Scams Target Unsuspecting Puppy Buyers

By Scott Nicholson

Careful of too much puppy love.

The American Kennel Club and the Better Business Bureau of Northwest North Carolina are warning consumers about scams targeting unsuspecting puppy buyers. Both the AKC and the BBB have recently received a number of reports from consumers throughout the nation who have lost money after responding to online or newspaper classified advertising.

The regional BBB branch reports the scammer poses as a breeder and will place an ad offering free or inexpensive puppies. Via email, the scammer may claim affiliation with a religious organization and is being relocated to a foreign country for mission work and needs new homes for the puppies.

“A good con artist knows all the right heart-strings to pull when using a pet lover’s fondness for cute little puppies. They’ll say that they don’t care about money and just want to find a good home,” said David W. Dalrymple, northwestern BBB president, in a press release. “Then quickly the fees for shipping the pet mount up and the consumer can lose hundreds of dollars before realizing they’ve been conned and will never get their puppy.”

Lynn Northrup, manager of the Humane Society and Animal Shelter in Boone, said the department had received no reports of the scam locally and couldn’t recall any involved pets in the county.

“This is certainly not the only scam to be aware of, but it is a common one,” AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson said. “Because of the emotional investment, consumers are more vulnerable to being taken advantage of when it comes to a cute cuddly puppy than with any other purchase. A dog is a major investment — a living, breathing being who will rely on you for 10 years or more. Take time to educate yourself on the hallmarks of a legitimate and responsible breeder.”

Peterson advised to make sure you are dealing with an actual breeder who has a dog to sell. AKC-registered dogs should have paperwork available at time of purchase and when you pick up the dog. Be wary of excuses such as “AKC hasn’t sent the papers yet.”

“If a breeder is doing his paperwork in a timely manner, there is no reason the AKC Dog Registration Application form should not be available, so wait until you receive it before you pay for and take home your puppy,” Peterson said. “Once you have completed the financial aspect of the transaction, there is little recourse for an unsatisfied buyer.”

Protection From Getting Pooched

Do your research. Ask if the breeder is a member of an AKC-affiliated club and contact that club to verify membership or check recent listings of available AKC Litters from breeders at: www.akc.org/classified/index.cfm. You can also check with the BBB (www.nwnc.bbb.org) and the AKC (919-233-9767) to see if there are any complaints about the breeder. Request references and speak to other people who have purchased dogs from this breeder—especially if the breeder does not live near you.

Beware of breeders who seem overly concerned with getting paid. Any reputable breeder will be far more concerned with the appropriateness of the potential pet home than what and when they are getting paid. Make sure you have clear expectations – ideally in writing – of how and when the pup will be paid for. Be especially wary of any breeder who insists that you wire money and who calls to ask for more money to be wired to cover last minute shipping fees.

Don’t be fooled by a slick web site. Unscrupulous breeders and even outright scams can be represented by professional-looking web sites that lure you in with fraudulent pictures of adorable puppies. At the very least speak with the breeder on the telephone and ideally meet the breeder, the puppy and the dam in person. If you locate a breeder online, never send money without checking their references and credentials first. The AKC recommends that you first contact the national organization for the breed (Parent Club). It is essential to visit the breeder at their home to see the entire litter and the care and conditions given to the puppies prior to purchasing.

Take your time. Beware of breeders who claim to have multiple breeds ready to ship immediately. It’s highly unlikely that your perfect puppy will be available for shipping on the very day you call. Gestation and socialization of a litter takes months — no puppy should be separated from the dam before 8 weeks of age.

Report a scam. Anyone who has experienced a dog-related scam should report it to their local authorities as well as the local BBB (www.nwnc.bbb.org) to file a complaint. Consumers can also direct questions and concerns to AKC Customer Service at 919-233-9767, or e-mail info@akc.org.