Demand for pets creates online pet sales epidemic

Online classified adverts are now the top method used to purchase a pet in the EU. Over 400,000 dogs and over 100,000 cats are advertised online on any given day. In addition, the vast majority of online pet adverts across the EU lack basic information on the animal’s health and needs, and are for animals that are too young to be separated from their parents, in poor health or for banned breed types. These were the findings by the Blue Cross and the EU Dog and Cat Alliance, an alliance of companion animal welfare organisations, in a report released last week. ‘Online pet sales in the EU: what’s the cost?’ examines the method of sale, the regulations governing the sale of pet animals and the standards that online sellers must adhere to in each EU country. Its findings are based on a survey of animal welfare organisations in the...
Source: Veterinary Record - Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News and reports Source Type: research