The Pet Parent Hotline · November 4, 2026 · 13 min
The “Rescue” Lie: Buyers, Sellers, and Fake Adoptions | Pet Parent Power-Up
Just because someone calls it an adoption doesn't mean a pet is being rescued. Some puppy mills, kitten mills, irresponsible backyard breeders, and other pet sellers use words like "rescue," "rehoming," and "adoption fee" to make selling dogs and cats sound like saving them. Some buyers even knowingly play along, claiming they've rescued pets they actually purchased. In this month's Pet Parent Power-Up, Amy Castro takes on both sides of the problem: sellers who disguise pet sales as adoptions...