How to sell pet items or offer pet care in Colombia

A neighbor had been trying to sell an almost new dog crate for weeks. Good photos, fair price, and nothing: people only wrote to ask "is it still available?" and disappeared. The problem wasn't the crate. It was that the listing didn't answer any of the questions a pet owner asks before buying: what size is it?, is it clean?, do you deliver or do I have to pick it up?

Selling pet products or offering animal care in Colombia has a huge advantage: people who have a dog or cat love them like a child and are willing to pay to do things right. But that same emotional closeness makes the buyer more distrustful. A good listing earns that trust from the first message. If you want to see what real listings in this category look like, you can check the pet section on Colombia Move before posting yours. If you want to see real options right now, you can see pets and accessories on Colombia Move — posting is completely free.

In this guide I tell you how to describe pet products and services so serious people write to you, what to ask before agreeing to care for an animal, and where to post so you don't waste time with curious people. No beating around the bush.

First define what you're going to offer

It sounds obvious, but it's the most common mistake: mixing everything in one listing. "I sell accessories and also walk dogs" confuses the buyer and leaves you out of searches. Separate the two because buyers search for them differently.

• Products: accessories, toys, beds, crates, bowls, leashes, clothing, scratchers, fish tanks, cages. Here the buyer compares condition and price.
• Services: walking, daycare, home care, boarding, basic training, grooming. Here the buyer compares trust and availability.

One important thing: in Colombia, Law 1774 of 2016 recognizes animals as sentient beings and protects them against suffering and pain. Keep your listing focused on accessories, products, and responsible care; selling animals carelessly not only looks bad, it goes against that animal welfare framework.

How to describe a pet product so people actually buy it

A pet owner doesn't buy "a medium bed." They buy a bed that works for THEIR dog. Your job is to make sure they don't have to guess or write to you asking the basics. The more complete the listing, the fewer useless messages and more determined buyers.

• Real measurements: length, width, and height in centimeters. A bed or crate that "looks big" in a photo might not work.
• Size/compatible species: say what it's for ("ideal for dogs up to 15 kg" or "for adult cat"). That filters right away.
• Honest condition: new, like new, or used with details. If it has a bite mark or a stain, say it and show it. Honesty sells faster than hiding things.
• Material and cleanliness: washable fabric, rigid plastic, metal. Make clear if you've already washed or disinfected it; hygiene matters a lot with pet things.
• Brand and model if you know it: helps the buyer compare and trust.
• Delivery or pickup: say if you deliver in a certain area, if they have to pick it up, and avoid the usual question from the start.
• Real photos: natural light, several angles, and a photo showing the size (next to something familiar). No photos taken from the internet.

About price: there's no magic table. Look at how much similar items in similar condition are going for, and adjust based on yours. A used one in good condition well photographed moves better than one "like new" with a blurry photo and inflated price.

How to present a care, walking, or daycare service

Here the buyer isn't buying an object from you: they're trusting you with their pet. That's why a service listing is won or lost on trust, not price. Be specific about what you offer and, above all, what you DON'T offer.

• What's included and what's not: "45-minute walk, one pet at a time" is more believable than "I care for dogs." Make clear if you handle multiple animals together or not.
• Coverage area: neighborhoods or communes where you work. Nobody wants a walker on the other side of the city.
• Hours and availability: days and time slots. If you can only do mornings, say it.
• Your experience: how many years you've been doing this, if you've had pets, if you handle large dogs or scared cats. Be honest about your limits.
• How you handle an emergency: explain that you ask for the owner's veterinarian's information and an emergency contact. That reassures a lot.

One limit you need to make very clear: if you're not a veterinarian, don't promise medical care, don't medicate on your own, and don't give opinions about illnesses. For health, aggressive behavior, medications, or a sick animal, the right thing is to refer the owner to their veterinarian. That doesn't make you less professional; on the contrary, it makes you more trustworthy.

If you want to go deeper into how to present yourself as a freelancer and get clients consistently, this guide helps: Offer your professional services in Colombia.

Questions you should ask before agreeing to care for a pet

Agreeing to care for an animal without asking anything is the fastest way to get into trouble. These questions protect you, the pet, and the owner, and they make you look like someone who knows what they're doing.

