Today I wanted a German Shepherd pup so bad. Found cheap ones online, right here in Mississippi. Boy was I wrong about that being easy.
Started Looking Online
Typed in “German Shepherds for sale in MS cheap”. Tons of sites popped up. Felt excited! Prices were crazy low – like 300 bucks for purebreds. Big ol’ red flag, but I ignored it.
The First Big Scare
Emailed this one guy near Jackson who had “champion bloodline” pups cheap. He sent blurry pics, claimed he needed a deposit FAST to hold the puppy. Pressured me hard over text:
- “Send $150 via gift card or puppy gone today”
- “No calls, only text email”
- “No address for pickup, only parking lot meet”
My gut screamed SCAM. Blocked him. Learned lesson one: pressure tactics = run away.
Tried Reverse Image Search
Next ad had gorgeous pup photos. Right-clicked the image, searched Google. Big surprise! Same pics showed up on old breeder websites in California. Definitely stolen photos. Dodged another scam bullet.
Paid Deposit? Mistake!
Got impatient. Found a “breeder” with a Facebook page (looked legit!). Sent $100 PayPal deposit for a pup. They vanished overnight. Page deleted. Payments gone. Felt so stupid. Lesson drilled in: never pay upfront without meeting face-to-face.
The Real Way I Found Mine
Got serious after losing cash. Here’s what worked:
- Searched AKC marketplace ONLY for Mississippi. No more random sites.
- Drove an hour to a small farm near Hattiesburg. Met the owner, saw both parents, checked living conditions.
- Asked for vet records & called their vet myself to confirm shots.
- Paid cash AFTER signing papers right there.
Spent more money? Absolutely ($900 vs scam $300). Worth it? Every dang penny for a healthy, legit pup. Bottom line: if it’s cheap online in MS and feels rushed? Skip it. Your wallet (and heart) will thank ya.
