Charity & Rescue Code of Conduct

This code applies to all charity and rescue organisations listing animals for rehoming on Companimal — both registered charities (CCEW, OSCR, CCNI) and non-charity rescue organisations. It forms part of our Terms & Conditions and Listing Rules.

Welfare standards

• Animals in direct care. Only list animals genuinely in your care. Brokering or relisting animals sourced from third parties is not permitted.
• Health and vaccinations. All animals must be up to date on vaccinations and health checks before rehoming, in line with veterinary best practice.
• Neutering. Animals should be neutered where age-appropriate. Where that is not yet appropriate, a written adoption agreement with the new owner must cover it.
• Microchipping. Microchip records must be correctly transferred to the new owner before handover, in line with UK law.
• Home checks. A home check or suitability assessment must be completed before any rehoming. Animals must not be handed over to anyone simply willing to pay.

Content rules

• No banned breeds. Breeds banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, XL Bully) must not be listed.
• No breeding or stud services. Rescue and charity accounts are for rehoming only.
• No resale. Animals must not be acquired with the intention of reselling. Every listed animal must have come into your care for genuine welfare reasons.

Behaviour

• Truthful representation. Organisation details, charity registration, and animal descriptions must be accurate and kept up to date.
• Prompt communication. Respond to enquiries from potential adopters in a timely manner.
• Fair process. Adoption decisions should be based on suitability for the animal, not on a first-come-first-served basis.

Enforcement

Breaking this code may result in:

• Suspension — your account and listings are temporarily hidden while we investigate.
• Ban — your account is permanently closed and listings are archived.

If you believe an enforcement action was made in error, see our Complaints & Reporting page or contact support@companimal.co.uk.