The Chronicles of Chalmette

[socal805]

Oh Chalmette, I wish I could take you to live with me in California. I hope that you can find a home as good as the home you have been living in. You deserve the best!

[VoodooJoint]

Chalmette has more Nigerian admirers. I'm going to post all of the scam emails as I get them both for amusement and for educational purposes. Please note all of you small rescuers, all of these are scams, they do not want your "pet" they want your money. Please notice how vague all of these emails are.

If I reply to them they will engage me in email conversation. Eventually they will send me a large cashier's check or money order. Let's say it's $5,000. They will tell me to keep a certain amount, say $3,000 for the adoption fee, my time and trouble, or simply because they are "nice" people and wish to help. All they want is for me to cash the check/money order (which is normally as good as cash), withdraw the remaining money ($2,000) and immediately wire them or one of their representatives what's left.

A few days later I get a call from my bank telling me that the money order/check is a fake and I own the bank the $2,000 along with all of the fees. I'm out of luck because the "adopter" is long gone.

Luckily they have no real interest in the animal though--just my money. Be cautious and DO NOT fall for these scams.

This first one needs to do better. They aren't really tugging at my heartstrings.

Hello
Am interested in adopt your pet which i saw on the internet
( petfinder.com) and i would like to know the conditions of the pet ,
and probably arrange for payment to get to you asap and also arrange for
the pick up once payment is confirmed by you. ( I BASED IN DALLAS TEXAS
WITH MY FAMILY ) Please
acknowledge the offer and i will have the funds
remitted to you as soon as possible, and i'll like this transaction to
be kept in outmost trust, Kindly reply back to me with your last
asking price ? also a picture of the pet, I promise
the pet a lovely home. Thanks and God Bless..... ..........
Regards

This next person seems to think it's still Christmas time! I think Chalmette would live to play with his toads though.

Good Day Seller,
Season greeting to you....i just browse throught internet and i found your advert on your pet for adoption so interesting and will really love to have the pet at my home..... by the way My name is Nathanel,65 yrs old man ..living in my own house in Wyoming with a large compound and a pond in which i take care of fishes and toads ...and a horse as well in which i ride on and i am looking forward to have your pet at my home so that i could have a pet to include as well as a pet i could go arround with and play with my G-kids as well.Please i will like to know it condition and your last offer on it...... Conclusively,i will appreciate if you can send me some pictures of the pet and you are to be aware that i will be taking care of the picking up of the pet to my home cos i have a courier that do help me in taking care of shipping a pet . Get back to me as soon as you receive this message if u are willing to adopt the pet for me so that we can make arrangement for the payment.
Regards.....
Nathanel

This one is more like it! We've got some serious heartstring tugging going on.

Hello,
My name is Mathew Johnson and my wife Terresa Johnson was able to came across your advert today concerning the pet adoption you posted for sale on Petfinder.com and i am much interest in re_ homing your pet at a companion and also a member of my family, because i have passion and care for pet.i spent much of my time taking care of my lost pet and i lost her on my way taking her to vet clinic for neuture, since then live has been unbearable for my family expecially mydaughter who care for pet more that anything she does.
I'm a christain and i live in ROCKLAND IN DE DELAWARE US and My house was wood fenced and 8.87fts high, i have enough garden in my premises where the pet can roam about.. i have 2 daughters and a son.
i will appreciate it if you can assure me 100% that you will be able to let me re-home yours in replacement of my lost one.i dont know how happy my daughter Benita and her brother mark will be to see another pet in replacement.You dont
have to long for how to ship the pet.i will handle that my self with care. so i want you to get back to me with the adoption fees, present health condition, price, and pictures if available for more satisfaction.
P.S: After getting to a better compromise, i will be paying with a check in us dollars and i'll instruct my TRUSTEE in the state to issue a check on your behalf which will include the price of the pet.you need to get all this info to me as well as to issue the check as soon as possible.
Name to be written on th e certified American check;
Home address ,
Phone Number;
City;
Zip Code;
State;
plz get back to me
Mathew Johnson

How could I refuse this poor disabled person!

Good Day

I saw your ads about the pet you want an adopt or for and i am glad to inform you that i am ready to adopt the pet for my daughter who do not have pet presently.She is 18 years of age. Sh stays with me. she is loving and caring and i am sure that she can take care of her pet. I will also be of help in taking care of the pet cos I am stay at home mum cos i am disabled.She had prove that to me cos you took good care of her formal pet before it got deceased.I will like to tell you that She is interested in buying your pet that you place for adoption and will be g;lad if you let her have it. I just want to know if the pet is still available and let me know the present condition of the pet and when last the pet when to the vet,and i will like you to send the picture of the pet if available as well. I regret to personally tell you that i will not be able to come and pick up the pet cos i am disabled cos of the multiple accident to i had previous years that i will send someone to do the picking of the pet for me. i will like to hear from you asap so that i will know weather the pet is still available

Yours Faithfully
sarah

This one is woefully inept. They have to try harder.

