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  • Geebo 8:00 am on June 18, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: backyard breeders, , , ,   

    Another reminder not to get pets from Craigslist 

    Another reminder not to get pets from Craigslist

    By Greg Collier

    Online marketplaces offer endless possibilities, but they also come with risks, especially when it comes to pet adoption. One family learned this lesson firsthand when they set out to bring home a new dog. The stepfather, convinced by a Craigslist ad for a $100 dog, persuaded the family to welcome Mason into their home. Little did they know, they were stepping into a world of deception.

    Craigslist has become notorious for pet scams, where unsuspecting buyers are misled about the age, health, and background of the animals they adopt. In this case, the family believed they were getting a young, vibrant dog. Mason, however, was far from the three-year-old pup they were promised. Soon after Mason joined their family, they noticed he spent an unusual amount of time sleeping. Concerned, they took him to the vet and received shocking news: Mason was actually ten years old and suffering from major heart problems. The vet estimated he had only about nine months to live.

    The realization that they had been scammed was disheartening. The family had hoped to share many active years with a young dog, but instead, they were faced with the impending loss of an elderly pet. Despite the initial shock and disappointment, they decided to make Mason’s remaining time as happy and comfortable as possible.

    Mason’s story is not just one of love and resilience; it also highlights the risks and heartbreak that can come with pet scams. Many families fall victim to these deceptions, ending up with pets that are older or sicker than advertised. The emotional and financial toll can be significant, as families must adjust their expectations and provide care for animals with unexpected health issues.

    Unfortunately, Craigslist is notorious for harboring backyard breeders. These individuals breed puppies with little concern for the animals’ health and well-being. Often, the animals are raised in deplorable conditions without proper medical care. The term “backyard breeder” refers to these unscrupulous breeders who lack certification and professional standards. Although Mason’s situation likely didn’t stem from a backyard breeder, it underscores the mistreatment pets sold on Craigslist can suffer.

    To ensure you’re buying a healthy pet from a reputable breeder, it’s best to avoid platforms like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. These sites are often where backyard breeders post their advertisements. This is why Geebo.com, for example, doesn’t allow pet listings. Legitimate breeders typically welcome visitors to their facilities and provide health certifications for their animals.

    Moreover, we strongly encourage adopting a pet from your local shelter. Many wonderful dogs are in need of loving homes, and adoption is both a responsible and humane choice.

     
  • Geebo 9:00 am on November 20, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: backyard breeders, , , ,   

    The puppy scam that’s even more cruel 

    The puppy scam that's even more cruel

    By Greg Collier

    The majority of time we discuss puppy scams, we elaborate on the one where the puppy doesn’t even exist. That’s the scam where a puppy will be advertised for sale online, and once the scammers get their initial payment, they’ll try to get additional payments from their victims for things like special shipping crates, insurance, and other fees they can dream up. At least in that scam, there are no actual animals being harmed. We wish we could say the same for the other puppy scam.

    The other puppy scam is perpetrated by what’s called backyard breeders. These are people who will breed a popular breed of puppy regardless of the health and welfare of any animal in their care. Their goal is to crank out as many puppies as they can to get as much money as they can. Too often, the animals used and produced are kept in substandard living conditions, and are often sold after contracting a terminal disease.

    A family in Southern California were recently ordered to pay restitution after they were found to be selling sick puppies on Craigslist. One of their victims paid the family $1100 for a goldendoodle puppy. After getting the puppy home, the puppy began to get severely ill. After taking the puppy to a vet, it was discovered the puppy had the deadly parvovirus. The new owners spent $10,000 to treat the puppy, who thankfully survived. But that wasn’t the end of the scam. About a month later, the puppy’s hair started turning white. The puppy wasn’t a goldendoodle at all and had its hair dyed to pass it off as one.

    To make sure you’re buying a healthy puppy from a reputable breeder, avoid places like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. That’s where the backyard breeders mostly post their advertisements, and it’s why Geebo.com doesn’t allow listings for pets. Legitimate breeders will almost always allow you to visit their facility and check their health certifications.

    And as always, we would prefer if you adopted a pet from your local shelter instead. Many wonderful dogs are in need of homes, and adoption is a responsible and humane choice.

    Responsible breeders prioritize the health and well-being of their dogs and will be transparent about their practices. By taking the time to research and ask questions, you can make an informed decision and provide a loving home for a healthy puppy.

     
  • Geebo 8:00 am on April 29, 2021 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , backyard breeders, parvo, , , ,   

    Family loses thousands after buying ill puppy 

    Family loses thousands after buying ill puppy

    By Greg Collier

    Typically, when we talk about puppy scams, we’re talking about the kind where the puppy doesn’t actually exist. In this scam, con artists put up fake websites and ads advertising popular puppy breeds at cut rate prices. Once a victim makes a payment for the puppy, the scammers will then start asking for more money for things like insurance and specialized travel crates. Finding out that you’re not getting a puppy after paying thousands of dollars is heartbreaking in itself, but there’s an even more heartbreaking scam that involves puppies.

    Unfortunately, this other scam involves actual puppies. There are backyard breeders and puppy mills that will happily take your money by selling you a terminally ill puppy. This happened recently to a family in Arizona who bought a Heeler-Lab puppy for $250. From we understand, this breed of puppy can go for upwards of $1,000. The family picked up the dog from the seller at a local McDonald’s. After they got the puppy home they discovered that the puppy had ticks and fleas. After taking the puppy to a vet, it was discovered that the puppy had the deadly parvovirus, better known as just parvo. The family took out a loan so they could pay for the $3,000 treatment. Sadly, the puppy’s condition worsened in the coming days. Further treatment would have cost $25,000. The family had to make the difficult decision to have the puppy put down.

    As with a number of online scams, anyone can put up a website or Craigslist ad and call themselves a breeder. However, if the puppy is being sold for well below market value, that could be a red flag that something’s not on the up and up. If you can’t go physically see the puppy before purchasing that may also be an indicator that something could be wrong with the puppy. If the seller asks you to meet at a location like a fast food parking lot, that could be another indication of a bad breeder.

    As always, we recommend going to your local animal shelter to adopt a pet. You’d be surprised what breeds you might find at the shelter. Also, not every shelter dog has been abused or has trust issues. A great deal of them have just been surrendered by their owners for various reasons. Many shelters have waiting lists for certain breeds in addition to being able to adopt the puppy for no or low cost. Maybe even consider adopting an adult dog instead as they need homes too.

     
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