Looking for a new best friend? NBC Responds has all you need to know about making sure you get the perfect puppy for you.
- Beware of Internet scams and puppy mills
- To make sure the puppy is real, ask for pictures of the pup with specific items like a recent newspaper
- Ask to visit
- Ask the buyer to speak to others who have purchased pets or the veterinarian that works with the breeder
- Pick your pet up yourself. Having the dog shipped or setting a meeting at a random location could be the sign of a scam
- If you are told there are no refunds for a sick puppy, it could be a puppy mill
- Use a credit card in case you need to dispute the charge
- The best way to avoid being scammed is to adopt at a local shelter.
Interested in adopting a pet? Here is a list of shelters throughout SoCal.
