Your kids are begging for a puppy as a holiday gift, so you scour the internet to find the perfect pet. This internet research could lead you to the niche, however. Texas is the second state with the most online scams selling puppies.

A Review of Veterinarians.org Better Business Bureau scam data from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31 revealed 242 puppy scams in Texas, just behind California (345). Considering that California and Texas are the largest states in terms of population, it’s no surprise that these two states top the list.

What is telling, however, is the amount of money – $ 913.20 per incident – lost in the Texas puppy scams reported to the Better Business Bureau. Michigan ranked first in this category ($ 1,097 per scam). According to Veterinarians.org, many of these scams occur on online platforms such as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.

From Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, victims in Texas “collectively lost over $ 220,000 to puppy scams, with many victims sometimes finding themselves cheating several thousand dollars,” explains Veterinarians.org.

In almost all cases, puppy scammers ask buyers to send a deposit by wire transfer or through an app like Cash App or Zelle, but the seller never produces a dog, according to Veterinarians.org. In these situations, it is practically impossible to get a refund because the sender has already authorized the money transfer and it cannot be canceled.

“In light of current trends in finding puppies for sale and the popularity of pet research during the pandemic, online puppy scams may continue to be a problem in the United States,” warns Veterinarians .org. “However, individuals and families can protect themselves from scams by realizing the typical warning signs of a scam and adopting through a animal shelter, rescue group, or a reputable AKC certified breeder.

To that end, the Fort Worth Animal Shelter and the Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT) are hosting a two-day MEGA adoption event on Saturday and Sunday, December 18 and 19, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at the Will Rogers. Memorial Center, Cattle Barn No. 1. Admission is free.

The goal of the MEGA adoption event is to find forever and loving homes for more than 1,000 pets, according to organizers.

All adoptable cats and dogs have been spayed or neutered, microchipped, and given age-appropriate rabies vaccines. Each dog or cat adopter will receive a free first vet visit with a participating local vet and a 30-day pet insurance trial, they say.

“Once again, our animal shelter campuses are full,” Tim Morton, deputy director of code compliance overseeing the Fort Worth animal shelter, said in a statement. “We have great animals that need to be adopted into their own loving families. This event is a perfect opportunity to do so as there will be close to 1,000 pets at the event. Families can see all the animals at the same time and have the option to visit them individually.

For more information, visit the website.