A Seal Beach woman who allegedly set up a bogus dog rescue organization and sold sick puppies to unsuspecting buyers posted bail Friday and was released from the Orange County Jail.
Megan Ann Hoechstetter was arrested Wednesday on allegations of selling an ailing puppy — that died a week later — to an Irvine family, according to Kim Mohr of the Irvine Police Department.
She had 19 puppies in her possession at the time of her arrest, Mohr said.
Hoechstetter, 42, allegedly established a "fake" rescue organization online to sell dogs she may have gotten from Mexico and that did not receive proper care, Mohr said. One of the business names she operated under was "Pawlosophy," Mohr said.
When police went to arrest the suspect at a hotel in Cypress, they found 13 puppies, which were taken to the city's animal care center for "much needed care," Mohr said.
The puppies are too sickly and young to be adopted at this time, she said.
