About Us
Fixing the pet marketplace
We started TrustedPets because we were tired of pet scams, puppy farms, and unaccountable sellers. There had to be a better way.
Our Mission
Every year, thousands of people in the UK fall victim to pet scams. They send deposits to sellers who don't exist, buy sick puppies from unregulated farms, or deal with breeders who disappear after the sale.
The existing pet marketplaces — Pets4Homes, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace — do little to prevent this. Anyone can list, and buyers have no way to verify who they're dealing with.
TrustedPets is different. We verify every breeder before they can list. We hold deposits securely via Stripe. We provide direct, transparent communication between buyers and breeders. And we offer real human support when things go wrong.
Our goal is simple: make buying a pet safe, transparent, and fair for everyone.
Our Values
What we stand for
Three principles guide everything we do.
Trust & Transparency
Every breeder on our platform is ID verified and vetted. We believe transparency builds trust, and trust creates better outcomes for pets and their families.
Animal Welfare
We exist to promote responsible breeding and pet ownership. We actively reject puppy farms, backyard breeders, and anyone who puts profit over animal welfare.
Fair Pricing
Low commissions for breeders, no hidden fees for buyers. We believe a fair marketplace benefits everyone — breeders, buyers, and most importantly, the animals.
Our Process
How we verify breeders
A rigorous process ensures only genuine, responsible breeders join our platform.
Identity Verification
Breeders submit government-issued ID for verification. We confirm their identity matches their application.
Business Checks
We verify business registration numbers, kennel club memberships, and any relevant breeding licences.
Experience Review
Our team reviews breeding experience, references, and history. We look for genuine passion and responsible practices.
Ongoing Monitoring
Verified breeders are subject to review monitoring, buyer feedback, and periodic re-verification to maintain standards.
Our Team
The people behind TrustedPets
A small team with a big mission.
James Mitchell
Founder & CEO
Former RSPCA volunteer turned tech entrepreneur. James started TrustedPets after losing £500 to a pet scam on Gumtree.
Dr. Sarah Chen
Head of Breeder Verification
Veterinary surgeon with 15 years of experience. Sarah designed our verification process to ensure only genuine, responsible breeders can list.
Tom Richardson
Head of Engineering
Previously at Monzo and Deliveroo. Tom leads our engineering team, building secure payment systems and real-time messaging.
Join the trusted pet community
Whether you're looking for a pet or you're a responsible breeder, TrustedPets is the place for you.