Considerations Before Purchasing Pets Online

Mr. A received a private message in a social media group from a seller claiming that his Pomeranian had just given birth to a litter of puppies that he was looking to sell. After arranging a meeting, Mr. A fell in love with the puppies at first sight. The seller mentioned that the puppies were healthy and lively, and thus are in high demand with other interested buyers. The seller insisted that Mr. A pay within 24 hours to secure the transaction, or the puppy would be sold to someone else. While Mr. A hesitated, the seller flattered him on the special bond he shared with the puppy and offered a discount to hasten his decision. Under the pressure of the sales pitch, Mr. A paid on the spot and took the puppy home. Unfortunately, not long after arriving home, the puppy developed severe health issues and was diagnosed with canine distemper. After spending several days in the hospital, the puppy tragically passed away. When Mr. A sought compensation, the callous seller blamed the puppy’s death on him, accusing him of neglectful care. After a heated argument, the seller stopped responding to his messages.

Ms. B came across a seemingly reliable unlicensed online pet store. She was deeply attracted by a photo of a lively Ragdoll cat and contacted the store. The seller assured her that the cat was in good health and had been vaccinated, even sharing with Ms. B the chat records from other satisfied customers, as well as more adorable photos and videos of the cat. The low price even included door-to-door delivery. Ms. B was so excited that she immediately paid online. The night the cat arrived at her home, it began to exhibit shortness of breath and slow movement. A veterinarian diagnosed the cat with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickening of heart muscles), which requires long-term treatment and special care. This left Ms. B heartbroken. The ongoing high medical bills also exerted great financial pressure on her. When Ms. B wanted to seek compensation from the seller, she could no longer find the website. The seller also disappeared.

Ms. C saw an online advertisement claiming to have local, purebred and home-bred Pomeranians for sale. The seller also claimed to provide pedigree certificates, birth certificates and health records. As a devoted Pomeranian enthusiast, Ms. C was thrilled by this opportunity and made an appointment with the unknown, unlicensed seller to trade at a dog park. However, as the dog grew older, she noticed that the dog’s coat colour and size were inconsistent to those of a purebred Pomeranian. After conducting a genetic test, it was confirmed that the dog was not purebred. The accompanying certificates and records were also found to be forged, but by that time the seller had already vanished.