Our Generation Florida

Central Florida Woman Arrested in Pet Sale Scam

BRONSON ANNOUNCES ARREST OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WOMAN IN PET SALE SCAM

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced the arrest of a Central Florida woman on multiple felony charges for allegedly defrauding numerous customers who purchased dogs and cats from her web site Tiny-Toyz.com.

According to investigators with Bronson’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE), Cheryl Lee Tyler, 50, of Deland, used various aliases and provided altered health certificates in selling often gravely ill dogs and cats to customers.

Tyler, who was arrested without incident at her Deland home earlier today, is charged with grand theft, felony identity theft and using a fraudulent health certificate, all felonies. In addition, she was charged with numerous misdemeanor charges involving Florida’s Pet Law, a statute that spells out a seller’s legal obligations in selling dogs and cats.

Bronson thanked the Lake County Sheriff’s Department for its assistance in the case.

Investigators claim that one consumer purchased a sick cat from Tyler and was forced to euthanize the animal. Another consumer negotiated with her to purchase a female cat, and was shocked to learn that the animal was male and that the required health certificate was altered to disguise that fact. Yet another customer purchased three animals from the woman, and the customer’s private veterinarian determined that the pets were stricken with ringworm, feline herpes and injuries associated with close confinement, investigators said.

“People who engage in selling sick animals not only defraud consumers, but they sometimes subject the young animals to life-threatening illnesses,” Bronson said.

The Commissioner said the case began with a Pet Law complaint to his department, and when analysts began investigating the case, they referred it to the department’s law enforcement office because of the seriousness of the allegations.

Under the state’s Pet Law, dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks of age when sold or offered for sale, and each animal must be accompanied by a Florida health certificate signed by a licensed and accredited veterinarian within the past 30 days documenting required vaccinations, tests and treatments for internal and external parasites. In addition, the law requires a dealer to provide a purchaser with information on the buyer’s rights under the law, including the right to return, exchange or receive reimbursement for veterinary expenses if an animal is deemed unfit by a licensed veterinarian within 14 days of purchase.

Bronson’s Division of Animal Industry takes complaints and investigates violations of the Pet Law, and Bronson encourages consumers who have a question about or complaint under the law to contact his department at 1-800-HELPFLA (1-800-435-7352) or (850) 410-0900.

SOURCE: Florida Dept. of Agriculture