Pet Stores to Beware of
I am not saying that you should not buy from these places. We receive a lot of complaints from these places and I feel bad for the people that paid their hard owned money and were left with no money and no puppy.
I just feel like people need to be aware of there business practices.
Use your own judgement after doing your own research.
Pettito Better Business Bureau Complaints
Puppies.com and PuppyFind.com are owned by the same company.
When they get a lot of complaints they change their business name and website.
Complaints about PuppyFind (now also operating as Puppies.com) overwhelmingly center on sick dogs from inhumane puppy mills, deceptive breeder practices, and online deposit scams. Because the platform primarily acts as an unvetted classified ads site, consumers carry the vast majority of the risk. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The most common issues reported by buyers and animal welfare organizations include:
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Puppy Mills & Sick Dogs: The site has faced major lawsuits over allowing irresponsible sellers and known puppy mills to post litters. Buyers frequently complain about receiving puppies with severe medical issues, such as parvovirus, parasites, and genetic defects. [1, 2, 3, 4]
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Scams & Fraud: Users report "bait and switch" scams, where photos of dogs are stolen from other listings, or sellers demand up-front deposits (e.g., via Zelle) and then disappear without delivering the dog. [1, 2, 3]
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Misleading Reviews: Complaints note that sellers can sometimes manipulate their ratings, leading buyers to trust breeders who are actually operating in unsanitary or abusive conditions. [1, 2]
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Lack of Accountability: Because the platform is just a directory, they generally do not guarantee the health of the animals or mediate disputes between buyers and sellers. [1]
Reviewers across platforms like ConsumerAffairs and discussions on platforms like r/Dogs on Reddit strongly advise against buying a puppy purely off an internet picture or having one shipped to you without vetting the breeder in person
The breeders that breed tiny puppies put a lot of time into them and know their value and do not sell them cheap. That is why you will find prices all over the place on the internet.
Scammers Prices: Super Cute & Very Cheap - To good to be true.
Counterfeit Puppy Sellers: Fairly low priced. Will tell you what you want to hear just to get your money and do not offer any size guarantee.
True Teacup & Toy Licensed Dog Breeders: Know the value of a good quality size guaranteed puppy and price them accordingly.