Terms of Service

Please read these Terms of Service carefully before using the Breeders Direct platform. By accessing or using our website, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Introduction

Welcome to Breeders Direct ("we," "us," or "our"), operated through breeders-direct.com (the "Site" or "Platform"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Site, including all services, features, and content we provide.

By creating an account or using the Site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Site.

2. Purpose of the Platform

Breeders Direct is an online marketplace and community platform that connects registered animal breeders with prospective buyers and enthusiasts. Breeders may create profiles, list animals for sale or adoption, publish care sheets, and engage with the community.

We do not sell animals directly. All transactions, arrangements, and communications are strictly between individual users and breeders. We act solely as a technology platform facilitating these connections.

3. User Accounts

• You must be at least 18 years old to create an account.
• You agree to provide accurate, complete, and current information during registration and to keep it up to date.
• You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.
• You must notify us immediately at admin@breeders-direct.com if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.
• We reserve the right to suspend or permanently terminate accounts that violate these Terms, without prior notice.
• One person may not maintain more than one active breeder account without prior written consent from Breeders Direct.

4. User Content

"User Content" means any text, images, listings, care sheets, reviews, or other material you submit to the Platform.

• You retain ownership of your User Content.
• By submitting User Content, you grant Breeders Direct a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your content solely to operate and promote the Platform.
• You warrant that your content is accurate, that you own or have the right to share it, and that it does not infringe any third-party rights or violate any law.
• You agree not to submit false, misleading, defamatory, obscene, or illegal content.
• We reserve the right to remove any User Content at our sole discretion, without notice or liability.

5. Breeder Listings & Transactions

All animal listings and breeder profiles are provided by independent third-party breeders. Breeders Direct does not inspect, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, quality, health, legality, or availability of any animal, listing, or service advertised on the Platform.

We strongly encourage all users to:

• Conduct thorough due diligence before engaging with any breeder.
• Request veterinary health certificates where applicable.
• Verify that the animal and the transaction comply with all applicable laws and regulations (see Section 11).
• Never transfer money before viewing or confirming the existence of an animal.

We are not a party to any transaction and accept no liability for disputes, losses, or damages arising from interactions between users and breeders.

6. Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent listings or reviews.
• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose, including fraud or scams.
• List, sell, or trade animals that are protected, endangered, or whose trade is restricted under applicable law (see Section 11).
• Harass, abuse, threaten, or intimidate other users or breeders.
• Upload or distribute malware, viruses, or any harmful code.
• Scrape, crawl, or systematically extract data from the Site without written permission.
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Site's systems or another user's account.
• Circumvent or interfere with any security or access control mechanisms.
• Use automated tools, bots, or scripts to interact with the Platform without prior written consent.

7. Intellectual Property

All content, design, trademarks, logos, and software comprising the Breeders Direct Platform (excluding User Content) are the property of Breeders Direct or its licensors and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without our express written permission.

8. Disclaimers

The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. We do not warrant that:

• The Platform will be available, uninterrupted, or error-free at all times.
• Any information, listing, or content on the Platform is accurate, complete, or current.
• Any defects will be corrected.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by South African law, Breeders Direct and its directors, employees, and affiliates shall not be liable for:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages.
• Loss of profits, data, goodwill, or business opportunities.
• Damages arising from transactions between users and breeders.
• The death of, or injury to, any animal listed on the Platform.

Our total cumulative liability for any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform shall not exceed R1,000 ZAR or the amount you paid us (if any) in the 12 months preceding the claim, whichever is greater.

10. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Breeders Direct and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your User Content; or (c) your violation of these Terms or any applicable law.

11. Animal Welfare & Legal Compliance

All users and breeders are solely responsible for ensuring that their activities on the Platform comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to:

• Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 (South Africa) — governing the humane treatment of animals.
• Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) Regulations — permits required for listed reptile and exotic species.
• Nature Conservation Ordinances — provincial regulations applicable to the keeping and trading of wildlife.
• Any other national, provincial, or local law applicable to the keeping, breeding, selling, or transportation of animals.
• For users and transactions outside South Africa: the equivalent wildlife and animal-welfare laws of the buyer's and seller's jurisdictions, including CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) where applicable.

Breeders Direct reserves the right to remove any listing that we reasonably believe involves a protected or prohibited species, or that violates any applicable law, without prior notice and without liability.

12. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Platform at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately. Sections 7, 9, 10, and 14 survive termination.

You may deactivate your account at any time by contacting us at admin@breeders-direct.com.

13. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. For material changes, we will notify registered users by email or via a prominent notice on the Platform. Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any disputes arising under or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of South Africa.

15. Auctions

Where the Platform offers auction listings, the following terms apply in addition to the rest of these Terms:

• Every bid you place is a binding offer to purchase the listed animal or item at the bid amount. Do not bid unless you are willing and able to complete the purchase.
• Sellers may set a reserve price. If the reserve is not met by the close of the auction, the seller is not obliged to sell.
• The highest valid bid at the close of the auction (meeting any reserve) wins, and the winning bidder must complete payment to the seller within 7 days of the auction closing, unless the seller agrees otherwise in writing.
• Failure to complete payment, or withdrawing a winning bid without the seller's consent, may result in the suspension or termination of your account.
• Breeders Direct is not the auctioneer of record and is not a party to any auction sale. Auctions are conducted between the seller and the bidders, and the auction laws of the applicable local jurisdiction apply.

16. Cross-Border Sales & Wildlife Compliance

The Platform is accessible worldwide, and listings may attract buyers in a different country to the seller. For any cross-border transaction:

• Buyers and sellers are solely responsible for compliance with the wildlife, animal-welfare, import/export, customs, and trade laws of both jurisdictions, including obtaining CITES permits where the species is listed.
• Shipping live animals across international borders is prohibited unless both parties hold all permits and authorisations required by the exporting and importing jurisdictions.
• Breeders Direct may require evidence of permits or other compliance documentation from any user, and may remove listings or suspend accounts where such evidence is not provided or where we reasonably suspect non-compliance, without prior notice and without liability.
• Nothing on the Platform constitutes advice on the legality of keeping, buying, selling, importing, or exporting any species in any jurisdiction. Verify the law that applies to you before transacting.

17. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms, please contact us:

• Breeders Direct
• admin@breeders-direct.com
• www.breeders-direct.com