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Standards launched for online pet sales

Welfare groups reveal the UK's worst pet adverts

A set of minimum standards has been launched by leading animal welfare groups, providing guidelines for UK websites carrying pet advertisements.

With backing from Defra, the standards have been published by the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG), which is made up of representatives from welfare charities and specialist agencies.

As the new guidance was launched, PAAG also exposed some of the UK's worst online pet adverts, which included adverts for underage puppies, an illegal pitbull puppy, a cat in need of veterinary treatment, marmoset monkeys and even an arctic fox.

Some unscrupulous advertisers had even posted adverts offering to swap animals for mobile phones, watches or different breeds.

"The research undertaken by the PAAG has revealed some truly terrible examples where animal welfare was clearly the last thought in the mind of the advertiser," said Clarissa Baldwin, chairman of PAAG.

"Everyday we hear from people who have bought an animal online only for it to fall sick or die soon after. We hope that the minimum standards will be just that, a minimum standard that a website must reach before posting advertisements for pets."

Data such as that gathered by the PAAG, suggests that online pet advertising currently allows almost anything, from banned breeds and endangered species to underage and illegally imported animals.

It is hoped that the new standards will help to improve the welfare of pets and ensure members of the public avoid the risk of buying sick, dangerous or even illegal animals.

Lord de Mauley, Defra's minister for animal welfare, has voiced his support for the new guidance, saying: "It is vitally important that advertising websites do all they can to ensure the welfare of animals sold on their sites and to prevent the sale of banned breeds.

"I fully support PAAG's Minimum Standards and would encourage all advertising websites to sign up to these."

A team of volunteer website moderators will be formed and PAAG is to work closely with websites including Gumtree, Loot and Preloved, offering them support in reporting and moderating suspicious adverts.

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Webinar to explore AMR in vet dentistry

News Story 1
 The WSAVA has invited veterinary professionals to a webinar on responsible antibiotic usage in dentistry.

On 19 November 2025, at 1am, Dr J Scott Weese and Dr Brooke Niemiec will share the latest advice for antimicrobial use. They will present research on oral bacterology, and explain how attendees can choose appropriate antibiotics.

The session will cover pre-, intra- and post-operative guidelines, with recommendations for various pathologies.

The webinar is designed to support veterinary professionals to make informed decisions and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Attendees can register here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue reaches Wales for first time in 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that bluetongue has been confirmed in Wales for the first time in 2025.

In their latest statistics, APHA records a total of 109 cases of BTV-3 or BTV-8 in Great Britain in the 2025-2026 vector season.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain this season is 107. This includes 103 cases within the England restricted zone and four cases in Wales.

There has also been two cases of BTV-8, which were both in Cornwall.

As a result of the cases in Wales, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is enforced in Monmouthshire. Animals can move freely under general license within the England Restricted Zone, however animals with suspected bluetongue must stay on their holding.

All premises testing positive for blue tongue can be viewed on this map.