A Connellsville family is raising awareness about a puppy adoption scam that sought to exploit their daughter, Morgan, who requires a support dog due to her health issues. In June, Morgan experienced 100 seizures within five hours, leading to paralysis on her left side, partial use of her right hand, and significant speech impairment. Her father, Carl Ritenour, described the impact of her condition, stating, "It has left her completely paralyzed on her left side. Her right hand is partially, she lost her speech for a long time."
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Morgan found a social media profile offering a French bulldog for $200 and eagerly asked her father for the money. Carl recalled, "She called me just giggling and laughing, and she said, 'Can I get $200?" The account claimed the dog would be delivered to their home in Connellsville, with payment made upon arrival. The family received photos that purportedly showed the dog being transported from Johnstown, but follow-up messages indicated travel issues. Eventually, the account blocked Morgan.
Carl expressed concern for his daughter, saying, "Somebody in her condition right now, I think, was just really unjustly unfair. It was just more than she could handle, being deprived of what she was promised." Sensing something was amiss, Carl contacted the account under a different name and discovered the individual was also trying to sell the same dog to him for $350, requiring money upfront to proceed with paperwork.
Ritenour noted that several warning signs were present, including a lack of phone communication and photos that seemed to be pulled from the internet, with some possibly being AI-generated. He advised others to "be super cautious with these ads. Do not advance them money." The family intends to file a police report to inform authorities and protect Morgan from potential future scams.