Since more people are working from home, a lot of families have decided to use this chance to introduce a new family member into their home. A Puppy!

Unfortunately, there are more and more people falling victim to scammers pretending to be breeders selling puppies that don't exist. But not you, because you're about to know all you need to spot a puppy scam from a mile away.

The online puppy scamming process goes something like this:

Some areas have been getting so many reports of these scams that local Sheriff Offices are sending out text messages to alert the community! Recently I read about several cases when the scammers were able to steal credit card information and cause even more trouble as time went on.

The process of the "local breeders” performing the scam is the same. They ask for a deposit to be sent over right away to ensure a puppy is held for the person and will then agree on a time and place to meet the person to deliver their new puppy the following day.

But when the time comes to deliver the puppy to its new owner, the “local breeders” don’t show up at the agreed time and place; their phone numbers no longer valid. And almost every time, it's impossible for the person to take any legal action.

The most popular breeds used by these low-life scammers are Yorkshire Terriers, French Bulldogs, Pomeranians, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

A good rule of thumb is that whatever breeds are trending and hardest to find at the time, are also going to be used the most often in scams.

The number one, absolute foolproof way to avoid falling for a puppy scam: Do not pay for any puppy sight unseen. (And no, video chat does not count.)
(That same rule goes for adopting any dog too.)

The best and quickest way to rule out whether it's a breeder or a scammer is by asking one single question, no matter what.

When speaking to any breeder for the first time, simply ask when is the soonest day you could come see the puppy. It doesn't matter if you are on the opposite side of the country from where the breeder claims to be located, you still ask when the soonest date would be for you to come visit.

If the breeder tries to talk you out of visiting, starts asking lots of questions that aren't relevant to you visiting, or refuses to set a date for you to visit, or tries to convince you that a visit isn't necessary for whatever reason...RUN!

The American Kennel Club has this in-depth guide on how to identify a puppy scam. I highly recommend reading it over before you reach out to any breeders.

While I fully understand and respect that adopting an older or younger dog, or even adopting one of the many many puppies surrendered to shelters and rescue groups might not be the right or best choice, you'll never know unless you keep an open mind and explore it as an option, right? 

There are some situations when buying from a breeder is the only option. And there is nothing wrong with doing the research and having the patience to find an ethical, reputable breeder who will give the gift of a healthy, quality puppy to join your family.

However, there's a reason more people decide to be scammers and these puppy scams in particular continue to be on the rise: they're successful.

Start off on the right foot of pet ownership. Always take the time to research and learn the qualities of a reputable breeder and support the ones closest to you before buying any puppy in another state. 

There are so many free resources like this guide on how to evaluate a breeder by the humane society, and this guide to finding responsible breeders exist all over the internet to make research easier on you. 

As passionate I am about rescuing, I believe it is far more productive to educate people on how to support reputable breeders than shaming them for not adopting instead. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!