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29
Sept 2020
Puppy scammers target Harrogate mum and disabled daughter
A Harrogate mum lost £100 on a deposit for a Labrador puppy that she later discovered didn't actually exist.
Jade Lockyer initially wanted a mobility support dog for her daughter Lacey, seven, who has spina bifida.
However, after struggling to find one she decided to get her daughter a puppy that could then be trained.
Ms Lockyer found an advert on the website Pets4Homes for puppies for £1,000, which she thought was a good price.
Read more:
- Family heartbreak over dog poisoning in Pateley Bridge
- Harrogate dog rescue worried about post-lockdown pets
The seller said she was in Wakefield and when Ms Lockyer inquired she was told there was only one puppy left - a golden female. She agreed to buy it, subject to viewing. She added:
Lacey was "devastated" when she was given the news, said Ms Lockyer:
Jeanne Thompson owner of the Harrogate dog rescue charity Miss Mollies Rescue, said covid had caused an increase in puppy scams. She added:
Ms Thompson advised potential owners:
- Don't part with any money until you take the puppy home.
- Make sure the puppy is with its mother when you view.
- Remember that anyone who asks for a deposit upfront is probably a scammer
She added:
With coronavirus cases set to rise this winter, the charity is urging puppy buyers to be vigilant.
A Pets4Homes spokesperson said more than seven million users looked for a pet on its website each month and it had the most rigorous systems in place of any comparable marketplace in the UK.
The spokesperson added:
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