Scammed when buying a puppy

[Felix08]

Im sure there are websites that have lists of good breeders right? Pick a breeder from there.
Sorry this has happend to you! Are there forums for the dog breed you want? See if there are poeple there that have advice on who are good breeders?

Ive had two dogs before, both were from the shelter. Great dogs!
My dad really wants a puppy when he retires, he just wants a small dog because here there are mostly larger dogs in the shelter. But I know for a fact he will end up with a dog with 3 legs, 1 eye and no ear lol. But those need a home the most!

 

[openbook1]

Im sure there are websites that have lists of good breeders right? Pick a breeder from there.
Sorry this has happend to you! Are there forums for the dog breed you want? See if there are poeple there that have advice on who are good breeders?

Ive had two dogs before, both were from the shelter. Great dogs!
My dad really wants a puppy when he retires, he just wants a small dog because here there are mostly larger dogs in the shelter. But I know for a fact he will end up with a dog with 3 legs, 1 eye and no ear lol. But those need a home the most!

Most countries have kennel club websites. you still have to be careful though as people just pay to sign up so you still need to do your due diligence and research the breeder. Depending on the breed, there could be a local FB group on them where people can advise on breeders and who to avoid.

 

[MaxieMoo]

Unfortunately not. Would you suggest asking to see the kitten in person?

My colleague has just reserved two kittens. He has been to visit. Was allowed to film whilst there. Seemed clean and cats well cared for. Saw both Mum and Dad too. As yet no deposit paid. He has been liasing with the breeder for a good while.

I wouldn't feel comfortable with not visiting at least to check the conditions. Maybe see if they are agreeable to this?

 

[openbook1]

My colleague has just reserved two kittens. He has been to visit. Was allowed to film whilst there. Seemed clean and cats well cared for. Saw both Mum and Dad too. As yet no deposit paid. He has been liasing with the breeder for a good while.

I wouldn't feel comfortable with not visiting at least to check the conditions. Maybe see if they are agreeable to this?

When you are buying an animal, the breeder should always let you meet the animal/their mum and where the animals are living.

If they do not, that is a huge red flag.

 

[Jaeme]

you should still have the option of seeing the male or at the very least get the contact information for his owners

Details definitely.
I was just meaning that if someone has gone outside for a Sire then it’s very unlikely he’d be there when people visit the litter so it’s not necessarily a bad thing if Dad isn’t there.
Most breeds have health tests that should be done so you’d get the details of both parents, their health results and the 5 gen pedigree.

If a breeder was hesitant to pass on details of the kennel the dad came from then that’s a completely different thing and would definitely set off alarm bells.
But you should always see the litter with their mother and where they’re being raised, don’t put a deposit down without meeting the litter / breeder.

Im sure there are websites that have lists of good breeders right? Pick a breeder from there.
Sorry this has happend to you! Are there forums for the dog breed you want? See if there are poeple there that have advice on who are good breeders?

Ive had two dogs before, both were from the shelter. Great dogs!
My dad really wants a puppy when he retires, he just wants a small dog because here there are mostly larger dogs in the shelter. But I know for a fact he will end up with a dog with 3 legs, 1 eye and no ear lol. But those need a home the most!

your local breed club as they will have a puppy coordinator.
Puppies being kennel club registered isn’t necessarily a guarantee of a good breeder as like openbook1 said you still need to do your due diligence.
The kennel club does have an assured breeder scheme, the breeders who are members of that are inspected by the kennel club and have a set of requirements to comply with.

 

[mrsbinch]

I’ve put a deposit down for a Ragdoll kitten and I’m worried I’ve been scammed. Spoke to the seller/breeder on the phone but the pictures I’ve been sent don’t seem to be of the same kitten I’m due to get her in 3 weeks and I’m just hoping I’m being paranoid.

Ask to see an image with some kind of providence... an item in the background of your choosing or something...

 

[Allthevest20]

I’ve put a deposit down for a Ragdoll kitten and I’m worried I’ve been scammed. Spoke to the seller/breeder on the phone but the pictures I’ve been sent don’t seem to be of the same kitten I’m due to get her in 3 weeks and I’m just hoping I’m being paranoid.

Good breeders will also have the genetic history (VERY important for Ragdoll cats!) Especially for Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and wouldn't object to you seeing the kittens/Mum probably even Dad and alot have other generations too plus registration details to show they're an approved breeder (GCCF). Ragdolls are "designer" at the moment - my favourite breed since I was a child - so make sure you do all of those checks x

 

[under the ivy]

Well good and bad news about my ragdoll kitten scam. Bad news; I did get scammed and I’ve contacted my bank’s fraud department and they’re working on getting my money bank. I’m disgusted that somebody could do this. But on some good news; I have found a litter of genuine ragdoll kittens from a breeder near me, have been in contact with them and I am going to view them at the weekend (socially distanced). Thank you all your advice.

