More and more people like to keep pets and even treat “fur babies” as their own children. Apart from traditional means such as buying from physical pet shops or adopting, many consumers have recently turned to online platforms or social media to purchase cats and dogs as pets, some of which may be illegally imported or be of unknown origins. In the unfortunate event of petfishing scams, not only would it lead to financial loss, but the beloved pets might also be tormented by illness. The Consumer Council and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) jointly investigated the issue of online pet purchases and petfishing scams, and invited registered veterinarians in Hong Kong to participate in the questionnaire survey. The survey results found that more cats and dogs purchased online were in poor health, with a significantly higher proportion than those purchased from physical pet shops. In addition, more than 90% of cats and dogs purchased online lacked proper vaccination records when seeking medical attention. The Council also successfully reached out to 13 online sellers as mystery shoppers and found that around 90% of the sellers were suspected of smuggling pets from the Mainland or unlicensed local breeding or trading, etc., posing public health risks. The Council urges the authorities to crack down on unlicensed sales and illegal pet smuggling activities. At the same time, consumers are cautioned on the difficulty in seeking redress if they encounter unfulfilled transactions or receive pets that do not match the description. Therefore, they should refrain from buying pets online and consider adopting, so as to avoid petfishing scams.
From January to February this year, the Council and AFCD issued questionnaires to 1,051 registered veterinarians in Hong Kong to understand their experiences and observations in clinically treating newly purchased cats and dogs over the past 12 months. A total of 112 responses were received, representing a response rate of 10.7%. Additionally, from January to April this year, Council staff posed as mystery shoppers and studied 18 accounts from various social media platforms. By posting comments to posts that appeared to be selling dogs, they successfully contacted 13 account owners or sellers and enquired about the details of the dogs being sold, including their origins, price, documentations and collection arrangements, etc.
Newly Purchased Cats and Dogs More from Online
With a Greater Proportion Sick or in Poor Condition
Online pet shopping is becoming more common, with 92% of surveyed veterinarians attributing it to lower prices compared to pet shops. In the past 12 months, an average of 4.7 dogs and 5 cats out of every 10 newly purchased pets seeking medical attention were bought online (including social media platforms), slightly higher than the proportion of store-bought pets (3.1 dogs and 2.8 cats out of every 10). Furthermore, an average of 2.2 dogs and 2.2 cats per 10 pets were purchased from other channels or unknown sources.
Surveyed veterinarians also pointed out that out of every 10 online-purchased pets seeking medical attention, an average of 5 dogs and 5.5 cats were found to be sick or in poor condition, a higher proportion than those bought from pet shops (3.3 dogs and 3.9 cats out of every 10).
Taking for instance the 8 most common diseases among dogs, including upper respiratory infection, diarrhoea, and canine parvovirus, online-purchased dogs had a significantly higher prevalence rate (52% to 86%) than store-bought dogs (29% to 78%). Similarly, the prevalence of 8 common diseases in cats were compared. Except for upper respiratory infection, which has the same prevalence rate of 84%, for the other diseases, such as cat flu and skin infection, online-purchased cats (56% to 89%) also had a higher prevalence rate than that of cats bought from pet shops (31% to 78%), with the most significant difference being feline panleukopenia (Online purchase: 61.9%; Pet shops: 31.4%).
More than 90% of Cats and Dogs Purchased Online Lack Vaccination Records
About 90% Veterinarians Agree that Cats and Dogs Purchased Online Are Mostly from Unscrupulous Sellers
The survey also showed that over 90% of online-purchased pets lacked proper vaccination records (vaccination cards), and some pet owners had vaccination cards without any veterinarian signature and only in Simplified Chinese. The proportion of online-purchased pets found to be in poor health, with age and breed not matching the owner’s description (52% to 85%), was also significantly higher than that of store-bought pets (24% to 61%). Around 90% of surveyed veterinarians agreed or strongly agreed that a significant proportion of online-purchased cats and dogs are suspected to have come from unscrupulous sellers (93%) or breeding farms / backyard breeders in poor conditions (88%), and another 84% agreed or strongly agreed that a significant proportion of online-purchased pets are suspected to have been smuggled into Hong Kong, which may introduce infections such as rabies into Hong Kong, posing public health risks.
3 Sellers Claimed “Local Licensed Breeding”
Although it may be cheaper and more convenient to purchase pets online, consumers should be wary of petfishing scams and fraudulent behaviour, where unscrupulous sellers post false or misleading information online, peddling seemingly cute but unhealthy pets from poor breeding environments or even non-existent pets. For example, among the 13 social media accounts selling dogs which were contacted by the Council, their posts mainly featured cute photos or videos of different dogs, yet the descriptions were minimal and lacked indication of whether the dogs were for sale, while the post owner generally requested commenters to further communicate through private messages.
