As many seek the companionship of pets during the holiday season, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a warning about the rise of puppy scams. In a public statement, Nessel pointed out the increase in demand for pets at this time of year, which has led to a surge in scams targeting unsuspecting consumers, according to a report on the Michigan Department of Attorney General's website.
These scams often involve nonexistent animals, and undisclosed health or behavioral issues, or falsified vaccination records, as noted by Nessel who referred to an ongoing investigation into deceptive practices on the pet adoption site RescueMe.org, where a seller was accused of falsifying vaccination records. The holiday season provides an ideal opportunity for scammers to take advantage of consumers, as they often use excuses to avoid in-person meetings and request additional fees upfront. Reported cases have involved deceiving consumers into paying for pets through various methods.
To address the rise in scams, the Attorney General's office released a public service announcement last year outlining recommended practices for purchasing pets. These include confirming that the recipient is ready for a pet, properly researching breeds and breeders, and ensuring the pet is seen in person before purchase. Nessel also advised using a credit card for transactions to facilitate recourse in case of fraud and suggested considering adoption from local shelters as a safer option.
Consumer expenditure on puppies is a staggering sum north of $1 billion annually, as per the statement from the Attorney General's office, consumers unwittingly engage with puppy scams or puppy mills, where the living conditions for the animals are often cruel and inhumane, breeders tend to hide the conditions by conducting business away from their operations, whether through pet stores or online platforms, fueling the hidden chain of demand and supply disguised as holiday gifting.
Those who have fallen prey to these schemes can seek help by contacting the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team. Michigan residents are encouraged to file a complaint if they feel they have been victimized by a puppy scam, and all related holiday scam alerts can be found on the aforementioned Department of Attorney General's website.
