Looking for puppies for sale in Florida under $500? You will find everything you need to get your dream puppy here. Buying a puppy does not seem like a big problem, but it’s a tricky affair.
Breed, gender, location, vaccination status, microchip status, socialization, training, and price are just some factors that adopters must consider before finding a puppy that meets their specifications.
Before we move on to reliable sources of puppies under $500 in Florida, let’s read about the steps you must take to make your search easier:
Before you scroll further down this guide, “Where Can You Find Puppies for Sale in Florida Under $500,” check out: 8 Best Small Dog Rescues in Florida! (2023) and 8 Best Dog Breeders in Florida! (2023).
How to Find $500 Puppies in Florida?
We strongly suggest you start your search after setting up your priorities — create a list of must have’s and good-to-have characteristics. The traits you cannot compromise on will go in the must-have column, while elements that aren’t deal-breakers will go in the good-to-have column.
Take price for starters. If you have a budget of only $500, then price becomes your top priority and a must-have. Next, you must be very clear about the breed. You will come across various dog breeds available for adoption. However, only a few of these breeds are suitable.
Since the puppy will become a permanent member of your family, you need to select one that suits your lifestyle; choose a child-safe breed if you have children under five and an energetic dog if you enjoy an active lifestyle. Similarly, a small and quiet dog might be more suitable if you live in an apartment.
The puppy’s health should also be a priority — you must only get puppies with a clean bill of health because sick puppies can end up costing a lot more in hospital bills in the long run.
On the other hand, if you don’t have a preference for the gender, age, and location of the puppy, you’ll be able to widen your search. Once you’ve categorized your must-have and good-to-have factors, you are in a better position to find a suitable puppy more quickly.
Now, let’s look at the sources where you can start your search for puppies in Florida.
1. Social Media
We are living in an era of advanced computer technology. Everything is within your reach in a span of just a few clicks. So, the puppy you are searching for is also a few clicks away from you.
Social media platform offers countless opportunities, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Moreover, like-minded people with common interests can easily connect on social media. Therefore, it’s not surprising that breeders and dog owners use social media to advertise dogs for sale or adoption.
Facebook Marketplace is an excellent resource for finding puppies near you. Just type “puppies for sale in Florida under $500” in the search bar, and you will find many listings of groups, organizations, and individuals offering puppies for sale.
To narrow down your search on Facebook, you can add filters by the name of breeds such as German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Siberian Husky, Chihuahua, or any other breed. Here are a few reliable Facebook groups to check out to find puppies for sale under $500 in Florida.
Official Florida Pets!
Created in April 2020, Official Florida Pets is a public group on Facebook with over 58,000 members. It’s a popular public group formed to raise awareness about animals that need adoption or fostering in Florida.
Members share posts about the dog’s awaiting adoption in shelters and rescue organizations in Florida. Per their policy, they don’t allow any posts aiming at the sale of animals. If you are interested in the dogs listed on the Facebook page, you may contact them and follow the set procedure to adopt one of them.
Official Florida Pets! Details:
- Facebook: Official Florida Pets
All FLORIDA Fostering, Rehoming, Rescues, Lost and Found
All Florida Fostering, Rehoming, Rescues, Lost, and Found is a public group created in 2018, with 53,000 members and more than 4,500 posts each month. They are explicitly dealing with the lost and found dogs for fostering and rehoming within Florida.
As a matter of policy, they don’t facilitate selling dogs. Instead, they support fostering and rehoming. They aim to protect lost dogs and help them find them new permanent homes. You can visit the group and look for a suitable puppy in your vicinity.
All FLORIDA Fostering, Rehoming, Rescues, Lost and Found Details:
South Florida Dogs
South Florida Dogs is a public Facebook group that was created in 2019. Now they have more than 10,000 members. The group works to rehome adoptable pets. They discourage the sale of adoptable puppies.
It is a very active group with 254 posts in the last month, so you’re likely to find many suitable listings for free puppies near you in Florida. They host an annual event, so consider attending to maximize your chances of finding a healthy puppy.
South Florida Dogs Details:
- Facebook: South Florida Dogs
2. Craigslist
Craigslist is another useful tool to find people and organizations offering puppies. The classifieds connect buyers to sellers, and hundreds of puppies are available for sale or adoption.
