has campaigned against unlicensed online pet sellers; buy only from licensed sources.

What a good visit looks like

• Scottish SPCA advice: meet the puppies with their mother at the breeder's home, in a clean, warm, dry, quiet and safe space with fresh water.
• Healthy puppies are active and alert with clear eyes and nose, normal breathing, clean ears, healthy skin and no visible ribs.
• The mother should look healthy and comfortable with her puppies and with visitors.
• Ask for proof of vaccinations, flea and worm treatments and microchip details.
• Take your time. A good seller will never rush you.

Know what you must not buy

• Check that the breed is legal in the UAE before you fall in love with it. Several pit bull types, mastiff types, the Japanese Tosa and the Perro de Presa Canario are banned, according to a 2021 report of a Ministry of Climate Change and Environment decision. Rules can change, so confirm the current list with the ministry or a licensed vet.
• Wild and exotic animals may not be kept privately in the UAE, according to the UAE Government portal.
• If an animal is advertised as 'rare' or 'exotic' online, treat that as a warning, not a selling point.
• If you buy a pet that soon shows signs of illness, the Scottish SPCA advises taking it to a vet immediately.

A short script for contacting a seller or rescue

• 'Hello, I am interested in the kitten in your advert. Could my parent and I visit to meet her with her mother at your home?'
• 'Has she been vaccinated, wormed and microchipped, and can we see the records?'
• 'Is there a licence or registration for your business?'
• If the answers are vague, or you are pressured, politely end the conversation.