Puppy Buyer Beware

I recently read an article that would be helpful for first-time puppy buyers. I wish I had the link to the entire article, but here are some of the important nuggets.

Online adoptions can come with risks!

- If you locate a breeder through a web site, do not send money without speaking to the breeder and checking references and credentials first.

- Ask if the breeder is a member of an AKC-affiliated club and contact the club to verify membership.

- Beware of scammers who offer to "re-home" their purebred puppy in exchange for transportation or vaccination fees. If a free purebred puppy sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Scammers will continually ask for more money for unexpected, and false, costs.

- Make sure you have clear expectations of how and when the puppy will be paid for. If the puppy is being shipped long distance, the best approach would be to pay for half up front and half upon receiving the dog, and after getting a veterinarian to sign-off on its health.

In my opinion, you can avoid all of this by just adopting a shelter or rescue dog. :)