One of the more unexpected side-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the significant rise in dog applications. Across the province, breeders and rescue shelters alike have posted notices on their websites letting potential applicants know that the line is long and the waitlist continues to grow. 

Unfortunately, along with the spike in dog applications, also comes the spike in pet scammers.

According to the Better Business Bureau, consumers lost upwards of $105,000 in pet scams last year, mostly through online deals. A pet scam can come in many forms such as a dog that doesn't actually exist, a dog that comes from an unreputable breeder and poses health risks, someone selling a dog for two or three times what it's actually worth, or an independant seller simply taking your money and never speaking to you again.

Mary O'Sullivan-Anderson, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Southern Alberta and East Kootenay, says the best way to prevent falling victim to a pet scam is doing deep research into where the dog is coming from and what it's living conditions are like.

"Whether you're working with a breeder or a private seller, make sure you're verifying that they're legitimate. If you're receiving pictures of the puppy always make sure you're also getting photos of the mom. When you're sent an image do a reverse search to make sure the dog they're selling you is what they photo promises."

O'Sullivan-Anderson goes on to say that scammers will often ask for some sort of payment up-front before allowing you to see the dog or even send photos. You should never send payment of any kind before physically seeing the animal, it's condition, and the conditions it's coming from.

Scammers will also be hesitant to allow you to meet the animal and often pressure the buyer into making knee-jerk decisions by pretending there's a large line-up of people waiting to adopt this animal or that they need the dog gone ASAP. Be wary of a seller posting an animal with an outlandish price; whether it be thousands of dollars too much or as low as $1. Postings with only 1 photo of the animal or just a single photo of the whole litter are to be questioned as well and it never hurts to request more photos. 

"Because of the way the world is, there's a shortage of dogs, so there's this sense of 'it has to be right now' but that's not true." says O'Sullivan-Anderson, "Take your time. Do your research. Ask for referrals or ask family and friends who have recently added a dog to their family."