 

[Tui]

So we have saved for months to buy our new dream puppy £1500 she was, my daughter was so excited as were we! we left a deposit stupidly without seeing her and we've been scammed! devastated. beware people if your considering buying at the moment.

I’ve got a long term plan to eventually get a Burmese, I’ve joined a Facebook group which contains breeders and it’s got lots of useful advice. Seems to be increasingly common right now to charge exorbitant prices for animals - going rate for a Burmese is £850ish but some disreputable individuals asking for £1500+

 

[Raininvain]

I'd advise go to a rescue for anyone then at least you wont get scammed. My cats were both from rescues, one was £25.00 and just neutered so I had to get his injections done etc and the other one was £90.00 and he had everything done, neutering, vaccinations, flea treated and wormed. I haven't had a decent nights sleep since I got the second cat but that's a different issue.
There was a ragdoll going at the rescue I support and he was £100 as far as I remember. Rescues do get pedigrees cats in as well. Breeders often dump them after they have had a few litters.

 

[Felix08]

I'd advise go to a rescue for anyone then at least you wont get scammed. My cats were both from rescues, one was £25.00 and just neutered so I had to get his injections done etc and the other one was £90.00 and he had everything done, neutering, vaccinations, flea treated and wormed. I haven't had a decent nights sleep since I got the second cat but that's a different issue.
There was a ragdoll going at the rescue I support and he was £100 as far as I remember. Rescues do get pedigrees cats in as well. Breeders often dump them after they have had a few litters.

True! When I lived at home we got a, although weird, persian cat from the shelter because the owners just thought he was cute but didnt want to take care of his hair. He was the best cat ever!

 

[ChloChlo]

This is such a common scam unfortunately. Do not hand over any money until you are at least sure the animal even exists! Always assess the home conditions and health. I would never buy a dog from an unrepetable breeder ever again. It can cost you hunks of money in the long run. Not to mention not knowing where it came from! I have had bad luck...

I bought a "cavapoo" from Gumtree many years ago, the designer mutts didn't cost no where near as they do now back then, I had the budget of around £300 and set about looking for a small, cross breed on Gumtree. The Cavapoo stuck out to me, they appeared to be double even triple the price in other ads. She was advertised as only "one in a litter" it was a lady from the like, who said there is no way I wouldn't fall in love with this puppy and it would suit her better if her husband would bring her to me. He did within an hour, no money was exchanged until he bought this puppy out of his coat in the palm of his hand. I was eager to ask lots about her, what she had been fed, etc. But he grunted at me and turned on his heels as soon as the money left my hands. He seemed so unsavory. I noticed my puppy wasn't eating in the first few days, she eventually turned into a shaky, runny nosed, sick puppy with diorreah. She was sick and far too young to be away from her mum and the vet said she certainly had no type of spaniel in her and leant towards her being a Maltese, she certainly looked like one and grew no bigger than a small kitten. She also had some sort of genetic skin condition relating to inbreeding in non shed coat breeds. It cost me alot in vet fees. I tried to contact the "breeders" to let them know, they had taken their advert down and their number became a deadline. My puppy did not have an existing chip. I am pretty sure, looking back and being more older and wiser, she was more than likely stolen. It would explain alot of things, such as the disappearance after, the breed (despite being pleasantly taken aback she was a Maltese - my dream dog but never being able to afford one) not being as advertised. Although I am aware of a practice called "dogfishing" where sick puppies are sold. So please be careful.

 

[Giggling Squid]

I’ve got a long term plan to eventually get a Burmese, I’ve joined a Facebook group which contains breeders and it’s got lots of useful advice. Seems to be increasingly common right now to charge exorbitant prices for animals - going rate for a Burmese is £850ish but some disreputable individuals asking for £1500+

Burmese are the best we reserved ours during the first lockdown (she was born a week before it started)... we didn’t meet her until the day week picked her up, but our breeders were fab. One of them was shielding which made meeting her impossible. We had I think 3 video calls before we officially reserved her, got given the details of the sire, and once we had reserved had video calls every week until we collected her at 13 weeks.


So, for the OP - physically meeting them is best, but if you can’t, the breeder should still be open to giving you as much information,
Visibility etc as you want

 

[Mayday]

I know this isn't much help, but I second a rescue. There are tons of breed-specific rescues at the moment (I have a husky and got mine from one), and often they get puppies in and need fosterers for them - especially as puppies are the ones most likely to be claimed quickly.

If you do want to buy a puppy, then be wary of breeders that have loads of different dogs/breeds for sale. I think a lot of those tend to be imported.

 

[Facehugger]

The dog I have now, I met his breeder through a KC advert for the litter before he was born. She was taking reservations/adding names to her waiting list.

I went to see her, met all her dogs, saw pregnant Mum & sire to the litter, we stayed all day. Then visited fortnightly till the pups were old enough to leave Mum. The breeder shows her dogs & won't let any of her pups go to anybody she doesn't think is suitable, however much money they offer her.