Finding a pet safely
A new pet is exciting, and scammers know it. A few habits protect you, your money and the animal you bring home, whether it's a puppy, a kitten, a rabbit or a ferret.
Six habits that keep you safe
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Keep the conversation on Furizzma
Message sellers here rather than by text or email. There's a record of what was said, and you can report anyone who seems wrong.
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Meet the pet before you pay
Visit in person, or at least see the pet with the seller on a live video call. A photo proves nothing: scammers post pictures of other people's animals.
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Pay in a way you can dispute
A credit card lets you dispute a charge. Wire transfers, gift cards, crypto and payment apps like Zelle or Cash App are as final as handing over cash.
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Get it in writing
Ask for a bill of sale or contract that names the pet, the price, any health guarantee, and what happens if it doesn't work out.
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Ask for health records
Vaccinations, deworming, vet checks and microchip details, with the vet's name so you can call them.
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See your own vet within days
Book a checkup for the first few days home. Many health guarantees require one.
Red flags
Any one of these is a reason to stop and walk away.
- The price is far below what other sellers ask for the same breed.
- The seller will only ship the pet, and won't meet you or video call.
- They want a wire transfer, gift cards, crypto or a payment app.
- New fees keep appearing: shipping insurance, a special crate, a "pet nanny", customs.
- They rush you, or ask for a deposit to "hold" the pet before you've seen it.
- The same photos show up elsewhere online. A reverse image search finds them.
- Their story changes, or they dodge simple questions.
- They want to move to text, WhatsApp or email right away.
- Someone says Furizzma will hold your payment. Furizzma never handles payments.
Check a seller's license
Some breeders need a federal license from the USDA, including many who sell animals their buyers haven't seen in person. The USDA's Animal Care Public Search Tool lists license holders and their inspection reports.
Many states license breeders and pet sellers too, usually through the state department of agriculture, and your city or county may require a kennel permit.
On Furizzma, a breeder who holds a license gives us its number, and it shows on their page for you to look up. Once we've found it ourselves, their page says USDA licensed or State licensed. A license means a breeder is registered and can be inspected, not that the animals are well raised.
Before you start looking
- Choose for your life, not the photo. Think about your time, space, other pets, allergies, and how long the animal lives. A rabbit can live ten years or more, and guinea pigs do best in pairs.
- Budget past the price. Food, supplies, vet visits, vaccinations, spaying or neutering, and the unexpected.
- Learn about the breed. Read up on its size, energy, grooming and common health problems, and ask the seller what the parents are like.
Questions to ask the seller
A good seller is glad you asked, and will have questions for you too.
- Can I meet the mother, and see where the pet was raised?
- How old is it, and when can it come home? Puppies and kittens should be at least 8 weeks old, and many states require it.
- What vaccinations, deworming and vet checks has it had? Can I see the records?
- Is there a written health guarantee? What does it cover, and for how long?
- What does it eat, and how has it been handled and socialized?
- If it doesn't work out, will you take it back?
- Can I talk to people who have bought from you before?
And depending on the pet
- Dogs
- Which health tests the parents have had: hips, eyes or heart, depending on the breed.
- Cats
- FeLV and FIV test results, and whether the kitten already uses a litter box.
- Rabbits and guinea pigs
- Whether a vet has checked the sex (young ones are often mixed up), and whether they're used to living with a companion.
- Ferrets
- Whether they're spayed or neutered, and vaccinated against distemper.
- Hamsters, rats and mice
- Their age, and whether they've lived alone or in a group.
Adopting from a shelter or rescue
- Expect an application, questions about your home, and sometimes a home visit. Good rescues want the match to last.
- The adoption fee usually covers vaccinations, a microchip, and spaying or neutering.
- The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search shows whether a rescue is a registered nonprofit.
- The same habits apply: meet the animal first, and never pay by wire transfer or gift card.
After you bring them home
- Keep the contract, receipts and health records together.
- Register the microchip in your name.
- See your vet within the first few days.
- Give them time: a new pet can be shy or unsettled for a few weeks.
- Tell the seller how it's going. If there's a problem you can't solve together, report them with the flag button on their page.
What Furizzma does, and doesn't
We do
- Connect you with shelters, rescues, owners rehoming a pet and breeders across the US.
- Read new listings and messages with AI for the signs of a scam. A listing that looks like one comes down until a person checks it.
- Keep your conversations with sellers in one place.
- Let you report a listing or a person with the flag button.
We don't
- Check sellers before they post, or every listing by hand. The AI catches a lot, not everything, so the tips above still matter.
- Verify the license badges sellers choose.
- Handle payments or hold deposits. Anyone offering "Furizzma payment protection" or escrow is running a scam.
Ready to start looking?
Dogs, cats, rabbits and more, across the US.