Trust & Safety

PetMatch is a free directory that helps dog and cat owners connect with nearby owners, for mating, playdates, or just advice from someone who gets it. This page explains exactly what that means, what it doesn't mean, and how to use PetMatch safely.

PetMatch is not a marketplace

We don't sell pets, buy pets, or handle payments of any kind. We don't take a cut, charge a fee, or earn anything from who you contact or meet. PetMatch's only job is to show you nearby pets so you and the other owner can connect on WhatsApp, decide if it's a fit (a mate, a playdate, or just some advice), and arrange the rest yourselves.

Why doesn't PetMatch take a cut?

It would be easy to charge a small fee per listing, per match, or per Partner referral. We don't, on purpose. The moment PetMatch earns something from a transaction, its interest shifts from making good matches to making more of them, and that's the wrong incentive for something people are trusting with a decision as personal as who visits their home with their pet.

Money changing hands between strangers is also exactly the pattern behind most puppy scams. Keeping PetMatch itself out of that loop entirely, no fees, no commissions, no cut of anything you arrange, is both a values choice and a safety one.

How is PetMatch different from a puppy scam?

If you've come across warnings about "puppy scams" or pet listing fraud online, here's exactly how PetMatch is built to avoid that pattern:

• No money ever moves through PetMatch. We don't collect payments, deposits, shipping fees, or "insurance" of any kind. If anyone contacting you through PetMatch asks you to send money before meeting, that is not how this platform works. Stop and report it to us.
• No shipping, no cross-border delivery. Every match is local. You meet the other owner and their pet in person, near you. There is no "the pet is stuck in customs" scenario. There is no shipping to begin with.
• You always meet the pet, and the owner, before anything happens. There's no way to "reserve" or "buy" a match sight unseen.

If something about a conversation doesn't follow this pattern (money requests, refusal to meet in person, pressure to act fast), it isn't a normal PetMatch interaction. Contact us at hello@petmatch.fit.

How do I meet another owner safely?

Bringing two pets together usually means visiting someone's home, or having them visit yours, a bigger step than a typical online meetup. A few basics:

• Talk on WhatsApp first, and get comfortable with who you're dealing with before agreeing on a location.
• Meet somewhere neutral first (a park, a vet clinic, a public spot) rather than going straight to either person's home, especially for a first meeting.
• Don't share your home address until you're confident the other person is who their listing says they are.
• Bring someone with you, or let a friend or family member know where you're going and when.
• Check health and vaccination records before any pairing. Ask to see proof of vaccination and general health, and don't proceed if the other owner can't or won't provide it. The WSAVA vaccination guidelines are a useful reference for what's normal for dogs and cats.

You're always free to choose your own meeting spot. If you'd rather not decide, PetMatch can suggest nearby partner pet stores, kennels, or vets as neutral meeting points, a safer, easier default than a stranger's home. Look for the suggested locations option when you connect with a match.

What's free, and what's between the two of you?

PetMatch itself is always free: no fees, no commissions, no subscriptions. What you and the other owner agree to between yourselves is entirely your own arrangement. In Nigeria it's common for owners to agree on a stud fee, or a pick of the litter, once a mating happens. PetMatch has no involvement in that, no opinion on it, and no cut of it. That's between you and the other owner to work out directly.

What do I do if something feels wrong?

If a listing looks suspicious, someone asks you for money, or you have any other concern, email us at hello@petmatch.fit. We review reports manually.