The Consumer Council on Thursday said people should adopt pets rather than buying them online, where they face a higher risk of being scammed or ending up with a sick animal.

The watchdog reported that scammers are exploiting online platforms by posting deceptive advertisements for seemingly healthy and adorable pets, a practice it has dubbed "petfishing".

It pointed out these animals may have been illegally imported, raising serious concerns about their health.

A survey conducted by the council and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department – which polled more than 100 registered veterinarians in Hong Kong – revealed that pets bought online are much more likely to be in poor health, as over 90 percent of them lack proper vaccination records.

The chair of the council's Committee on Research and Testing, Chung Chi-yung, noted that consumers are lured by the lower prices in petfishing deals, putting them at risk.

"In the past 12 months, an average of 4.7 dogs and five cats out of every 10 newly purchased pets seeking medical attention were bought online, slightly higher than the proportion of store-bought pets," he said.

He added that dogs purchased online had a significantly higher prevalence of common diseases, such as upper respiratory infections and canine parvovirus, ranging from 52 to 86 percent, compared to those bought in stores with a rate of 29 to 78 percent.

"If set on buying a pet, patronise reputable licensed animal traders like licensed physical shops or licensed dog breeders, and ensure the pet has received at least two vaccinations, is microchipped, has a vaccination card issued by a registered veterinarian in Hong Kong as well as proof of legal origin," Chung said.

The watchdog also urged authorities to crack down on unlicensed sellers and illegal pet smuggling activities.