Blind Missouri Man Scammed in Search of Emotional Support Dog

A Heartbreaking Experience with a Scam

Johnny Turnage, from Roeland, Missouri, thought he had found the perfect pet when he came across a Craigslist listing for Clover, an eight-week-old teacup Yorkie. He was excited because the seller described Clover as a very cuddly dog. Turnage believed that having a pet could help him through his mental health struggles, which were triggered by losing his eyesight and his mother in the same year.

After finding Clover, who was priced at what he could afford, Turnage began the purchasing process. The first step was receiving an invoice for $300, which included the seller's name, address, and driver’s license number. He paid a $150 deposit, but then problems started to arise.

“After the deposit, he kept hitting me with fees,” said Turnage. “At every turn, I did what you asked me to do, and there was no follow-through on his end.” Despite the challenges, Turnage remained hopeful. He tried to meet the seller at a mall and then at a local police station, but the seller never showed up.

“It was very hurtful, overwhelming,” he said. Turnage even spoke to police officers who talked to the seller on the phone, but still no puppy. Then the seller made another proposition. “He said if you sent another $100, I promise to get you the puppy.” They agreed to meet at a gas station, and Turnage now paid over $500 total.

“My brother parked where we could see all three entrances, and he never showed.” It has been radio silence ever since, and Turnage doesn’t want this to happen to anyone else.

The Role of the American Kennel Club

The American Kennel Club (AKC), a nonprofit dog purebred registry, is also concerned about such scams. Brandi Munden with AKC searched their records and confirmed that the seller and his dogs are not associated with the organization. “It’s very disheartening to us. We try to keep our constituency as educated as possible. These scammers, they will not stop scamming,” said Munden.

Munden emphasized that paying fees on fees is a red flag. “Most of the time, it’s all wrapped up into one price. They’re not trying to nickel and dime you,” she said. She added that it’s best to know the going rate for a particular breed you want, too.

Nexstar’s WDAF asked if $300 for the toy/teacup Yorkie that Turnage wanted was too good to be true. “That absolutely is,” said Munden. Turnage knows this, and he hopes others do too.

Tips to Avoid Pet Scams

WDAF reached out to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for tips on how to avoid being scammed. The BBB has a page dedicated to ‘avoiding becoming a victim of a pet scam.’ They advise people to see the pet in person, conduct a reverse image search online to ensure the photo isn’t taken from another site, pay with a credit card for fraud protection, and consider reaching out to a local animal shelter.

Additionally, Johnny’s brother has organized a GoFundMe in hopes of keeping his brother’s dream of getting an emotional support dog alive.

Conclusion

This story highlights the importance of being cautious when purchasing pets online. Scammers often use emotional appeals to lure victims into making payments, only to disappear without delivering the promised product. By following the advice of organizations like the AKC and BBB, individuals can better protect themselves from falling victim to similar scams. Turnage’s experience serves as a reminder that sometimes, what seems too good to be true is exactly that.