THE NUMBER OF PUPPY SCAMS IS GROWING - LEARN WHY!

Covid has left many people are searching for a new puppy for various reasons such as having more time at home to train them, feeling lonely, wanting to do something for their children, or experiencing general depression. They seek the companionship and loyalty of man's best friend! The desperate hunt for a new dog started the first week of March, and there are still loads of new posts on Facebook forums daily. However, there are a limited number of puppies from reputable breeders and those starting their search now are falling victim to scams.

Desperation, low supply, and high demand lead to numerous issues including:

• Panicked shoppers desperate for a puppy.
• Rising costs that have made healthy puppies unaffordable for some households.
• The impatience and annoyance of customers who find it difficult to comprehend why there aren't any puppies available.
• Exhaustion & frustration from breeders who have nothing more to offer.

Around Christmas, the exact same thing takes place. Now you see why this is a perfect storm for two types of people who benefit:

1. Breeders with Poor Reputation - Breeders who do not DNA or health test their Cavalier King Charles Spaniels or other breeds. They could be low volume (often known as a backyard breeder) or high volume (like a puppy mill). They have frequently been in the news for using poor breeding procedures, but since customers are buying online and relying on recommendations from people they don't even know, they are unaware of this until it's too late. This breeder knows you won't return a puppy once you've bought it and fallen in love with it, so they can take advantage of your desperation and offer worthless health guarantees. They know very well that people will put down a deposit on anything right now and aren't doing their research because they fear they won't be able to find another puppy if they don't get this one!
   
2. ​Scammers – While bad, breeders with a bad reputation at least offer puppies for sale. Scammers exploiting the Covid puppy situation are simply con artists. They pretend to have puppies, send pictures, and answer your forum request on Facebook telling you about their available puppies. They may even create a website. In reality, they don't have a puppy to offer, but once more, consumers will put down a deposit on ANYTHING at the moment, and even if they receive your $50 or $100, they're delighted since they didn't work for it! As a lawyer, I frequently receive requests to represent victims of fraud. The worst scammers target puppies purchasers and they are EVERYWHERE right now. 

Here are some precautions you can take:

1. Do a name search on the forums to view their earlier posts. Are they always sharing the same photos? Saying the same thing? How is their English? Do they have references from people you can actually SPEAK to? 
2. Check their date of forum registration, the number of Facebook friends they have, and whether or not you can actually discover images of them WITH their pets.
3. Request to see the breeding dogs' AKC pedigree. Find out who owns the dogs by looking up their names on the OFA, if they provide them (mostly do not provide).
4. Request a copy of the breeding pair's DNA tests. DNA testing can be faked or taken from other sources, but the majority of con artists go for easy targets and don't make an effort to do these things. 
5. Find out their mobile number and FACETIME them. Request to visit the dog's parent and puppy (unexpectedly). Keep calling again if they don't respond; don't leave a message to alert them.
6. Type their name into Google, followed by the words "scam" and "puppy mill." Do the same with ANY breeder you are thinking about. This straightforward search will yield a wealth of information. Every every day, it shocks me that individuals promote a breeder they have never even looked into.
7. Don't ever WIRE cash. Choose a payment option with protection if you're making an online buy! Consider using GoodDog.com to fully protect your purchase. 

 
As I've repeatedly mentioned on this page, I don't expect you to rely on my statements regarding any subject matter - I encourage you to conduct your own research. In case you are skeptical about the existence of puppy scams in your area, here are some references covering regions from the east coast to the west coast.
 
 Better Business Bureau Report on Covid Puppy Scams
 North Carolina Department of Justice Puppy Scam Alert
 Three Oaks Farm Christmas Puppy Scam in Charleston
Concord News Article on Current Puppy Scams
 
 
Please take precautions. Please check the shelters in your area, as pets are given up every day due to job loss and other problems. Please choose one or two breeders you trust and join their waiting lists; Before you know it, the ideal puppy will be yours!

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