You should clearly state on your advert if a deposit is required, please do not use this as the price of the animal but clearly state in the description that a deposit is needed to secure your animal, you should also clearly state if this deposit is refundable or not.
Remember that a deposit is not a guarantee of purchase, as a seller you can still withdraw if something unforeseen happens (although in this case, you should offer a refund), if the buyer pulls out of the purchase and the deposit was clearly stated, signed and accepted as non refundable, then you should not have to issue a refund.
Petwise recommends that deposits are not made without the prospective buyer visiting the animal at least once prior to offering to pay one.
If you accept payment for an item on Petwise, please ensure the payment has cleared in your account before despatching it and always obtain proof of postage, informing your buyer of the despatch time and providing them with the tracking number of the parcel/package.
If you are accepting payments for services such as dog walking, pet grooming etc. please ensure that you have fully agreed on any price for your service prior to undertaking it for your customer.