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Updated at 1.30pm
AN INITIATIVE HAS been launched introducing minimum standards for classified ad websites to ensure the welfare of animals being sold online is protected and any illegal activity is identified.
The minimum standards were launched yesterday by animal welfare organisations and websites that allow pet advertising.
The ISPCA has said the online sale of pets has been identified as a significant problem with rogue breeders breaking the law and in many cases compromising the welfare of the animals being offered for sale.
“In the absence of a ban, which would result in adverts appearing on unregulated websites likely based outside Ireland, it would make dealing with animal welfare issues extremely difficult and would do nothing to prevent the over production of puppies,” the society said.
As part of this initiative, the Irish Pet Advertising Advisory Group will also be providing an opportunity for buyers to be educated on what criteria to use to identify a responsible breeder. Websites that comply with the standards will provide links to the IPAAG website which will include information for the safe purchase of healthy dogs, cats, equines and exotic animals.
“As someone committed to animal welfare I would always encourage prospective pet owners to rehome a rescue animal from a shelter or pound but we recognise that people will often turn to their computers when looking to buy or sell almost anything including pets,” commented CEO of the ISPCA, Dr Andrew Kelly.
“Website advertisers complying with IPAAG minimum standards is the first step to solving the issues that relate to the online sale of pets, enabling prospective pet owners to buy a healthily bred pet with confidence. The ISPCA and our colleagues in animal welfare regularly hear from people who have purchased a pet online only for it to fall sick or die soon after, which is awful for the animal concerned and heart breaking for the owners.”
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