Buying a Puppy on Craigslist? Read This First

The search for a new pet, whether a puppy or a zebra finch, is always an exciting time. Sometimes, it can be tempting to rush the process and choose the first cute little dog you find on the internet—but that’s not always a good idea.

If you're thinking about buying a puppy from Craigslist, you may want to think twice. Here's why finding a dog on Craigslist isn’t as good a deal as it might seem—and what you should do instead.

At Mawoo Pets, we’ve helped thousands of families find safe, ethical breeders. We’ve also heard the horror stories — from sick puppies to heartbreaking scams. That’s why we put this guide together: to help you avoid those same mistakes.

Is It Safe to Buy a Puppy on Craigslist?

Shopping on Craigslist for used furniture, free appliances and collectibles can be a fun way to furnish a new home or find rare items—but it's not the best place to find a new pet. 

Craigslist puppy listings can seem appealing at first glance, but the lack of oversight creates major red flags.

Many of the puppies sold on Craigslist aren’t coming from responsible breeders. And it’s nearly impossible to verify whether a seller has taken proper care of the animals. Worse, if you purchase a pet from Craigslist, you may unknowingly support unethical breeders or even puppy mills.

Puppies from questionable sources often endure poor living conditions, malnourishment, inadequate socialization, or i the worst cases, animal cruelty. In some cases, buyers end up with sick or traumatized animals—or no animal at all.

🚩 What Are the Most Common Craigslist Puppy Scams?

One of our customers from Phoenix mentioned that she started her search on Craigslist. 

“I thought I was getting a healthy Goldendoodle ... but it turns out the Craigslist seller wasn’t even the breeder.” She only realized this when she asked for a FaceTime call with the breeder, which she declined.   

There’s a simple reason why shopping for pets on Craigslist can be a bad idea: There’s no vetting process. Nobody from Craigslist corporate visits a breeding facility or asks for medical papers when a sale happens ... which means literally anyone can sell one. 

Listings are sometimes made for stolen dogs or sick puppies, which no one wants to support. In many cases, a puppy's profile pic is just taken from a Google image search or a legitimate site to create a fake listing.

Here are a few common scams to watch out for:

• Fake Listings: Photos pulled from Google or breeder websites are used to lure buyers.

• "Rehoming Fees" That Turn Into Sales: Craigslist bans animal sales, but sellers get around this with so-called rehoming fees.

• Sick or Stolen Puppies: Some listings involve animals in poor health or even stolen pets.

• Ghost Sellers: After receiving payment, the seller disappears, and you never get the puppy.

Questions to Ask When Buying a Puppy from Craigslist

People who care about the dogs they sell are open to questions from potential customers, so don’t be afraid to reach out for information. Ask questions before buying a puppy and take the opportunity to get to know the vendor and make sure the breeding facilities are up to par.

1. Can I Meet the Puppy In-Person?

Always ask to meet the puppy in person. If possible, also ask to meet its parents and other family members. When you meet a dog’s parents, you’ll see two very good examples of what a puppy might be like as an adult. Good-tempered, healthy adult dogs make the healthiest puppies, which is exactly what you should be looking for.

It's also a good idea to ask to meet a breeder in person to get to know them better. Watch how they interact with animals and talk about the dogs in their care -- to get an idea of how they run their business. 

If they don’t have the time to meet up, and aren’t willing to speak on the phone or answer questions about their dogs, consider their business suspicious. If you aren’t sure how to choose a dog breeder, read our guide on the difference between responsible breeders and unethical breeders.

If you live far away from a breeding facility, you might instead be able to see your potential new puppy via video. Pay attention to the body language of any dogs you do see on camera, ask to see the littermates, and don't hesitate to call out red flags like undersized crates or dirty surroundings. If things seem particularly bad, it's a good idea to call your state SPCA or provincial RSPCA and have them look into that facility officially.

