(SALISBURY, Md.) - Last week, our sister station in Michigan told you about an online puppy scam that claims to be based out of Crisfield, Maryland. WRDE contacted Crisfield Police and still no word yet on what's being done, but now local shelters are speaking up saying it's much better to adopt in person versus online anyway.
"It's disappointing that people out there will do that," said Aaron Balsamo, executive director of Humane Society of Wicomico County. "[Scammers] tug at people's emotions. You can put a description of a sad story online and people are going to go for it. There are scams out there for literally everything and unfortunately there's ways to kind of tug at people's hearts and get them to do things."
Balsamo says he "hasn't heard of too many online puppy scams in the local area," but he's heard of them before. He says the scam works when a victim agrees to buy a dog from a so-called "breeder" online. That's when the victim is tricked into paying extra money for shipping and travel costs, as well as other surprise expenses that weren't previously mentioned. He says then when the dog is supposed to arrive, it doesn't, and the so-called "breeder" can't be reached.
"That's why you want to stay local, because then you can actually go to [the breeder's] home or the facility and actually look and interact with the animal before you decide to take it home," said Balsamo.
And while some online advertisements may be legit, Balsamo says adopting in person is the best way to go.
"Pets are a long-term commitment. The last thing you want is to find a dog online, and you know, the picture looks pretty, but then you take it home and it just doesn't have the demeanor that you're looking for in your household," said Balsamo. "Some people want really energetic dogs that they're going to take out running with them every morning, and some people want those docile dogs that are just going to lay on the couch with you. So, it's very important to get out and interact with an animal as much as you can before you make that commitment."
Balsamo also says adopting in person gives the potential new owner a chance to ask questions and see if the dog has been well taken care of before buying or signing anything.
"The best way that I think about it when I tell people is that it's like buying a car," explained Balsamo. "Most people aren't going to go to a dealership and buy a car without taking a test drive. You know, you want to research the breed, you want to come to the shelter or the rescue and take the [pet] out and you want to make sure that it's what you want, because it is a long-term commitment. You know, not every dog is for every person and not every cat is for every person, I mean, they all have personalities just like we do."
So if you're on the hunt for a new pet, look no further than your backyard. Because between just three shelters alone (i.e., Humane Society of Wicomico County, Worcester County Humane Society, and Delaware SPCA-Georgetown Shelter), more than 75 animals are waiting to be taken home and loved today.
But if you do choose to adopt online, Balsamo says performing a simple "Google Search" and checking the breeder's online ratings could save you a whole lot of trouble later down the road.
"I always recommend if you're looking for a pet, whether it's a dog, cat or even an exotic animal, go locally," said Balsamo. "Of course, I recommend that you adopt from a shelter, but even if you're looking at a breeder, you'll want to do your homework."
