Dog scam has disappointed pet owners howling

Police in Winkler, Man., are asking people to be extra vigilant when buying goods online after three people were scammed out of hundreds of dollars when they bought dogs that they never received. 

Rick Hiebert, police chief in the town located about 100 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg, said the victims all recently responded to online classified ads listing dogs for sale.

After conversing with the seller, buyers were forced into paying extra fees for services like kennelling, shipping, insurance or excise taxes. Once the buyers started asking questions about the fees, however, Hiebert said the sellers forced them into paying by threatening to file lawsuits against them for abandoning the deal or by telling them they could be charged with animal cruelty for walking away from the sale.

"In this case, all three became suspicious when there were follow-up fees involved," Hiebert said.

In the end, none of the three victims received their dogs. 

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"The one commonality is they're [sending] money via Western Union," Hiebert said, adding that police aren't sure yet if the incidents are linked, as the classifieds appeared on different websites. 

The three victims were scammed out of between $400 and $1,000 each. 

Adopt locally: humane society 

Megan Rodgers is a spokesperson for the Pembina Valley Humane Society in nearby Morden, Man., where more than a dozen dogs and puppies are up for adoption.

She has heard of such scams occurring in the past and said it serves as another reason why it's better to adopt animals locally. 

"It's frustrating when you know how many good dogs are sitting there waiting for their forever homes," she said, adding that prospective pet owners can get animals for a lot cheaper locally than over the internet, where a buyer might not know the full background. 

She said it's also a good idea to see the animal in person before adopting it and taking it home. 

"In a lot of ways, the animal chooses you, Rodgers said. "You want to make sure you find that right fit that works for you and the animal." 

Rodgers said the humane society's animals are checked by a vet and will have up to date vaccinations before it's sent home with the new owner. 

"It's often a better deal to go through a shelter," she said. 

Hiebert stressed the importance of asking sellers for references or reviews and buyers should be wary of sellers who cannot provide contact information for a reference. 

He said investigations into scams or frauds can be difficult as many originate outside of Canada. 

"You hate seeing people victimized and you hate seeing these scammers make money and then grow strength," Hiebert said. "Unfortunately it's almost like a career for these people, I'm guessing."