Pet Listing Rules

By using this website, you accept all of its terms (including these Pet Listing Rules, Membership Code, Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy).

PetRescue’s platform supports responsible and ethical rehoming of companion animals, with membership being exclusively offered to organisations that agree to and abide by our Membership Code and Pet Listing Rules. 

As a PetRescue member, it's important to positively promote adoption of rescue pets and create an experience that potential adopters want to recommend to their friends and family.

Below you will find PetRescue’s Listing Rules which all members agree to abide by when becoming a member of PetRescue.

How to read these rules: items marked must or not permitted are mandatory/firm guidelines for all members. Items marked are encouraged to reflect strongly recommended best practice.

 

Ownership & legal care:

• Pets listed must be genuine rescue pets, either in one of the situations below, and must not be listed on behalf of any other organisation (member or non-member organisation):

  • currently in a facility/shelter or foster care situation, where they belong to and are in the care of the listing organisation; or

  • part of an owner-assisted rehoming program run and managed by the listing organisation. In this situation, the listing organisation takes full responsibility for ensuring that the pet and owner fully comply with the platform requirements

 

State rehoming requirements & PetRescue’s requirements:

• Pets listed must be fully vet-worked and ready for adoption, including those being rehomed via assisted rehoming (the listing organisation must take full responsibility for the pet).

• Any pre-existing, current, or ongoing health conditions must be disclosed on the pets listing and in early conversations with potential adopters, including chronic conditions that may affect the pet throughout their life, even if currently managed. Cats & dogs listed must be desexed, microchipped, vaccinated, wormed and have received a general vet health check prior to being made available for adoption.

  • Exemptions for cats and dogs are made only for microchipping, desexing and vaccinations, which are on a per-pet basis. Exemptions imply that a pet may be listed in its current state, and the procedure must be completed in accordance with the exemption requirements. Organisations must apply for an exemption to list a cat or dog on PetRescue- apply here.

  • Exemptions are only applicable for rehoming within the state where the pet is located (interstate adoption is not available to exempt pets).

• Pets listed must not have displayed or have a known history of aggression. This includes: 

  • aggression towards humans or other animals that caused significant physical damage;

  • a pattern of offensive aggression towards humans; or

  • aggression or offensive behaviour towards humans or other animals that would make it difficult or impossible for an average pet owner to safely manage the pet within the community.

 

Pet listing content: 

• Listings for pets must be focused on promoting specific pets currently available for adoption or in need of foster care. Generic listings and listings for items other than rescue pets are not permitted.

• Listing organisations must follow state rehoming requirements and include required advertising information (including and not limited to microchip numbers, rehoming numbers, organisation information) on their pets listing. Please see here for further information.

• Personal information about the previous owner must not be included without their express permission.

• Listings that include references or advertising for commercial organisations, products, or services are not permitted.

• Exclusion of judgemental or biased language, that may pass blame or diminishes pets, including derogatory or negative comments about past owners, the pets history of abuse or cruelty, and negative emotive references are not permitted. 

  • Listing organisations are encouraged to focus on the qualities of the individual pet with respect, hope and positivity. We recommend using PetRescue’s helpful AI profile writer (see here).

• Listing organisations are encouraged to write profiles in sentence case, and we ask that you avoid putting too many statements in CAPITAL LETTERS. PetRescue profiles support HTML formatting, which allows for font formatting and images to improve readability - a great alternative to capitalisation for emphasis.

• Photos and videos included must not portray distressed or unsafe pets, pets in cages, disrespectful or unsafe human–pet interactions, or identifiable images of children or adults. We encourage following these steps or using resources such as AI to adjust backgrounds (see here).

 

Pet listing management:

• All information posted on the pet's profile page must be correct and up to date, including the current status of the pet.

• Listing organisations must update listings when pet(s) are no longer available for adoption- marked as ‘Draft’,  ‘On Hold’, ‘Adopted’ or ‘Removed’.

  • Listing organisations are encouraged to inform unsuccessful enquirers of outcomes in a timely manner. To assist members, there is the option to do this using the bulk message feature - see here.

• All information, including photos, videos, public contact information, and animal descriptions posted on the website, may be used by PetRescue for promotions and marketing purposes, including but not limited to social media, website articles, PetRescue TV, and approved affiliated partner marketing. If you have any concerns about specific content being used for promotional purposes, please contact members@petrescue.com.au.

• PetRescue maintains the right to remove, edit or alter any information posted on the website at our discretion, to ensure content complies with the rules and requirements of using petrescue.com.au.

 

If you have any queries about PetRescue’s Pet Listing Rules, please contact members@petrescue.org.au.