Advertising Disclosure

PetAdoptNow is free to use. We support the cost of building and operating the Site with display advertising. This page explains how advertising on the Site works and how we follow the Federal Trade Commission’s guidance on advertising disclosures.

1. Who delivers our ads

Advertising on the Site is currently delivered by Google AdSense. Google AdSense matches ads to the topic of a page or to interests inferred by Google about the visitor. We do not choose specific advertisers, and we do not know in advance which ad will appear in any particular slot.

2. Ad labeling and placement

Every advertising slot on the Site is labeled with the word “Advertisement” (or a clearly equivalent label) so that it is distinguishable from editorial content. We follow Google AdSense’s placement policies and the FTC’s guidance for online advertising:

• We do not place advertising in a way intended to mislead visitors into thinking it is editorial content or a navigation control;
• We do not encourage clicks on advertising — no “click here” or “support us” phrasing next to ads;
• We do not place advertising inside an article’s primary call-to-action area or in a way that interferes with navigation;
• We reserve enough height for each ad slot so the page does not jump (no layout-shift trickery).

3. Sponsored content and affiliate links

We do not currently publish sponsored articles, paid placements disguised as editorial content, or pay-to-list shelter entries. If we ever begin to do so, we will clearly label such content with a prominent disclosure (“Sponsored”, “Paid Partnership”, or similar) at the top of the affected piece.

We do not currently use affiliate links. If we ever add affiliate or referral relationships (for example, referral links for pet insurance or pet supplies), we will update this page and add an inline disclosure on each affected page, in line with FTC guidance.

4. What we will not advertise

We rely on Google AdSense’s policies to filter advertising for the Site. In addition, we use AdSense’s category-blocking tools to opt out of categories that are inappropriate for a pet-adoption audience, including (but not limited to) gambling, dating, weight-loss schemes, get-rich- quick offers, and politically inflammatory advertising. We also opt out of advertising for commercial breeders and any category that promotes harm to animals.

5. Personalized vs non-personalized ads

By default, Google may serve personalized ads based on your browsing history and inferred interests. You can change this at any time:

• Through our cookie banner (open via the “Cookie Settings” link in the footer);
• Through Google Ads Settings at adssettings.google.com;
• Network-wide via the Digital Advertising Alliance at optout.aboutads.info.

In the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, personalized advertising is only loaded if you grant consent through the cookie banner. In California and other US states with similar laws, we honor the Global Privacy Control browser signal and the “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” choice.

6. Reporting a problem ad

If you see an ad on the Site that is misleading, inappropriate, hostile, or that violates a law, please email [email protected] with: (a) the URL of the page you were on, (b) a screenshot of the ad if possible, (c) the destination URL the ad sent you to, and (d) the time and date you saw it. We will report the ad to Google’s ad-review team and block the advertiser category if needed.

7. No endorsement

Display of an advertisement on the Site does not constitute an endorsement by PetAdoptNow of the advertiser’s products or services. Always exercise your own judgment before transacting with any advertised vendor.

8. More information

For the underlying privacy and cookie mechanics, see our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. For our editorial principles and separation between content and advertising, see our Editorial Policy.