Pet Policy for online ads
Key points in the policy include an outright ban on advertising of breeds associated with dog fighting, all giveaway dogs and puppies or “free to good home” pets.
Junk Mail Classifieds, in collaboration with Ban Animal Trading SA (BAT)/Beauty without Cruelty (BWC) has crafted a pet advertising policy which will be tabled to the broader online classifieds’ as a best practice.
“We have been working with Junk Mail to highlight and address our key concerns about online pet trading, since August 2013. The discussions have led us to collaboratively establish an online pet advertising policy, that we believe will start a conversation amongst consumers about adopting rather than buying pets, be they domestic or exotic,” said Dr Smaragda Louw, organiser for Ban Animal Trading SA/Beauty Without Cruelty in Gauteng.
Key take outs of the advertising policy, which will be tabled in mid-July, include an outright ban on advertising of breeds associated with dog fighting, all giveaway dogs and puppies or “free to good home” pets, exotic reptiles such as venomous snakes, exotic mammals, primates, specified birds and arachnids.
“Despite being the leader in an incredibly competitive classified landscape in South Africa, we are implementing a pet advertising policy that forfeits a significant portion of our most popular section, after cars, as a demonstration of our committed partnership with Beauty without Cruelty,” said Mr Felix Erken, managing director of Junk Mail Classifieds
Junk Mail Classifieds will reserve the right to refuse any advertiser or advertisement that does not meet the pet advertising policy requirements.
“With the largest pet advertising section in the local online classified space, it seems fitting that we set the tone and pace for the adoption of a policy intended to eradicate the unethical and dubious trading of pets and we are calling on other online classifieds, to follow in our footsteps,” said Mr Erken.
“We believe the time is right for animals, for protecting their rights, and are delighted to be taking this step with the Junk Mail family,” said Dr Louw.
