Police: Woman sold sick dogs for fake rescue charity
IRVINE, Calif. — A California woman has been charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor charges of crimes against animals after allegedly selling sick puppies, reports CBS Los Angeles.
Police say Megan Ann Hoechstetter, 42, set up a fake rescue organization called Pawlosophy, which sold animals that may have been purchased in Mexico, where police say they did not received proper healthcare. Police say at least six of the puppies died, according to the Orange County Register newspaper.
She was arrested Wednesday with six puppies in her possession, Irvine police spokeswoman Kim Mohr said.
Irvine police’s Animal Services officers found another 13 puppies at the Cypress hotel where Hoechstetter was staying, according to Mohr. All of the animals had to be taken to the Irvine Animal Care Center and are not available for adoption due to their age and fragile health.
The Pawlosophy website listed adoption fees from $150 for cats and kittens to $375 for puppies up to 6 months old. It billed itself as a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers.
Wendy Acton, a woman who said she “adopted” a puppy from Hoechstetter several months ago, told CBS Los Angeles that the dog became violently ill hours after she paid for it.
“She got sick on me in the car going home that night. She didn’t want to eat,” Acton said. She brought it to a veterinary hospital, where the puppy tested positive for a potentially deadly disease called parvo.
It took about $500 in medical expenses, but vets were able to save the dog’s life, Acton said.
Police are still searching for animals owners who purchased from Hoechstetter. Anyone with information about this case can contact Animal Services Supervisor Kim Cherney at (949) 724-7091 or kcherney@cityofirvine.org.