5 sellers stated that their dogs came from Mainland breeding farms or kennels, with some sellers claiming that the dogs could be delivered from the Mainland to Hong Kong as quickly as the next day or within 2 days after placing an order, but generally did not specify the transportation method. Prices ranged from RMB¥5,000 (Toy Poodle) to HKD$46,000 (French Bulldog). Another 5 sellers claimed to be local “private breeders” rather than local licensed breeders, and 3 sellers claimed to have local dog breeding licenses, with dog prices ranging from HKD$6,500 to HKD$15,800. Notably, among the 3 sellers claiming “local licensed breeding” only 1 seller claimed to provide the yellow duplicate from the “Dog Breeder’s Declaration” (commonly known as the “yellow paper”) when the buyer collects the dog, while the other 2 sellers stated that they could not provide or had not yet applied for the “yellow paper”, using excuses such as missing documents, the dog being underaged, pending AFCD’s on-site inspection of the breeding farm, and still waiting for the authorities to process the necessary documents, etc. As for the remaining 10 sellers, 5 claiming to sell dogs bred in the Mainland and 5 local private breeders were all unable to provide proof of legal origin or relevant documentation.
According to the “Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Trading and Breeding) Regulations”, any person in Hong Kong who wishes to sell dogs must have the relevant license or permit, including the Animal Trader License (ATL) for pet shops, the Category A or B Dog Breeder License (DBLA/DBLB) for local breeding premises or private breeders (including “home breeders”), as well as the One-off Permit for registered dog owners to sell their pet dogs. They must also comply with the Code of Practice and specified Licence Conditions, including if selling dogs legally bred by local licensed breeders, they must provide the buyer with the “yellow paper” signed by AFCD to prove their legal origin.
Dogs Sold Online Generally Lacked Microchips
The relevant licence or permit also stipulate that all dogs for sale must be implanted with a microchip, and have received at least 2 vaccinations from a registered veterinarian, or the vaccines must still be valid at the time of sale. However, only 3 sellers claiming “local licensed breeding” stated that the dogs they sold had been or would be implanted with a microchip. Among the remaining sellers which did not microchip the dogs, some claimed that dogs bred in the Mainland could not be transported to Hong Kong once microchipped, or falsely claimed that privately bred dogs in Hong Kong usually were not microchipped. Additionally, not all sellers had vaccinated the dogs and held vaccination cards. Some sellers claimed that the dogs had received 3 vaccinations before coming to Hong Kong from the Mainland, but could still receive “booster shots” in Hong Kong.
Although most (11) sellers claimed to offer a health guarantee period ranging from 14 days to 6 months, allowing replacement or refund of dogs with health issues, 3 of these sellers did not specify whether a full refund was possible or provide a detailed scope of the guarantee. All sellers were unable to provide any contracts, reasons or justifications to support that they would honour their promise. The sales practices of some sellers also warrant consumer caution. For instance, only responding to enquiries via voice messages without written records; deleting previously sent photos or videos if the buyer needed time to consider or found the dog unsuitable; and urging quick decisions and transactions by claiming that multiple customers were enquiring at the same time.
Consumers considering pet ownership can refer to the following recommendations:
- Consider adopting abandoned or surrendered animals instead of buying pets;
- Avoid buying pets of unknown origin online, even if the seller claims to have a valid license or permit, proof of legal origin, vaccination records, etc., as they may be forged;
- If set on buying a pet, patronise reputable licensed animal traders (i.e. licensed physical pet shops) or licensed dog breeders, and ensure the pet has received at least 2 vaccinations, is microchipped, has a vaccination card issued by a registered veterinarian in Hong Kong as well as proof of legal origin;
- Understand the pet’s health condition before purchase, including checking for obvious symptoms of infection or disease, such as runny nose, sneezing, coughing, eye discharge, hair loss, diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy, skin disease, or ear disease, etc.;
- Keeping a pet involves great responsibility and commitment. Those who intend to keep a pet should carefully consider all relevant factors before doing so, such as whether the living environment is suitable for keeping a pet, the willingness of family members living with the pet, and learn about the characteristics and care requirements of the desired pet breed, so as to be a responsible pet owner.
In addition, the AFCD also reminds the public on the following matters:
- Purchasing pets online carries significant risks. Buyers are unable to directly assess the true condition of the pets or their living environments, which can lead to deception and the acquisition of sick animals. Moreover, tracing the identity of sellers is often challenging, making it difficult to take action against fraudulent practices. Additionally, online pet shopping could promote unlicensed breeding and smuggling, which poses threats to public health and animal welfare;
- Licensed sellers offer greater security. Physical pet shops that possess an “Animal Trader License” issued by the AFCD are required to adhere strictly to licensing conditions. They must ensure that the standards for animal living space, hygiene, ventilation, and other factors meet regulatory requirements. Additionally, the AFCD conducts regular and surprise inspections to verify compliance with these regulations;
- License certificates should be carefully verified. According to the licensing conditions for the Animal Trader (Dog Trader) Licenses and Dog Breeder Licenses, as well as the requirements for the One-off Permit, licensees or permit holders are required to include their license or permit number in any online advertisement for the sale of a dog. Members of the public can call the AFCD hotline at 2150 7077 to confirm the validity of the license;
- Members of the public can visit the AFCD’s thematic website (www.pets.gov.hk/petfishing) to learn more about the risks and potential alternatives to purchasing cats and dogs online.
Download the article (Chinese only): https://ccchoice.org/583-petfishing
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