CNY SPCA warns of social media puppy scam

Posted: Dec 2, 2020 / 03:48 PM EST / Updated: Dec 4, 2020 / 08:40 AM EST

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The Central New York SPCA issued a warning on Wednesday about an apparent scam involving the sale of puppies.

In a news release, the SPCA said someone claims to be selling puppies, collecting money for the dog, then sending the people to the SPCA shelter in Mattydale.

“We’ve worked hard to become very transparent and with everything going on with the pandemic and donations being down, we’re afraid this is going to hurt,” Dee Schaefer from the CNY SPCA said.

The organization says two families showed up at the shelter. One from Pennsylvania and another from Massachusetts. The families had sent their payment to a link on a Facebook page.

“They were shocked, as were we. You know, because we had no idea what they were talking about. You know, the one person was showing a lab puppy, and we don’t have any labs, much less puppies,” explained Schaefer.

The SPCA wants to remind everyone that is not how it adopts out animals. The only animals available for adoption are those pictured on its website, it never takes money in advance, and meets prospective adopters face to face.