RPB Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Due to the large volume of inquiries and applications we receive on a daily basis, we have put together a list of some of the most frequently asked questions and the corresponding answers. If your question is not addressed within this page, please feel free to contact us directly.
Can I apply for membership?
Yes, we welcome all dog and cat owners and breeders who agree to uphold our Code of Ethics. We also ask that all members follow best practices regarding the care and breeding of their pets. Members are obligated to follow their state and local legislation as well as animal welfare standards regarding pets and pet breeding.
For more information on how to become an RPB member, please visit our membership page.
Please note that we automatically decline membership to breeders with more than 10 fertile breeding dogs or cats. We also do not accept membership applications from breeders who have, at any point, been found guilty of any animal cruelty offenses or breaches of state and local laws regarding the care, raising, or breeding of their animals.
Do you accept purebred and crossbred animals?
Yes! RPB is an organization founded on the idea that all pets, regardless of whether or not they are purebred, deserve to have loving homes and the best possible care. We are an inclusive club for breeders, and believe that both pedigree and non-pedigree breeders should follow the same guidelines for the welfare of their animals. RPB works toward the responsible and ethical treatment of all breeds.
How long does the membership approval process take?
Once the membership payment has been made and we have received your application and registration details, our membership team will review your application within a week, however, it often takes only a few days before the application is reviewed and approved. Sometimes we may require further information or clearer pictures of your housing and the animals’ accommodations and surrounds. We will contact you if we require additional information before approving your application. Please check your email including the junk mail or spam folder if you have not heard back from us.
Where do I find my membership number?
Upon approval of your membership application, we will send you an email with the relevant details of your membership as well as your membership number. Please check your email including the junk mail or spam folder if you have not received this email. We will also upload your details to our probationary member list or full member list. There are two separate pages for dog breeders and cat breeders.
Why has my membership application not yet gone through?
After completing the payment step of the membership application, you will automatically be redirected to a membership registration form to fill in your details. Please complete this form and ensure all information is correct so that we may process your application as soon as possible. If you are not automatically redirected to the form, please contact us at [email protected] so we can send you a link to finalise your registration.
My membership application form does not want to submit, what do I do?
If you are encountering problems with the application form, there may be a number of reasons:
- Photos are not in JPG/JPEG format
- Image file sizes are too large
- Browser or internet problems
Please ensure that any images you submit are no larger than 3MB and are in JPG/JPEG format. You may also submit the form without uploading any images, then email the photos to [email protected] for processing. Please allow up to 3 business days for processing.
Why was my membership application declined?
We reserve the right to deny membership for any reason. Your membership may be declined or canceled if the photos you have submitted of your animals’ housing and living areas indicate that the animals’ accommodations are inadequate or not up to the standards of RPB. We may also decline or cancel membership if we have received complaints from members of the public regarding the treatment and breeding of the animals. If we determine that you do not comply with the Code of Ethics or state and local legislation, we may deny or cancel your membership.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept credit cards and debit cards. All payments are processed through the third-party payment portal of Stripe.
What do I do if my payment is declined?
Please verify your payment details on the payment page. Most declined payments are simply due to expired or out-of-date credit card or debit card information. For additional assistance, contact the issuing bank for your credit card or debit card.
I have been approved for probationary RPB membership. How do I become a full member?
You may send us an email at [email protected] if you are ready to become an RPB full member. We will send you an RPB veterinary audit form that may be completed by a practicing veterinarian. We may request additional photographs or information regarding your animals’ housing and living arrangements, as well as your breeding practices.
Once the RPB veterinary audit form is completed and sent back to us, we may contact the veterinarian who filled out the form to verify the correctness of the information on the form. After that, we will contact you via email to inform you of your change in membership status. Your member number and details will then be updated on our RPB full member list and online database.
How do I get the veterinary audit form?
After you have completed the membership application and have been approved, you may request the veterinary audit form via email. You can have your veterinarian complete the form for you. They may need to visit your premises and verify that the housing and accommodations for your animals is up to RPB standards. Once the form is completed and emailed back to us, we may contact your veterinarian to confirm. Only probationary RPB members will receive a copy of the audit.
