ALERT: New scam 'adopters'

Post to austinrescue:
Just received this info from an affiliated rescue in San Antonio --
very disturbing that this is going on under our noses! We try so hard
to screen, but sometimes the baddies do slip through the cracks.
Importance of microchipping!!

"These people adopted a dog from us and turned around and "rehomed"
it for more money...they seem very great, nice house/ family but as
always looks can be decieving... how did we find out? the new adopter
found our name in the microchip and called us... I called to confront
the adopter and she claimed that the dog was too hyper for their
family. They had only had the dog for three days!"

Permission to pass on to other rescue groups in Texas area. We don't
know if these people target only Northern breeds, or much else about
them.

Editorial comment: it's great that the media and celebrities are
getting behind the pet adoption movement, but since it isn't very
homogeneous, people easily get confused, and a puppy miller or thief
can easily pass themselves off as a shelter or adoption center --
there's a pretty fine line with some of the groups that "adopt" at
Petsmart, for example, already. TV shows often say, "this cute
puppy/kitten is up for adoption, call now," without further info,
giving an unfortunate impression. Potential adopters often don't know
what to look for, and buzz words like "rehoming" and "adoption" can
easily mask unscrupulous behavior.

Perhaps recourse to the media might help clarify? If rescues &
shelters were to agree on a certain minimum level of standards such
as:
- no "impulse" adoptions on-site or before an application is processed
- no adoptions before home check and vet check, landlord letter
- mandatory s/n, vax & registration, chip in rescue's/shelter's name
- either adoption counseling, watch adoption video, training,
certificate for training, or some other retention behavior
- ??

Maybe couched as a cute acronym or something? Then potential adopters
would be able to identify a non-legitimate "rescue" more easily.

Just my $.02 ...
Cheers
Connie