May 11th, 2010 by Johnson
From the time a person is a child they develop a love for pets. That love of animals definitely goes with them to adulthood, and most people end up have a cat or dog as a pet. However, this kind of sentiment for pets can lead people to be scammed.
Puppy mills are held by several con artists around the world. Sellers receive these animals from brokers through shipping. These sellers advertise the puppies through the Internet or through other means of advertisement to unsuspecting buyers.
On the Internet they will often show a picture of a very attractive animal. This animal is offered at a very high price as a purebred of championship quality. You’ll always have to pay up front in these situations. The scam is that when the animals arrives, IF it ever arrives, it will not be the same one in the picture.
Pet scammers will claim that the animal is fully up on their shots and are in good health in their ads. However, the dogs buyers get often die not long after they get there. Do not plan on buying any live animals for a source you cannot certify as being legitimate.
For the most part, a buyer of a pet is paying for a specific pet that has a picture on the website. However, the buyer receives no dog and they can’t get their money back. Lots of people have lost hundreds to thousands of dollars because they thought they were buying purchasing a purebred champion – which are extremely expensive. Stay aware of this potential problem and always take the time to check with a service such as cheapinfosearch.com/Virginia/Leesburg/571/291 to verify the person who calls you is truly who they say they are.
One of the more common pet scams is advertising the animals are going to be shipped from another country (overseas)and the only thing buyer is responsible for the shipping charges. The scammer then keeps the money and never sends a pet. Unfortunately, the buyer has no recourse in getting their money back.
Be prepared for many legitimate sounding stories from the pet scammers. One of the regular scam stories is owners who love their pets but can’t continue to keep them. There are other stories about people who go overseas and have to abandon the pet they own. No matter the story, they ask for cash up front.
Being aware of who you are buying the pet from to start with is the best defense for not being scammed. Try to get to where you can meet the pet face to face, or trace the lineage of the dog. You’ll just end up regretting buying an expensive dog online sight unseen. A legitimate breeder will be well-known and can be easily investigated. Also, you should be seeing red flags anytime someone requests money be paid before you see what you’re buying.
Read the rest »
February 20th, 2010 by Johnson
If you’re a first time puppy owner, you’re probably starting to wonder about your new responsibilities. Now that you’re responsible for another life, it’s important that you understand what these responsibilities entail.
The first thing we’re going to talk about is your pup’s diet. The food your puppy eats will likely change from semi-liquid to a solid, depending upon the age of your dog when you bring him home. Puppies usually start to wean from their mother’s milk between six and eight weeks of age, which is about the same time that breeders will allow the puppy to go live with its new owner. Find out what the breeder is feeding the puppy, and continue feeding him on that food. Usually at that age they are eating moist food from a can mixed with a bit of puppy milk replacement. After a week or two, start taking away the milk and gradually adding dry food over the course of 7 – 10 days until your pup is eating nothing but dry food. You’ll also need to make sure that his water bowl is constantly filled. You should also know that it can be very harmful to feed your dog table scraps. There are many foods that can cause your dog severe health issues and even death. Some of these foods include chocolate, raisins, onions, garlic, and potatoes.
The next item on the list is vaccinations. If your dog’s breeder hasn’t taken care of the vaccinations, then it’s up to you to see that your dog gets immunized. There are three separate shots given to cover the “core” illnesses, which are: distemper, parvovirus, and hepatitis. The first shot is usually given at 6 weeks of age with the other shots following in three week intervals at 9 and 12 weeks. Your veterinarian will be able to take care of the vaccinations for you, as well as recommend any non-core vaccines that they feel your dog should have. The importance of non-core vaccines differs depending on your dog’s breed and where you live. You will need to return to the vet every year of your dog’s life for an adult “booster” shot. You should be aware that social interaction with other dogs is not recommended until after your puppy has completed his round of vaccinations, with an additional 5 – 10 days for the immunization to become effective.
Grooming is another important aspect of owning a puppy. Some dogs have stricter grooming requirements than others, particularly ones with long or curly fur. Certain breeds of dog are particularly susceptible to ear infections and require that their ears be cleaned frequently. All dogs should have their nails clipped periodically (usually when you hear their paws click on the floor you know it’s time for a trim!). It’s very important that this is done in the correct fashion using proper canine nail clippers, as cutting to deeply in your dog’s claws can result in severe pain and bleeding.
Exercise is one of the most vital aspects of your dog’s health. Your puppy will have a great deal of energy, which is completely natural! You should encourage playtime, especially outdoors so that he can have tons of room to romp around. If your puppy becomes restless, he may chew excessively which can be dangerous for your puppy (think of all the cords/cables plugging into your outlets, as well as wooden furniture that can splinter!). Pet steps are a great tool you can use to give your dog a workout. The time you spend training him to use the dog stairs to get onto furniture will encourage your pup to bond with you as well as to be obedient and respectful.
For more tips on raising a healthy pup, visit HelpYourPets.com.
Read the rest »
Tags: cat, fraud, Pet Adoption, Pet Dog, Pet for Sale, Pet Puppy, Pet Scam, Pet Scams On The Internet, Pet Selling, pet supplies, puppy
