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Community Guidelines

Community Guidelines

Last updated: February 2026

PetGuru is South Africa's home for pet lovers, a place where owners, breeders, rescues, and pet care professionals come together to share, connect, and find the best for their animals. Our community is built on a shared love of pets and a commitment to their wellbeing. These guidelines exist to keep PetGuru a safe, trustworthy, and joyful space for everyone.

By using PetGuru, you agree to abide by these guidelines in addition to our Terms & Conditions. Violations may result in content removal, account suspension, or permanent banning from the Platform.

1. Be Respectful

PetGuru is a diverse community spanning all of South Africa's provinces, cultures, and languages. We expect all members to treat one another with kindness and respect.

  • Engage constructively: healthy debate is welcome, but personal attacks are not.
  • Do not use discriminatory, hateful, or offensive language based on race, gender, religion, language, disability, or any other characteristic.
  • Do not harass, bully, or intimidate other members, whether in public posts or private messages.
  • Disagree politely. If you have a differing opinion about pet care or breeding practices, share it respectfully with evidence, not aggression.
  • Remember that behind every profile is a real person who cares deeply about their pets.

2. Pet Safety Comes First

The welfare of animals is at the core of everything we do at PetGuru. We take animal safety extremely seriously and have zero tolerance for content or behaviour that endangers or disrespects animals.

  • No animal cruelty: Do not post, share, or glorify any content depicting animal abuse, neglect, fighting, or cruelty in any form. Such content will be immediately removed and reported to relevant authorities.
  • No unethical breeding promotion: Do not promote or advocate for practices that prioritise appearance or profit over animal health, such as breeding from dogs with known hereditary conditions, extreme morphologies, or without health screening.
  • No puppy or kitten mills: Listings or promotions linked to commercial mass-breeding operations that do not prioritise animal welfare are strictly prohibited.
  • No sale of illegal or protected species: Do not list, sell, or facilitate the trade of wildlife, protected species, or exotic animals that require permits under South African law without the requisite documentation.
  • Responsible ownership: Encourage responsible ownership practices such as sterilisation, microchipping, vaccination, and regular veterinary care.

3. Honest and Accurate Content

Trust is the foundation of our community. Whether you are listing a pet, a product, or a service, what you share must be truthful and accurate.

  • Do not misrepresent the breed, age, health status, or lineage of any animal in a listing.
  • Disclose known health conditions, genetic concerns, or behavioural issues honestly. Buyers deserve to make informed decisions.
  • Do not use misleading or stock photographs that do not represent the actual animal, product, or premises being listed.
  • Breeders must accurately represent their registration status and accreditation (e.g., KUSA, SACC, SALCC). Falsely claiming registration is a serious violation.
  • Do not post fake reviews, testimonials, or endorsements of breeders, sellers, or services.

4. No Spam or Unsolicited Promotion

PetGuru has dedicated spaces for listings, advertising, and business profiles. Please use the right channels.

  • Do not post repetitive, duplicate, or spam content in community areas, comments, or messages.
  • Do not use community posts or other members' profiles to advertise products or services without consent.
  • Do not send unsolicited promotional messages via our private messaging system.
  • Off-topic posts that are not related to pets or pet care may be removed to maintain community relevance.
  • Coordinated inauthentic behaviour, such as using multiple accounts to artificially boost a listing's visibility, is prohibited.

5. Responsible Selling & Adoption

The sale and rehoming of pets is one of our core features. With that comes great responsibility.

  • Verification required for breeders: All breeders listing animals for sale are required to complete our Verified Breeder process. Listing animals for sale without verification is not permitted.
  • Minimum age rule: Puppies and kittens may not be listed as available for rehoming before 8 weeks of age. Listing animals younger than this is a violation of animal welfare best practice and South African norms.
  • No "free to good home" bait listings: Listings using "free" animals as a lure to attract buyers for other purposes are prohibited.
  • Rescues and shelters: Non-profit rescue organisations must be registered and are encouraged to apply for our Verified Rescue badge. Impersonating a rescue organisation is a serious violation.
  • No live animal auctions: The auctioning of live animals is not permitted on the Platform.

6. Privacy and Intellectual Property

  • Do not share another person's personal information (phone number, address, identity details) without their consent.
  • Do not post photographs of other people's pets, children, or property without permission.
  • Only post content (photos, text, videos) that you own or have the right to share. Do not infringe on the copyright or intellectual property of others.
  • Do not screenshot and re-share private messages from other members without their consent.

7. Reporting Issues

If you see something that violates these guidelines or makes you feel unsafe, please report it. Your reports help keep our community trustworthy and safe for everyone.

  • Use the "Report" button available on listings, profiles, and posts.
  • For urgent animal welfare concerns, contact us directly at safety@petguru.co.za.
  • For suspected fraud or scams, email fraud@petguru.co.za.
  • If you believe an animal is in immediate danger, please contact the NSPCA at 011 907 3590 or your local SPCA branch.
  • All reports are reviewed confidentially. We do not disclose who filed a report.

8. Consequences of Violations

We take guideline violations seriously. Depending on the severity and frequency of a violation, the following actions may be taken:

  • Content removal: Violating posts, listings, or comments will be removed without notice.
  • Warning: First-time or minor violations may result in a formal warning being issued to your account.
  • Temporary suspension: Repeated or more serious violations may result in a temporary suspension of your account and listing privileges.
  • Permanent ban: Severe violations, including animal cruelty, fraud, harassment, or illegal activity, will result in immediate and permanent removal from the Platform.
  • Reporting to authorities: Where violations constitute criminal conduct under South African law, PetGuru may report the matter to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the NSPCA, or other relevant authorities.

If you believe your content has been removed or your account actioned in error, you may appeal by contacting support@petguru.co.za with the subject line "Community Guidelines Appeal". We review all appeals fairly.

9. A Note from the PetGuru Team

We built PetGuru because we believe South Africa's pets deserve better: better breeders, better products, and a better community around them. These guidelines exist not to restrict you, but to protect the animals and the people who love them. Thank you for being part of something that truly matters.