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🐾 IKC, Irish & EU Breeding Standards

Last updated June 2026. Every seller on FurEver Home.ie must read and understand the standards below before posting an ad. These exist to protect dog welfare and to keep buyers and sellers safe and informed.

Irish Kennel Club (IKC) Registration

The IKC is Ireland's official kennel club and pedigree registry. An IKC registered litter means both parents are registered with the IKC and the litter itself has been formally recorded. Registration alone does not guarantee health or temperament — it confirms pedigree and breed lineage only.

• Buyers should ask to see the IKC registration certificate or "green card" for the litter, not just the parents
• A breeder claiming "IKC registered" without paperwork available should be treated with caution
• The IKC operates a Code of Ethics for breeders, covering responsible breeding frequency, health testing, and welfare of breeding dogs
• FurEver Home.ie does not verify IKC registration on every ad — buyers should always confirm directly with the seller and the IKC

Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010

Under Irish law, anyone keeping 6 or more breeding bitches must register their premises as a Dog Breeding Establishment (DBE) with their local authority. This applies regardless of breed or whether dogs are kept indoors or outdoors.

• Registered DBEs are subject to inspection and must meet minimum standards for housing, exercise, veterinary care, and record-keeping
• Sellers operating at this scale must include their DBE registration number when posting
• It is a criminal offence to operate an unregistered breeding establishment above the threshold

Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013

This is Ireland's core animal welfare law. It places a legal duty of care on anyone responsible for an animal, including breeders and sellers, covering food, water, shelter, veterinary treatment and freedom from unnecessary suffering.

• It is an offence to sell, advertise, or transfer a dog that is suffering or in poor health without disclosing this to the buyer
• Cruelty, neglect, or abandonment can carry penalties including fines and imprisonment
• Anyone with welfare concerns about an ad on this site should use the Report button, or contact the ISPCA or DSPCA directly

Microchipping Regulations (S.I. No. 63/2015)

All dogs in Ireland must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age, or before sale or transfer if sold younger, whichever comes first. The microchip must be registered on an approved database with the current owner's correct details.

• Sellers must transfer microchip details to the new owner at the point of sale
• Puppies advertised as "microchipped" should have this confirmed in writing or via the chip database at handover
• Failure to microchip a dog is an offence and can result in an on-the-spot fine

Control of Dogs Acts — Restricted Breeds

Ireland's Control of Dogs Regulations list certain breeds and types (including but not limited to American Pit Bull Terrier, English Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Japanese Akita, Japanese Tosa, and crosses of these) that are subject to restrictions in public.

• These breeds must be muzzled and kept on a strong leash not exceeding 2 metres when in a public place
• They must be under the control of a person over 16 years of age capable of controlling the dog
• Sellers of these breeds should make buyers aware of these legal requirements at the point of sale

EU Animal Health Law (Regulation 2016/429)

This EU-wide regulation sets common standards across all member states for the prevention and control of animal diseases, which applies to the movement, sale, and trade of dogs within the EU and into Ireland.

• Dogs travelling into or within the EU for sale must meet EU pet travel and health certification requirements, including valid rabies vaccination where applicable
• Commercial sellers bringing puppies in from other EU countries must comply with EU TRACES movement documentation
• Buyers should be wary of puppies advertised as imported without proper documentation — this is a common indicator of puppy farming or smuggling operations

Consumer Rights Act 2022

Where a dog is sold as part of a business or trade (rather than a private, occasional rehoming), the buyer has consumer rights including the right to a dog that matches its description and is free from defects that were not disclosed.

• Sellers must not misrepresent a dog's breed, age, health status, or registration status
• Misleading or false claims in an ad may constitute a breach of consumer law, separate from animal welfare law

Our Commitment

FurEver Home.ie is not a regulatory body and cannot independently verify every claim made in an ad. Responsibility for compliance with these laws and standards rests with the individual seller. We rely on honest listings, buyer due diligence, and our community reporting system to help keep the platform safe. Suspected breaches of animal welfare or breeding law should be reported to us via the Report button and, where appropriate, directly to the ISPCA, DSPCA, or your local authority.

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📋 Buyer Safety Guide & Disclaimer

Please read this carefully before contacting any seller on FurEver Home.ie

Platform Disclaimer

FurEver Home.ie is an independent classified advertising platform. We are not a breeder, dealer, rescue organisation, or agent for any seller. We do not own, breed, inspect, or handle any of the animals advertised on this site.

