Avoiding Puppy Scams

Great article on Yahoo. http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/103458/Scammers-Fetch-Online-Puppy-Buyers

Here is the text of it:

Internet scammers are luring online puppy buyers with cute pictures and false promises, taking would-be dog owners for an emotional and financial ride.

Several organizations report an increasing number of complaints concerning online pet sales, including the American Kennel Club, the Council of Better Business Bureaus, the Humane Society of the United States and the Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3.

Over the past year, the Internet Crime Complaint Center has received nearly 700 complaints -- mostly coming from people contacted by fraudsters answering the victims' ads for pet sales or people who answered fraudsters' ads themselves.

There are three main types of pet scams: an overpayment scheme, a Nigerian pet scam and a sale that provides you with an ill or dying puppy -- or no puppy at all.

Because the scammers frequently operate from overseas, it's often impossible for victims to recoup their money or take legal action. In the United States, California, Florida and Louisiana are hot spots. Victims lose anywhere from $250 to $2,000 to the scams, according to Alison Preszler, spokeswoman for the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

Here's how to recognize these scams and how you can protect yourself while shopping for a furry family member.
Overpayment pet scam
How it works: This is a variation on a popular fraud scheme. An animal owner publishes an online ad offering a pet for sale. The fraudster contacts this person, negotiates a price and sends payment for the animal in the form of a cashier's check.

The trick is that the check is for an amount much larger than the agreed upon price of the pet. The scammer then asks the potential victim to return the overpayment, usually through wire transfer, back to the fraudster or a third party.

The victim eventually learns the cashier's check is counterfeit and loses the money he or she was supposed to get for the dog, plus any funds wired to the scammer. If the victim actually sent the dog, he or she won't get it back.

A number of the pet scams reported to the IC3 involved advance-fee or fraudulent check schemes, says April Wall, a research assistant with the National White Collar Crime Center.

Nigerian pet scam
How it works: Scammers either run online classified ads or create breeder Web sites offering purebred puppies -- typically English bulldogs or Yorkshire terriers -- either free or at a discounted price.

The story can vary as to why the animal is free or discounted -- the current owner is a missionary who needs to find the puppy a new home due to the terrible weather in its current location; the animal was rescued from a natural disaster and needs a good home, etc.

The scammer will then ask interested buyers to pay for the dog's shipment, down payment, inoculations and any number of other miscellaneous fees. The victims wire money for the dogs but generally only get excuses for the delay. Instead, they're repeatedly asked for more money to cover additional "fees" invented by the scammer.

Greedy scammers will concoct even more fees that the victim needs to pay after the dog has been supposedly shipped. Unfortunately, once you wire the money, it's gone, says Preszler.

The bait and switch
How it works: Scammers are selling purebreds, "designer dogs," mutts and even made-up breeds through online classified ads and breeder Web sites. Often what people get are different dogs than the ones requested or puppies that are sickly. Sometimes they don't get anything.

Nearly 20 percent of the complaints received over the last year referred to Internet sales, says Stephanie Shain, the director of outreach for companion animals at The Humane Society of the United States.

People searching online for a dog they want find a Web site or ad offering puppies for sale and send e-mails or call the breeders requesting ones they want. Shain says it's common for the scammers to send you photos of the puppies they're shipping to you, but the pictures may not be the dogs you actually receive.

"Sending you a photograph doesn't mean they have that puppy," she says. "It's just a picture of a puppy."

Scammers count on people not wanting to send puppies back, even if they are different from the ones they ordered. Who is going to send a puppy back?

The animal you receive might be from a puppy mill, a factory-like place that produces large numbers of puppies in cramped, unsavory conditions for sheer profit. These puppies can come with severe health and behavioral problems.

And that's if you actually receive the dog.

April Buck of Grain Valley, Mo., was looking for an English bulldog puppy when she found a Web site offering one -- named Buck -- and wired $1,200 through Western Union to Miami to pay for the dog and its shipment.

The seller then asked her to pay another $300 for a DNA test that the airport supposedly required. She refused to send the money and contacted local authorities, the FBI and even Western Union about the scam with no luck.

"We didn't get our puppy but he kept our money," she says. "We lost a total of $1,289 to be exact. It cost us $89 to send the money."

Buck says the seller had a normal-looking Web site, claimed he had been in the business for 11 years and said the puppies were AKC-registered.

"I thought that meant these people were screened," Buck says. As it turns out, the AKC had never heard of the seller.

In any case, the AKC is just a registry, says Shain, not a quality control organization.

"If you don't know anything about the Web, don't buy anything off the Web," Buck says.

Reflecting on the Tragic Anniversary of 9/11

Like all Americans, I can clearly remember my entire day six years ago when the terrorists struck our soil.

My reflections on this day are probably like most people. Feelings of sadness, loss, and fear of the unknown. It seemed the whole country fell into a deep funk. Although I can go on and on rehashing my thoughts of that day, I have no unique stories or tales to share. Mine are similar to most-going to work, hearing of the tragedy, and realizing how much the world just changed.

Rather then telling my not so unique story, I think it is better for everyone to reflect in their own way, with their own memories of what occurred. And not only to reflect on the bad, but to reflect on the good...the good of people who came out to help. The generosity of those who helped others in need, the heroes who never intended on being one.

Without disrespecting the lives that were lost, being a pet blog, I would be remiss if I also didn’t mention the pet heroes of the tragedy. In the aftermath of the whole event, I remember there were requests for dog boots, because so many rescue dogs were hurting their pads walking through the rubble. Those dogs did whatever was needed of them to help their “best friends.”

