![]() ![]() ![]() Only deal with a breeder or seller you can visit in person, and always ask to see the pet and inspect the property where it’s being cared for.Although their story has a very happy ending, the scam Madi endured is unacceptable - and it’s happening to more and more people. Now, Madi and Lake are an inseparable pair. She received photos of the pregnant mama dog, and would get regular text updates and videos after her dog, now named Lake, was born. The experience was a stark contrast to the scam. She decided to work with the local breeder she’d first identified. Madi didn’t give up on her quest to become a dog mom. “I think all that excitement I was feeling before I knew I was being scammed was really influenced by this momentum … It was all building up to this one day when my new puppy would arrive on a plane,” said Madi. She also found out that the faux breeder had coordinated dozens of other scams, not all of which were pet specific. Madi quickly filed a complaint with Paypal, and after months of investigation, she ended up getting her money back. “I was super upset, and he ended up just telling me ‘I don’t have a dog for you, and never did.’” The breeder told her the cost of the plane ride had increased, and he couldn’t cover it because his daughter was in the hospital. The day before her miniature Schnauzer was to be put on a plane, she started noticing red flags - a lot of them. Though she was asked to wire the payment, she insisted on using Paypal, which she would later find out was a wise decision. She came upon a website which had plenty of positive reviews, so she expressed interest, and quickly put down a $600 deposit - 50% of the total cost. Her excitement turned into impatience, and she decided to work with a breeder on the east coast instead. She’d found a local breeder after researching her options, but Madi didn’t want to wait for as long as it would take for her new puppy to be born, weaned, and ready to go home. “I had to turn my focus and energy toward the scam and getting my money back.” Unfortunately, Madi didn’t have time to process her emotions for long. My sadness and disappointment quickly turned to anger.” “When I realized what had happened to me, I was just devastated,” says Madi. Madi Goodrich, a Twin Cities resident, fell victim to one of these scams when looking for a miniature Schnauzer, the same breed she grew up with as a child. Victims of pet scams aren’t just hit financially - there’s an emotional toll as well. Fraudulent listings for French bulldogs and Yorkshire Terries are particularly pervasive. Some even state they were contacted to send additional money for air transportation or special vaccinations because of COVID-19.Īccording to the Better Business Bureau, pet scams are expected to cost Americans more than $3 million this year the current median loss is $750. ![]() All complaints describe sending money electronically or by wire transfer to a company they found online and did not receive the pet as promised. In Minnesota, 77 consumers have reported experiences with online pet scams, with a total of $104,854 in reported losses. During the pandemic, the number of reported pet scams has more than doubled. Pet-related scams more than double in 2020Ī Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker report found that 25.2% of all reported online purchase scams in 2020 were related to pets and pet supplies. “And it was and still is especially challenging for families seeking a puppy or kitten to adopt.”Īs a result, people who might normally turn to their local shelter became frustrated, and started shopping and adopting online. But with so many community members wanting new pets this spring and summer, we saw dogs that would normally be waiting for their new family for 3, 4, and 5 days going home the same day they became available for adoption,” says Janelle Dixon, President and CEO of Animal Humane Society. “Puppies have always found homes quickly through our adoption centers. Unfortunately, it’s become nearly impossible for AHS - and other rescue agencies in Minnesota - to meet the demand for adoptable animals, particularly puppies and dogs. People were determined to welcome an animal into their lives - having time they didn’t have before, being home when they couldn’t be previously, and looking for ways to ease isolation during a pandemic.Īt the same time, the number of animals available for adoption in Minnesota dropped as transport efforts came to a halt across many states. Applications came from all over the country, and at all hours of the day. We received more than 8,000 completed forms each month - for six months straight. In April, Animal Humane Society began accepting online interest forms in order to offer adoption services in adherence with COVID-19 safety guidelines. As the COVID-19 pandemic pushed community members indoors this spring, animal adoption boomed. ![]()
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