All ads are posted directly by individual sellers. We do not verify the accuracy of any claims made in listings, including but not limited to breed, age, health status, IKC registration, vaccination records, microchip status, or litter size. Buyers deal directly with sellers and do so entirely at their own risk.

FurEver Home.ie accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, injury, illness, death of an animal, financial loss, fraud, misrepresentation, or dispute arising from any transaction or contact made through this platform.

10 Things Every Buyer Must Do

• Always view the puppy or dog in person before agreeing to purchase. Never buy a dog you haven't seen.
• Always see the mother (dam) with her pups. If the seller won't let you see the mother, walk away — this is the single biggest red flag for puppy farming or trafficking.
• Never pay a deposit before viewing. Any seller asking for money upfront before you've seen the dog in person is almost certainly a scam.
• Verify the microchip. Ask for the chip number and check it on the Irish Pet Register (ipet.ie) before completing the purchase. Make sure the chip is transferred to your name at the point of sale.
• Ask to see vaccination records. A vet-stamped card or digital record should confirm the vaccines and the dates they were given.
• Check IKC registration paperwork. If a seller claims IKC registration, ask to see the actual registration certificate or litter card — not just a verbal assurance.
• Do not buy a pup under 8 weeks old. It is illegal to sell a puppy under 8 weeks in Ireland. If a seller tries to sell or hand over a pup younger than this, do not proceed and consider reporting them to your local authority or the DSPCA/ISPCA.
• Visit the seller's home. Reputable breeders will welcome you to their home and show you where the dogs are raised. Refuse any requests to meet in a car park, motorway service station, or neutral location.
• Get everything in writing. Ask for a receipt, a sales agreement, and all documentation (vet records, chip transfer, registration papers) before handing over money.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels off — the price is too low, the seller is pushing for a quick sale, the pup seems unwell, or the story doesn't add up — walk away.

Spotting Scams & Puppy Trafficking

Ireland has a serious problem with puppy trafficking — pups bred in poor conditions, often in Eastern Europe, smuggled into Ireland and sold online. Warning signs include:

• Price significantly below market average for the breed
• Seller unwilling to let you visit their home
• Pup appears much younger than stated age
• Seller has multiple breeds available at once
• Documentation looks unofficial, is in another language, or doesn't match the pup
• Seller pushes for very fast handover
• Pup is lethargic, underweight, or clearly unwell
• Requests for payment by bank transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency

If you suspect trafficking or a scam, report it to the ISPCA (ispca.ie), DSPCA (dspca.ie), or An Garda Síochána. You can also report the ad to us using the Report button.

Buyer Advice Under IKC & EU Standards

When buying a pedigree dog, use these questions as a checklist when speaking to any seller:

• Can I see the IKC litter registration certificate?
• Can I see both parents — ideally the sire too, or at minimum a photo and documentation?
• Have the parents undergone any breed-specific health testing (hips, eyes, heart)?
• Has the pup been vet checked since birth?
• Is the microchip registered in my name or will it be transferred at handover?
• Is the seller registered as a Dog Breeding Establishment with their local authority (if they have 6+ breeding bitches)?
• What food has the pup been weaned onto and will any food be included?
• Has the pup been socialised with children, other animals, or household noises?

A reputable, responsible breeder will answer all of these questions confidently and openly. Evasive answers to any of the above are a warning sign.

Useful Contacts

• ISPCA: ispca.ie · 1890 515 515
• DSPCA: dspca.ie · 01 499 4700
• Irish Kennel Club: ikc.ie
• Irish Pet Register (microchip lookup): ipet.ie
• An Garda Síochána (fraud/scams): garda.ie
• FurEver Home.ie: fureverhomeireland@outlook.ie

🔒 Privacy Policy & DSA Compliance

Last updated June 2026. FurEver Home.ie is committed to protecting your personal data in line with GDPR (EU Regulation 2016/679) and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018.

What Data We Collect

When you post an ad, we collect your name, phone number, email address, and the content of your ad. We do not collect payment card details directly — payments are handled by Stripe.

How We Use Your Data

• To display your ad on the site so buyers can contact you
• To contact you about your ad, payment, or account
• To comply with Irish and EU law if required

Your Rights

Under GDPR you have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data at any time. Contact us at fureverhomeireland@outlook.ie to exercise these rights.

Cookies

We use essential cookies only to make the site work. If you accept analytics cookies, we use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the site. No personal data is shared with advertisers.

Data Retention

Ad data is retained for the duration of the active listing period, after which it expires automatically. Payment records are retained for 7 years as required by Irish Revenue law.

Contact

Data Controller: FurEver Home.ie · fureverhomeireland@outlook.ie