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Beware dog scammers

Letter
Published: Thursday, December 28, 2006

As we press on through the holiday season, I want to warn everyone about purebred dog scams. If the price is too good to be true, it is!

We are looking for a small, mixed-breed puppy. And as we scour the Internet ads, we notice a great deal of expensive dogs for cheap.

The pictures attached are those that you can find on Google, and the story is generally the same.

The "owners" are unable to care for their beloved puppy as they are in another country due to a parent's sudden death -- or they're on missionary work in an orphanage and the heat is too much for the dog.

They don't want money for the pup just shipping costs covered.

They always reply in the loving name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and their e-mail address echoes the same. To be more transparent, their phone is having difficulties, and you can't reach them at the number listed in their ads.

I hope no one has lost a huge chunk of change by being blind to the obvious. Please be smart, research and ask lots of questions.

We have lots of reputable breeders locally. Or you could find the same "new breed" listed as a Heinz 57 mix at our shelters, which are bursting at the seams.

Krista Stobbe, Mission
© The Vancouver Province 2006