Comments on: Dog Adoption Scams

By: Marg

Marg — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:14:39 +0000

I got sucked into more than one scam when trying to find a dog. I’ve driven as far as 2+ hours on more than one occasion to meet a dog/pup. But, no big money, no dog! I was suspicious. Did an internet search on one person, found a very interesting article on her. Seems she gave a very sick dog to someone and it died the next day and then she practically forced another one on her the same day. She was and still is “flipping dogs”, getting them from shelters than charging high “adoption” fees! I was refused a dog even though I went through the whole process of filling out very lengthy forms, having references and vets called. But, they didn’t tell me about the big money until after I met the dog and adored it. They were pushy to make up my mind by the next morning and at least leave $150 to hold the dog. I NEVER heard from them again! They found someone who would give them the $250-$300. My advice, Be careful when they are pushy, even the so called foster family. I may be wrong, but maybe they are making some $$ too or are suckered into the scam. My experience was identical to what wa written in the article here!!! I did get my new pup! The owner didn’t ask for one dollar!! She just wanted a new loving home. I drove 2 hours to go pick up my baby. Gave the owner $100 to cover all of the accessories that she gave me. Now that’s a REAL adoption! And, all other folks that I contacted who had dogs up for adoption, I would write to them saying, if you’re a Foster family or if you’re going to ask for a hefty “fee”, don’t reply to me. The ONLY one who did reply out of about 20 - 25 folks, was the one that I got my pup from. You can’t convince me otherwise that alot of these adoptions are not making more money than they put out for these dogs! I’ve been there! And I’ve gone as far as Cobleskill, NY where the shelter required less than $75 for a dog with all shots and dog license. So, JK, YOU should do some research! The info in the article was exactly what I experienced! And I wasn’t the only one!

By: Tauro

Tauro — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:16:20 +0000

I am not sure what the issue is. So, somebody finds dogs for cheap and sells them for more? OK, so people do it with homes, cars, all manner of merchandise on ebay - why should dogs be different? If people are willing to shell out serious $$$ for a dog - it’s a supply and demand thing, really…

By: EB

EB — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:06:01 +0000

I live in the Northeast and the shelters absolutely DO adopt puppies and dogs out within your mentioned price range ($60-$100). It is the unregulated “rescues” that won’t adopt out for less than $300. Cats are even less at a shelter. In fact, look for yourself at Petfinder.com and find Adirondak Save A Stray in Corinth, NY. They are having a “two for the price of one” special on kittens right now to try and make way for some new cats who need a place to stay until adoption. Sounds like your article was well researched, and it brings to light a deplorable part of the “animal lover” community that is for some reason treated as acceptable pratice. Bravo on this article.

By: JK

JK — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 05:29:12 +0000

I don’t know where you live, but nobody in the Northeast can adopt out a dog for “$75-$100. Cats go for that from rescues up here, dogs for much more, especially if they’re puppies and the neutering, vaccinations, etc. are included, which they usually are. While it’s true that lots of scammers are out there, it is completely unfair to make most of the statements you make in this article. And whetner or not they can legally make you honor your promise, a promise is a promise and Ellen broke hers. She had no right to do that and should probably not have gotten the dog in the first place. One of the many advantages of adopting from a rescue instead of craigslist or the like is that the rescues will take the animal back if it doesn’t fit into the particular adoption situation while craigslist animals are often problem animals being dumped and the former owners don’t answer their phone when the new owners try to contact them to return the animal that wasn’t as advertised. I do agree that selling dogs — and cats — should be illegal but if everyone in the Northeast follows your uninformed advice, the no-kill shelters here will all close and nobody will be able to find any rescued pets; they’ll all be euthanized in the kill shelters. Please do some research before making such suggestions.

By: crazy4hounds

crazy4hounds — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:23:36 +0000

Thank you for this article. I know of a retired racing greyhound scam that is actually funneling dogs for a person who breeds indiscriminately and keeps the dogs in deplorable conditions. These dogs have never seen a racetrack and they are breeding these dogs for hunting live prey. What can I do to report this nonprofit scam? They charge a few hundred for adoption fees and they are cloaked in respectability but in reality they are supporting uncontrolled breeding and the place where the dogs are kept is disease infested and overcrowded. How can this be stopped?