How can I do DNA testing?
RPB Full Members get access to discounted Orivet DNA testing. Once you are a full member, please email us for more information and we will send you the details to redeem this discount.
Are there any member discounts available?
Yes! We have partnered with a number of companies and organizations to offer exclusive discounts to RPB members. Probationary and full members both get access to discounts for pet food and supplies. Our list of partners is constantly growing providing increased value all the time for our members.
How do I cancel my membership?
You may cancel your membership by emailing us.
How do I check for an RPB member?
You may search through our probationary and full member lists for dog and cat breeders here: Dog breeders, Cat breeders. You may also verify a member number using our Verify Breeder page. Alternatively, you may send us an email at [email protected] so we can assist you further.
What if the details the breeder provides do not match the RPB membership list on your site?
Please contact us so that we can ensure that our records match the information your breeder has provided. After we cross-reference the details on our database, we can advise you if they are a genuine RPB member.
How do I know if a person with an RPB number is a genuine RPB member?
Please contact us and provide us with as much information as you can about the breeder in question. For example, their full name, RPB number, email address, and cell number would all be helpful in determining whether or not they are a genuine RPB member. We will cross-reference these details with our database and see if there is a match. In the interest of our members’ privacy, we cannot hand out any personal details contained in our database.
What do I do if I think an RPB breeder is not abiding by RPB’s Code of Ethics and/or state and local legislation?
RPB takes non-compliance with the Code of Ethics very seriously. Please contact us immediately if you think a breeder is not abiding by our Code of Ethics or state and local laws. Please give us as much information as you can and we will investigate further.
What happens if I can no longer care for an animal I bought from an RPB member?
RPB members must offer a lifetime rehoming guarantee for any animals sold. If the owner contacts the RPB member that sold them the animal, the RPB member will assist in rehoming that animal at any point in its lifetime.
How do I access the RPB member’s only section?
Only RPB members with active memberships can access the member’s only section of the site. Once your membership application has been approved, you will receive an email with instructions to be able to log in to the member’s only section.
Why are my RPB member’s section logins not working?
Please double-check that the information you have sent to us for your membership application is all correct and accurate, and verify that your membership payment has gone through. If you are still unable to log in, please contact us via email so we can assist you further.
What sets RPB apart from other breeder organizations?
RPB is proud to accept both purebred and crossbred animals. We have an open membership policy, but we encourage all our members to make informed and educated decisions regarding the breeding and raising of their animals. This is in addition to the Code of Ethics by which all members must abide.
What is the difference in price between probationary and full membership?
There is no price difference between being a probationary member and being a full member.
How can I be featured on the RPB Pets For Sale page?
RPB is partnered with PetsForHomes.co. An RPB member must create a free ad on PetsForHomes with their RPB member number within the listing. The ad will then be featured on the RPB Pets For Sale page.
I wish to get in touch with one of your breeders from your probationary/full members list, how can I do so?
Please note that we will not give out any personal details of any of our members. You may email us directly if you are interested in making an inquiry with one of our members, and be sure to include your contact details. We will forward this information to the member, and they may authorize us to give you their details.
I was a previous member but wish to reactivate my account, how can I do so?
You will need to go to the “Become a Member” page and make a payment to reactivate your account. Please use the same email address you previously used to sign up with the RPB when you make the new payment to ensure it is allocated to your existing RPB membership. Once you have done this, please notify us via email so we can reinstate your account.
I wish to change my payment schedule from monthly to yearly, how can I arrange this?
You will need to go to the “Become a Member” page and make a payment to select a new payment schedule or change your payment method. Once you have completed this new payment, please send us an email so that we can cancel your previous recurring payment.
How can I obtain a membership certificate?
We can provide you with a membership certificate. For active RPB members, please send us an email regarding your membership certificate request using the email address registered to your RPB member account.
I wish to edit/add information on my RPB profile, how can I do so?
If you wish to change the name, cell number, address, or breed associated with your RPB profile, please contact us via email. We may need to re-verify your details to make these changes. For other details on your RPB profile such as pet information, you may make the changes on your RPB member profile.