So today, in the midst of living and doing whatever projects need to get done today, I will take time to reflect, hug my wife, pet my dogs, and appreciate my fish. Because when we all woke up and went on our way six years ago, we could never know that so many lives would change forever.

Toilet Aquarium

I came across this thanks to the "What the Pets" Blog. http://whatthepets.blogspot.com/,

A company called Fish N Flush has created a fish tank that doubles as your toilet. It comes with everything you need...just add gravel, fish and water.

Don't worry about flushing your fish, it's a separate tank from the one that fills the bowl.

These acrylic tanks are fully functional, impact resistant and stronger than china. They are completely separate from the toilet tank and are designed to fit directly against the companion tank reservoir.

Though, I'm not sure how much the fish would enjoy the daily activities of a bathroom. Plus, with the heat given off from showers, you could risk having temperature changes around the tank that wouldn't be good for the fish.

Officer accused of leaving police dog in hot car

Report: Cop ran errands, napped as canine died in 109-degree day

PHOENIX - A suburban police officer is accused of leaving a police dog in a patrol car for more than 12 hours on a 109-degree day, killing the animal.

Chandler police Sgt. Tom Lovejoy was booked into the Maricopa County jail on a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty after a two-week investigation into the death of a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois named Bandit. He was released later Wednesday, said Capt. Paul Chagolla, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s investigation showed Bandit was in Lovejoy’s patrol car from about 9 a.m. to shortly after 10 p.m. Aug. 11. During that time, the investigation found, the officer ran errands, napped and ate out with his wife. Lovejoy later found the dog dead in the car.

“I am certain Sgt. Lovejoy has suffered greatly from leaving his police dog in a sweltering car,” Sheriff Joe Arpaio said in a statement. “I do not relish the idea of compounding his sadness. However, Lovejoy must be treated like anyone else in similar circumstances.”

Lovejoy said Wednesday night that he is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 25 and that his lawyer advised him not to comment further.

“With the sheriff railing on me right now, it’s kind of hard to say anything,” Lovejoy said.

Chandler Police Chief Sherry Kiyler said in a statement that the department respects and supports the criminal justice system and its processes, and that an internal investigation has been launched.


Trackposted to Rosemary's Thoughts, The Amboy Times, The Random Yak, Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker, and OTB Sports, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Nature's Chew Toy

I've written about this product before, but I'm still amazed by how much my dogs love this toy. Since I've gotten my second dog, both my pups seem to have an unending string of energy. They'll run around and play like mad (often a bit rough, at least in human terms). But as soon as I take out their antlerz, they stop what they're doing, and start chewing on their favorite toys. It really is amazing how much it calms them down.

My dogs are great at destroying so-called indestructible toys. Once destroyed, they feel a need to eat the stuffing. So when a relative approached me with this unique product, I was more then happy to give it a try.

My dogs love chewing it, don't get sick, and it’s all natural. The chew toy lasts for a long time. It naturally wears down so there is nothing that the dog will vomit later as he chews (sorry for the graphic thought).

Here is the product description:
Deer Antlerz are a 100% natural, mineral rich, long lasting dog chew. The new chew is made from a natural material that is rich in minerals, does not splinter and comes from a completely renewable source – Deer antlers! Wild deer shed their antlers once a year as part of a natural process, after which the deer re-grow another set.

To purchase the product, check out http://www.specialforpets.com/site/1562782/page/858186

By the way, I get no financial gain for mentioning this product, but I do know the distributor very well.

Pet Overpopulation a Prevalent Problem

Although this blog generally deals with pets, products and more, I came across some interesting information regarding how the pet overpopulation problem grows.

Many animals are forced to spend months in shelters, or are euthanized in the prime of their lives. The chief reason for this is the overpopulation of cats and dogs throughout the country.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates between three and four million cats and dogs are euthanized each year. Part of the problem in addressing overpopulation is that pet owners don't always realize just how quickly things can get out of control.

Consider the following statistic: In just six years, a female dog and her offspring can give birth to 67,000 puppies. That means, unless your dog is already spayed or neutered, it could become the starting parent of a family 67,000 strong by 2012.

HSUS points to legislation and education as an effective means for curing the overpopulation problem.

Pet Diapers

My friends at http://www.healthypetcompany.com
always have something interesting to sell. I've heard about pet diapers before, but never really thought much of them until I saw pictures of pets actually wearing them.



I understand the need and usefulness of pet diapers, but the description of the product really says it all:

Peepers Disposable Pet Diapers addresses a significant need amoung pet owners to allow their pets run freely in the house, on the couch, and in bed without worrying about leakage.

Following up on my post the other day regarding the "Pet Economy," it's fun to find all of the various products out there. Here's hoping my dogs won't have any problems with 'leakage,' but if they do, at least I know there is a product that can do the job.

The "Pet Economy"

Great article in Business Week about the current state of the pet economy. According to the article, "Americans spend an astonishing $41 billion a year on their furry friends."

Other great stats and trends are also featured in this article, including the booming business of buying fake testicles for your dog to replace the ones removed during neutering. Yup, I said it, fake testicles - and they get implanted back into the dog.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_32/b4045001.htm/,

Cape May County Zoo

Athough zoo animals aren't really pets, what animal lover doesn't enjoy a trip to the zoo? Here are some pics of a recent trip we took to the Cape May County Zoo, located on the New Jersey Shoreline, about 15 minutes from Cape May, Wildwood, and Ocean City.

Plus, there is no admission fee -- instead it's all donation based and you can pay whatever you want. The first time we went, I thought, how good could it be with no admission. But it is definately worth the time to go and visit










The third picture above is a chicken with furry feet.