The complete details of dog owners are available with each listing. Search “puppies for sale in Florida” on Craigslist, and you will get a number of advertisements like this:
- Exotic puppies rehoming
- Rehoming adult frenchies
- AKC Weimaraner
- Bull Terrier Puppy
You can scroll through the list to find one you like. Details of puppies with their pictures are available on such links. However, it is advisable to visit the owners to look at the puppies before reaching a final deal.
3. Websites
The most common way to find a puppy for your family is to search online. Open Google and type “Puppies for sale in Florida under $500,” or just type “puppies for sale in Florida.” You will find hundreds of websites related to your search.
Open any of these websites and spare a few moments to check their credentials. Go to the comments and reviews section and see what people are saying about to give you an overview of their trustworthiness. Most likely, you will find the majority of the websites to be trustworthy.
Most websites share complete information about the dogs available for sale, including their picture, price, health history, behavior history, and temperament. Contact details of owners are also listed.
Once you select a few available puppies, you must visit the breeder/owner or at least see the puppy via video call. Get all possible information from the owner to ensure the dog is worth buying. Don’t buy if you are not convinced. Additionally, you can also negotiate the price.
4. Local Pet Shops
Another possibility of getting a puppy at your desired price is to visit any nearby pet shop. Although pet stores that source puppies from ethical breeders aren’t likely to sell puppies for sale in Florida under $500, sometimes you can get lucky.
At times, stores may offer ethically bred puppies at discounted prices because the puppy doesn’t conform to AKC standards or has a minor health issue. Moreover, sometimes pet stores have puppies ready to be rehomed by their original owners for $500 or less.
Most of the stores also provide health warranties. Per prevailing laws in Florida, they are also bound to present the health certificate of the animals they sell. Check the health certificate, get the health guarantee, and then conclude the sale when getting a puppy from pet stores.
How to Tell if Your Source Is Trustworthy?
While all the above sources are an excellent way to find an affordable puppy, there’s a big question mark here. Are these all trustworthy?
The truth is that you cannot rely blindly on all of them. You must verify their genuineness to avoid puppy mills and unethical breeders. Here are a few tips to help you weed out scams:
- Whether you’re searching the Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, check the seller’s profile to identify red flags. Don’t trust profiles with names that look fake, profiles that have been created recently, and those without profile pictures and contact information.
- Avoid sellers that don’t use secure payment methods.
- Avoid sellers who don’t want to meet or show you, their puppy. Moreover, always insist on meeting in a public place.
- Trust your gut. If you suspect the breeder is hiding information or behaving suspiciously, get out.
Pet Law in Florida
Buying and selling Puppies in Florida is governed by a specific law known as “Pet Law.” According to this law, no one can sell a puppy under the age of eight weeks.
In addition, another section of this law bounds the seller to provide a health certificate issued by the authorized official. So, whenever you buy a puppy from any store or breeder, ensure that they follow the above-referred section of the pet law.
Frequently Asked Questions
By law, puppies can’t be sold until they are eight weeks old.
While it changes from year to year, the most popular dogs in Florida are the Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd.
It’s not advised to leave your puppy alone for more than two hours while it’s still under six months old.
Conclusion for “Where Can You Find Puppies for Sale in Florida Under $500”
Buying or adopting a puppy is not only a matter of pleasure; it is our obligation toward the animals. They deserve our attention, especially the ones who don’t have a home.
Puppies are beautiful and lovable creatures. Whenever you buy a puppy for your family, treat them as your family member — take excellent care of their hygiene, diet, and health.
We have tried to give all possible information here that may help you buy a puppy within your preferred price slot. You can use all or any of the forums suggested above, and rest assured, you will be successful in your venture.
Just to recap, avoid buying from a puppy mill. Make sure that the puppies are from a trustworthy source. Ask for an official health certificate from the seller. As a general rule, don’t compromise on the quality despite your desired price restriction.
If you enjoyed this guide, “Where Can You Find Puppies for Sale in Florida Under $500,” check out:
- 5 Best Doodle Rescues in Florida! (2023)
- 5 Best Chihuahua Rescues in Florida! (2023)
- 10 Best Pitbull Rescues in Florida! (2023)
Before you find a puppy for sale in Florida under $500, learn more by watching “How to TAKE CARE of a PUPPY 🐶 Complete Guide to Puppy Care” down below:
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
Why Trust We Love Doodles?
At We Love Doodles, we’re a team of writers, veterinarians, and puppy trainers that love dogs. Our team of qualified experts researches and provides reliable information on a wide range of dog topics. Our reviews are based on customer feedback, hands-on testing, and in-depth analysis. We are fully transparent and honest to our community of dog owners and future owners.