Hello...
Glad to read your advert on petfinder on the pet you posted ,and i am really interested in adopting the pet to my love home,i just want to know the last asking price and maybe it still available..
regards to your family
Mrs Johnson Christy

This one tries a tad harder but still...where's the guilt and emotion?

Hello,

Good Day.. My Name Is Dr Beatrice Johnson.... Am a Business Man.I Reside in OH in Canfield City.. Am Seeking For a better Living with a great pet to have in my great family.... i have a large building...am so lonely With and my kids we are in the states... so i want to have something that my kids will be watching after.. so my friend introduce me to look for a pet online... cause she also find her own pet on here.. so i would really like to purchase your pet...if you are interested in selling it to me i will be happy..

Hope to Hear Back
Dr. Beatrice Johnson...

Yaaaawwwwwwn, Please people and least give me something interesting to read. Since when is my name Antisola?

Hi,antisola I saw your classified advert on (petfinder website) and i'm interested in adopting your pet.
I would like to know comfirm the last asking price from you if the pet is still available for adoption. So let know if the pet is very friendly
Please get back to me asap.
antisola
That's it for now. A couple were worth the read but the last few just didn't have their hearts in it.

[wickedrodent]

Hi Chalmette,

I'm Jypsy, another dog that was in a situation like you. Some humans are just plain mean, aren't they! Then again, my human is pretty nice now. The little humans are weird and a little scary- make sure to stay away from them. I just met some today.. and they are very hyper. My human says I can't run around with them because heartworms + running don't mix. I don't understand what she means. Human language is strange.

Do you know what toys are? My human has been shoving these things in my face ever since I got here. There is a black one that looks like me and makes this very scary squeaking sound. I run. Then the other that bounces is silly too. She bounced it once when I was sitting and it hit me in the head. She says I was supposed to catch it.

Oh, and my humans wants me to ask your human if she can copy her idea and make a post for me.

[RayFay]

Wow Chalmette! It seems as though you have some "admirers"...

I'm sure that the nice lady will find you a perfect home where you can live many many happy years!

[fourboys4now]

Oh Chalmette, if only I could adopt you. You sound so wonderful and you are very beautiful. But my husband will divorce me if I adopt another dog. I wish you a very loving and happy forever home in the near future!

[Ziggy&Herald]

I can't believe this is first time i've read this post. VJ you are an amazing person, I admire and look up to everything you do for animals on top of having to take care of your own family. It's funny, I placed adds on petfinder one time and got the same exact replies. I mean actually word for word with some of them. Do they think people are stupid. I mean anyone who actually wanted the pet would include something specific about your post. Like acknowledging that it is a dog. Good luck Chalmette, you will find someone deserving of your wonderful love you have to give.

[cavyinhawaii]

craigslist | avoiding scams and fraud

Here's where you can turn in all your scam mail.

[JanJam]

The scammers make me laugh - I go to 491.com sometimes to have a good laugh. They are people who bait the scammers and waste their time. Good, I say. If the scammers are using time up on a baiter then that is less time they have to plunder innocent victims. I remember one baiter story where they actually asked the scammer to send them pictures of themselves holding up signs saying ridiculous things, so we could all laugh at them.

Sorry - I hate scammers!

Love Chalmette though, and hope she finds the loving home such a beautiful pup deserves.

VJ - I doff my hat to you in much respect for what you have done. There is a saying - he who saves one, saves the world. You have done a very great act.

[babybunny]

I don't know why I haven't read this before today but ty VJ for taking her in. It is a good thing I don't live in La anymore or you may have had a visit from me. I do hope you find a wonderful home soon. My love to you both.

[VoodooJoint]

It is great happiness and sadness that I tell you all that Chalmette has left me today for her forever home. I have no fear about her new human. Chalmette will be loved and cared for VERY well. She found the perfect home, with the perfect person.

Chalmette left me with blog entries, photos and updates that are far overdue. I apologize for not keeping everyone updated but will fill in the missing parts of her story as soon as I can see through the tears.

[socal805]

Oh VJ a big hug to you, I know it must be hard to let her go but we all know that you wouldn't just give her to anybody, so this is a good thing for her. I am sure she will be loved and cared for and she was so lucky that you rescued her. Fill us in when you can.

[ArtisticRainey]

I'm glad she got a forever home. You done good. She'll never forget that. Without being mushy you've shown a lot of people on here the epitome of animal care, how someone can selflessly work towards the betterment of another innocent life. Maybe we can all try to emulate that.

I salute you, mon capitan.

[babybunny]

*hugs* So glad she found her perfect home. Thank you for giving her that chance!

[Piggie Grammy]

aww Voodoo, my heart goes out to you. You did so well for Chalmette and not only healed her body, but her spirit too. I am so glad to hear that she found a wonderfull new home. ::: passing the tissues ::::

[auburnmare5]

I am so happy that Chalmette found a loving, forever home. You made such a big difference in her life.
Thanks for introducing us to Chalmette!