Media Contact
Felicia Overton, Director of Marketing & Community Relations
Office: 602-212-2237
foverton@arizonabbb.org
Longing for a Canine Companion? Don’t Get Conned!
The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and
the Better Business Bureau of Central/Northern Arizona are warning
consumers about scams targeting unsuspecting puppy buyers.
Both the AKC and the BBB system have
recently received a number of reports from consumers throughout the
nation who have lost money after responding to online or newspaper
classified advertising. Commonly, the scammer —posing as a
breeder—will place an ad offering free or inexpensive puppies.
Communicating solely through emails, the scammer may claim that he/she
is affiliated with a religious organization and is being relocated to a
foreign country and needs to find a good home for the puppies.
“The consumer can be taken in by the
sincerity of the scammer, who’ll say that they don’t care about money
and just want to find a good home for their beloved puppies,” said BBB
President Matthew Fehling. “But then 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.”
The AKC and BBB offer the following advice:
• 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: http://www.akc.org/classified/index.cfm. You can also check with the BBB (www.arizonabbb.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 local
authorities as well as the BBB by filing a complaint at www.arizonabbb.org
or calling 602-264-1721 and 928-772-3410 in Yavapai County. Consumers
can also direct questions and concerns to AKC Customer Service at
919-223-9767, or e-mail info@akc.org.
“If
you are sure you are dealing with an actual breeder who has a dog to
sell, there are still things to be aware of,” AKC spokesperson Lisa
Peterson said. “If you expect the dog or are buying to be
AKC-registrable, you must obtain documentation 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.
Once you have completed the financial aspect of the transaction, there
is little recourse for an unsatisfied buyer.”
To learn about the hallmarks of a responsible breeder, visit:
http://www.akc.org/press_center/facts_stats.cfm?page=responsible_breeder