• What type and size of pet is it, and how does it behave with strangers, other dogs, or children?
• Does it have any health condition, allergy, or medication I should know about?
• Are its vaccines up to date? Asking for the card is reasonable, especially the rabies vaccine.
• What's its routine: food, hours, walks, fears?
• What veterinarian does it see and what number to call in an emergency?
• What's included and what's not in what we agreed (hours, number of visits, tasks)?

About vaccines: the Ministry of Health promotes rabies vaccination for dogs and cats, which is usually given from three months of age with annual boosters. You don't have to be an expert on the subject, but it's sensible to ask the owner for the vaccine card before a walk, daycare, or socialization with other animals. As good practice, it's worth evaluating the animal and noting its health and behavior history before accepting it, regardless of the city.

Where to post and how to compare platforms

There's no single perfect platform; there's the one that brings you the right buyers for what you're offering. It's worth being on more than one and comparing which one works better for you.

• Mercado Libre: has active categories for animals and pets (food, hygiene, care, accessories). Good for new or branded products, although it charges commission and is more impersonal.
• Facebook Marketplace and local groups: lots of reach and direct contact, but also many curious people and bargain hunters. Watch out for scams.
• Specialized pet platforms: in Colombia there are services focused on dog walkers, pet daycares and pet products. They serve as a reference for what people are looking for.
• Neighborhood WhatsApp groups: excellent for local trusted services, although the announcement gets lost quickly in the chat.

If you sell through WhatsApp, it's worth doing it in an organized way to avoid burning the chat or scaring people off: how to post announcements on WhatsApp without falling into spam. And if you want to sell other used items beyond pet stuff, check out where to sell used things in Colombia.

Colombia Move is another practical option for this category: it's free, no commission, with direct contact with the buyer and clear descriptions that are understood in both Spanish and English. If you make a complete and honest listing, it stands out more easily compared to improvised posts.

Common mistakes that scare away buyers

• Bad or stolen photos from the internet: nothing generates more distrust. Real photo or no sale.
• Listing without measurements or details: you force people to ask and most don't ask: they leave.
• Promise things you can't deliver: "available 24/7" or "I know veterinary medicine" when it's not true. It shows and it burns you.
• Empty profile: no photo or name, your listing looks like it's from nobody. A complete profile changes everything.
• Responding late or coldly: the first one to respond well usually closes the sale. Be clear and kind.

Frequently asked questions

❓ Where can I post pet articles or services in Colombia?

You can use Mercado Libre, Facebook Marketplace, neighborhood WhatsApp groups or specialized pet platforms. Colombia Move also works and is practical when you want a clear, free listing with direct contact with the buyer.

❓ What details should I include if I sell dog or cat accessories?

Put measurements in centimeters, material, actual condition, if it's clean or disinfected, brand if you know it, and what size or species it's for. Add photos with natural light from several angles and clarify if you deliver or if they need to pick it up.

❓ How do I price used pet products?

Compare with similar items in similar condition, and adjust based on the condition of yours. There's no fixed number; an honest used item that's well photographed moves faster than one that's poorly photographed and overpriced.

❓ What should I clarify before caring for or walking a pet?

Make clear the schedule, the area, the type and size of pet you accept, what the service includes and what it doesn't, and how you handle an emergency. Always ask for the owner's veterinarian contact and an emergency number.

❓ Should I ask for a vaccination card?

Yes, it's reasonable, especially for walks, daycare or socialization with other animals. The Ministry of Health promotes rabies vaccination for dogs and cats, normally from three months with annual booster, so asking for a current card is good care practice.

❓ Is it safe to care for other people's pets?

It can be safe if you agree in writing on the service limits, emergency contact, vaccination status, the pet's temperament and what to do in a veterinary emergency. Clarify that you don't provide veterinary medical care and confirm which veterinarian to go to if something happens. Know the animal's behavior before accepting it and put everything in writing: this reduces risks for you, for the pet and for the owner.

❓ How do I avoid wasting time with curious people?

Post your requirements, availability, area and pricing basis from the listing itself. When everything is clear, whoever writes to you is already decided and you filter only those who really want to buy or hire.

Do you have questions about how to present your pet listing? Ask the community at colombiamove.com/comunidad — someone who already sells will surely give you a hand.