Losing a cherished pet is a pet owner’s worst fear. In Escambia County, a cruel scam is taking advantage of the distress and worry of pet owners. The local Department of Animal Welfare has alerted the community about deceitful texts and social media messages. These messages falsely claim to have found lost pets and demand money or personal information.
John Robinson, the head of Escambia County’s Animal Welfare department, shared his thoughts with the News Journal. He expressed how heartbreaking it is for pet owners to think their lost pet has been found, only to discover it’s a scam. This situation is not only stressful for the pet owners but also for the staff who genuinely want to reunite pets with their families.
These scams seem to surface randomly throughout the year in the local area. The FBI has also issued warnings that such scams are a nationwide problem. Scammers prey on the vulnerability of distraught pet owners. They impersonate Animal Services, demanding money for the pet’s supposed injuries, or create fake profiles on social media to claim they’ve found an injured pet. Some even go as far as setting up bogus companies claiming to specialize in finding lost pets.
To avoid falling victim to these scams, the FBI advises pet owners to be vigilant. If someone claims to have found your pet, ask to see the pet in person or for details not mentioned in your lost pet post. Be cautious if they can’t provide photos, use your own photo with altered backgrounds, make threats, give excuses for not showing the pet, or ask for money or sensitive information.
Before paying for a lost pet recovery service, like a pet detective, it’s crucial to check their references and verify their credentials.
In a tragic event, 20 dogs perished in a kennel fire, but Pensacola rescuers are working hard to save the surviving “burn babies.”
The Escambia County Animal Welfare department has a clear policy regarding lost pets. They will never ask for digital payments or personal item access for pet redemption. Fees, calculated at the time of redemption, must be paid in person.
For those with missing pets, the department recommends checking the 24PetConnect website under Escambia County Animal Services. Due to the high volume of animals, the staff cannot confirm the presence of an animal over the phone or email. Proof of ownership is required for pet reclaiming, including photos, vaccination records, and identification.
The redemption fee varies based on several factors, including the pet’s vaccination status and length of stay. The shelter operates Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 24PetConnect website also offers a “Found a pet” tab for community members to help reunite lost pets with their owners.
If you’ve encountered any scam attempts regarding your lost pet, report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.