2. Has the Puppy Been Socialized?

Find out how much exposure the puppy has had to people, pets, and daily life. A well-socialized puppy is more likely to become a balanced adult dog.

The first socialization happens between a puppy and its mother and siblings, and soon afterwards, with trainers, owners and other pets. Spending time with other animals and people helps puppies learn not to be afraid or overly aggressive when in the company of other creatures, including humans. It also helps them learn to deal with crowds, traffic, public noise, and other daily assaults on the senses.

Ask for specifics when talking about puppy socialization, to get a better picture of what kind of social experiences the dog has had. This is especially important when adding a dog whose breeding and family history includes some aggression and anti-social behavior.

3. Does the Puppy Come with a Health Guarantee?

Responsible breeders provide documentation of vet visits, vaccinations, and a health guarantee.

A health guarantee is usually part of the contract you will be asked to sign by a good breeder. As part of your purchase, a breeder should include a guarantee that your puppy has been declared healthy by a veterinarian, and that it has received all necessary medical attention—including vaccinations—before going home with you.

The money you spend on a new puppy should include the first round of vaccinations, vet check-ups, and the health certificate/guarantee signed by a trusted veterinarian. This document should allow you to request a refund for the cost of your puppy, or a replacement dog, should something unfortunate happen with its health within the first year or two.

4. What Does the Contract Cover?

Every ethical breeder uses a written contract that outlines health, behavior, and care expectations. If there’s no contract, proceed with caution.

Ask vendors about any paperwork you might have to sign if you buy a puppy from them, and go over each line of a contract to make sure you understand it. The purpose of puppy buying contracts is to make sure the puppy is healthy, properly trained, and that you will provide it with everything it needs.

Different breeds of dog have different basic personality traits, health issues, and training needs. For those reasons, breed identification is an important aspect of a pure breed puppy purchasing contract. Knowing as much as possible about your dog's genetic disposition should prevent surprising health or behavioral news down the road.

❌ Can You Sell Puppies on Craigslist? Here's What to Know

Craigslist technically prohibits the sale of pets, but sellers often get around this by using the "rehoming" loophole. While rehoming is allowed to prevent pets from being exploited, some breeders use it as a cover to conduct informal sales.

This gray area allows unethical breeders to continue operating with little consequence. Reputable breeders, on the other hand, have no need to advertise this way.

Technically, Craigslist has banned the sale of animals on its pages, but backyard breeders have found a way to continue sales anyway. Since the website does allow the rehoming of animals, vendors can still list their puppies in the free community listings and arrange for payment later. 

✅ What Ethical Dog Breeders Do Differently

Good breeders rely on word of mouth, trusted platforms, and repeat customers—not Craigslist ads. Listing their dogs for sale on Craigslist only risks damaging their reputation.  

Good breeders aren't looking for a quick, question-free sale. They want good homes for their animals, not just cash. Here's what sets them apart:

• They welcome questions and provide documentation.

• They let you meet the puppies and the parents.

• They offer a health guarantee and vaccination records.

• They use contracts and conduct screening to ensure good homes.

🔍 Better Ways to Find a Puppy (That You Can Actually Trust)

Craigslist might seem like the quickest and simplest way to buy a dog, but there are better and more satisfying ways to find your new puppy without worrying about ethical issues. If you’re worried about Craigslist puppy scams but feeling a bit lost about where to look to find your new best furry friend, try out the following options.

Networking with Friends & Family

Do your friends have dogs that came from great breeding facilities? Talk to them! One of the best resources for a potential new dog owner is friends and family who have already gone through the process of finding and buying a purebred dog. Ask for recommendations for breeders and vendors, and start your search there.

Visit Local Breeders

You may live in an area with one or more professional dog breeders nearby—if so, call them up and ask to have a look at the facilities. It’s a great way to support local breeders and take a really in-depth tour of the dogs’ environment. There’s no better way to get to know the quality of a breeder, facility and dogs than to get up close and personal. 

