If it looks too good to be true - it probably is:

  • First of all, and most importantly - always buy the puppy in person. This will give you the opportunity to inspect the health of the puppy, the cleanliness and safety of the location, and best of all, you'll see if you have a good rapport with the puppy. While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a real live puppy will tell the story.
  • No matter how good the deal seems or how cute the animal is, only pay once you’ve inspected the pet and asked the breeder all of your questions. You can consider choosing your preferred third party cashless payment method as an alternate to carrying cash (at your own discretion). Secure cashless payment methods include electronic money transfers (Interac e-transfers). Never mail a cheque or wire money to sellers. Services like Western Union or MoneyGram should be avoided. Typically, scammers will use these services and will even falsify documents from a legitimate company. It’s best to avoid them entirely and keep things local!

Do your homework.

  • Be aware of the laws in Canada and in your province specifically. Selling or buying exotic animals like monkeys, turtles or tiger cubs is illegal and can get you in a lot of trouble.
  • Take a look at the pictures in the ad. Do they look like they might be generic photos downloaded off the internet? Do not be afraid to ask for more information or pictures of the animal.

Recognizing scams

1. Most scams involve one or more of the following:

  • Dog scams are most common with English Bulldogs, Yorkies, Maltese, Chihuahua's and Huskies.
  • Inquiry from someone far away, often in another country.
  • Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a "guarantee."
  • Inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before accepting transaction.

2. Who do I notify in case of scams?

  • PuppiesForSaleOntario - Contact Us.
  • PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
  • Reporting Economic Crime online (www.recol.ca or 1-800-495-8501)

Personal Safety

The overwhelming majority of users are trustworthy and well-intentioned.With billions of human interactions facilitated, the incidence of violent crime is extremely low.

Nevertheless, please take the same common sense precautions online as you would offline.

When meeting someone for the first time, please remember to:

  • Insist on a public meeting place like a cafe.
  • Do not meet in a secluded place, or invite strangers into your home.
  • Be especially careful when buying/selling high value items.
  • Tell a friend or family member where you're going.
  • Take your cell phone along if you have one.
  • Consider having a friend accompany you.
  • Trust your instincts.

Taking these simple precautions helps make PUPPIESFORSALEONTARIO safer for everyone.