Some people adopt pets at local animal shelters. Others choose to adopt a pet from a pet store. Then there are other people who will buy a pet off of an individual person. I personally think all three methods are great. Welcoming an animal into your life at all is fantastic, equally for the pet as it is for you. I’m a firm believer that no matter where you adopt, that pet deserves a loving home.
A young woman named Stephanie Barrantes from Brampton, Ontario in Canada was looking for a particular breed of dog: a bulldog. But with a tight budget, she acted quickly when she came across a stranger on Snapchat who was selling a bulldog puppy for just $1,000. (It’s a lot of money, but it’s a steal if you know how expensive purebred bulldogs can be!)
Barrantes sent money over via an online transfer in two separate payments. After the transaction took place, she was told she could pick up her pup at a Scarborough park at a certain time, which she agreed to.
Things seemed normal at first.
“He mentioned COVID and not wanting to come close,” Barrantes explained.
So, it wasn’t bizarre to her that the bulldog puppy, whose name is Loki, was sitting alone in a cage once she arrived at the park. The request to make the transfer of the puppy social distance-friendly seemed relevant during the pandemic, so Barrantes didn’t feel the need to question it.
But little did she know, the puppy she just bought was actually stolen and rightfully belonged to someone else.
But little did she know, the puppy she just bought was actually stolen and rightfully belonged to someone else.
According to the original owner, she was attempting to sell two bulldog puppies to three potential buyers on June 1. That’s when she was unfortunately scammed.
“They handed me an envelope and inside it was another envelope. I asked them what is this and they decided to run to their car, take the dogs and drive off,” the original owner explained.
The woman was determined to fight back. She followed them in her car after they drove off, and a traffic light, she attempted to get her two bulldog puppies back.
“I ended up banging on their door at the stop light and that’s when they ended up driving away, dragging me through the intersection.”
This left the woman with minor injuries on her right arm and feet, and sadly, no puppies.
Of course, Barrantes didn’t know this story until police spotted the two bulldog puppies’ photos on social media when handling the crime. An 18-year-old man from Newmarket and a 22-year-old man from Aurora were arrested, and Barrantes rightfully surrendered Loki so that the original owner could get the pup back.
Once in contact with the owner, Barrantes received a big surprise. The owner decided that she would give Barrantes the puppy for free!
“I’m not going to charge her anything for the puppy, I’m literally giving it to her. She had already paid so much money for him and I don’t want her to be stressed out,” she said. “It’s been very traumatic, but in the end I’m happy he’s getting to go to his home.”
“I’m not going to charge her anything for the puppy, I’m literally giving it to her. She had already paid so much money for him and I don’t want her to be stressed out,” she said. “It’s been very traumatic, but in the end I’m happy he’s getting to go to his home.”
She couldn’t be more grateful.
“I didn’t think it would happen, but I’m very happy,” Barrantes said.
Although the situation was unusual and a little scary, I’m happy to hear that Barrantes gets to have her beloved bulldog back!
And good news for the original owner: she received the other stolen puppy back and will be selling him alongside three other pups through a more secure platform
SHARE this with your friends by clicking below!
SHARE this with your friends by clicking below!
