Hi i need some advice on a deposit we've just put down on a dog, we met the breeder over two weeks ago and the pups were 2 weeks old, we met at her house, held the pups chatted for about a hour and fell in love with one! The owner was very nice, met mum and dad dogs, she answered all our questions, said we can contact any time and would send pictures and things over, she said we could pop up again in a few weeks and leave a blanket to get mums scent on ready for when our puppy comes home at 8 weeks.
She spoke about how there's alot of dog scamming going on lately and how she would never do that. We left a cash deposit of £300 and she sent a text while there stating the amount we left and for which dog.
So i messaged on sunday, 4 days ago asking if a certain date in 2 weeks time is OK to bring the blanket and how is the puppy doing, can you send some pictures?
No reply, we've since rang a couple of times and no answer, one of the times was of a number she wouldn't recognize but still no answer.
Im now concerned we've been scammed, my husband doesn't think we have as surely she wouldn't of invited us to her house otherwise? Does anyone think its likely that we have with her no contact? I won't do anything just yet in case she does end up being genuine but going forward is anything likely to happen if i do contact the non emergency police or make a small claims court claim.
I no some people will say just write it off as a lesson learned but £300 is alot of Money and i do think she should have some kind of punishment if she is a scammer or she will just continue to keep doing it? Thank you.