Good local breeders will ask you just as many questions as you will ask them because they want to be sure their puppies are going to a good home. They may want to visit your home, check your references, and do their homework to make sure you'll make a great dog mom or dad. Interested breeders are a sign of good business practices!

Adopt from a Shelter

Most towns and cities have at least one animal shelter where you can find dogs, cats, and sometimes other kinds of homeless pets. Each animal’s story is different, and in most cases, totally unknown. Lost pets, unwanted puppies and kittens, pets abandoned by a previous owner, and street animals all can be found at animal shelters. Even pets with a loving family can have an accidental litter of puppies or kittens, which often ends up at the RSPCA.

Rescued and abandoned pets can have very different personalities from one to the next. Rescue groups do their best to socialize homeless pets and get them healthy, but many remain shy or antisocial with other animals and need special training and care. Visit your nearest shelter to meet the furry residents and give one a potentially life-saving chance!

If you’re comfortable rehoming a dog or adopting a rescued pet, you may be able to do so on Craigslist, where puppies can be advertised for free near you. Saving a needy dog, cat or other domestic animal and giving it a home is an amazing thing to do! Keep an eye on fees and make sure any payments you make go to a rescue organization, shelter or veterinary clinic. Adoption fees from private rescuers should be minimal, as they are in place only to prevent the exploitation of free pets.

Use Reputable Online Platforms

There’s no rule against shopping for a dog or pet online! In fact, you can search for local breeders, international breeders and multinational vendors on Google or any internet browser. You can check a vendor's reputation online by checking customer reviews on Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and several other customer review sites. 

At Mawoo Pets, we’ve seen firsthand how overwhelming it can be to find a safe, ethical breeder. That’s why we personally vet every breeder on our platform, so families can feel confident in their search — and focus on the fun part: choosing the perfect pup.

Mawoo Pets is one of the highly-rated platforms that connects customers from all over the United States and Canada to ethical, fully-vetted dog breeders. You can review our mission, commitment to ethical breeding, and customer reviews online, to assess if Mawoo might be the right choice for you. Once you find a platform that you trust and have verified, you can search for the right breed for your lifestyle - whether a French Bulldog, Yorkshire Terrier, or Cane Corso - and for delivery or pickup of your puppy. 

Read our guide on safely buying a puppy online for top tips on avoiding puppy mills, and learn the best way to find the highest quality dog breeders out there.

📊 Craigslist vs. Ethical Breeders vs. Shelters: Summary

FAQs About Buying Puppies on Craigslist

Can I find free puppies near me on Craigslist?

Sometimes, yes—but you should ask why they're free. Why is someone giving these puppies away for free? Is the puppy healthy? Is it from an accidental litter? Overbreeding? Has it been checked by a vet? Free pets often come with hidden costs.

Are Craigslist puppy scams common in big cities like LA or Dallas?

Yes. Major cities have higher scam volumes. Always meet in a public place, bring someone with you, and don’t send money in advance.

Can you sell pets on Craigslist legally?

Craigslist bans pet sales, but allows "rehoming" with a fee. Sellers often exploit this rule. Be cautious of anyone charging a fee but offering no paperwork.

How do I know if a Craigslist pets ad is legitimate?

Look for detailed info, health records, and a willingness to meet. Vague ads, refusal to show the puppy, extremely low prices, and demands for upfront payments are red flags.

Avoid deals that seem rushed or don't allow for proper vetting of the pet! We have a detailed post on the signs of puppy scams which you can review for additional information. 

Final Thoughts

Craigslist might seem like the fastest way to find a puppy—but it’s also one of the riskiest. There are better, safer, and more ethical ways to bring a furry friend into your life. Whether you're buying or adopting, do your homework, ask questions, and follow your instincts.

Looking for a safe, trusted place to find a puppy? Check out our verified listings at Mawoo Pets and take our Dog Breed Quiz to find your perfect match.