SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Puppy scams are on the rise nationally, and a Louisiana woman shares how she became one of the countless others who collectively lost nearly $2 million to scammers, according to 2022 data provided by the Better Business Bureau.

The average loss by a family or individual is $850.  The scammers depend on an emotional attachment being formed with the pet a person thinks they are getting.

Jenna Pettiet and her family lost a beloved pet, and for a while, they were not ready to welcome a new fur baby into the family. Once that changed, they found an online breeder in a Facebook group. He had good reviews with some testimonials from other customers, and the price was attractive at only $500.

At first, things were fine. However, the breeder informed Jenna that the pet would need to be transported from Houston with a personal pet nanny, which would only cost an additional $150.  Later, the story changed; the dog needed to be flown in a climate-controlled aircraft, a charge that was considerably more than the previous $150. 

The family tried to work with the breeder, but he became more frustrated with them for not sending more and more money.  They, in turn, became frustrated with the breeder because he would only send pictures and videos that were not clear.

Eventually, the family gave up, realizing they had been scammed out of $650. 

Robert Davis with the Shreveport Better Business Bureau says there are things people can do to try to protect themselves. 

First, whether you suspect it’s a scam or not, if the breeder is out of town, have a video chat with them and show them the dog. Also, the BBB has a local list of scammers; call them at 318-797-1330 to determine if your breeder is on the list.

They say it’s best to work with a local breeder that you can visit in person or adopt from a local organization.

Jenna and her family worked with a local breeder, and her family is now the owner of two eight-week-old mini golden doodles.