Shelby Susnick first came across Russell's picture online.
Having spotted him advertised for re-homing on Craigslist, it was love at first sight.
Shocking secrets
It wasn't until the doting owner brought the puppy home, that she realised things weren't as they seemed.
Russell had been sold as an Australian Shepherd. Not only was he a mixed breed, but he was also very ill, requiring emergency treatment shortly after arriving home.
The vet team diagnosed parvovirus, which is highly infectious and dangerous to puppies. This required daily injections, leaving her with hundreds of dollars in medical bills.
A difficult realisation
It wasn't until Russell ended up at the vets, that Shelby realised what had been going on all along.
Her beloved dog had never been a "re-home" from his original family. He belonged to a backyard breeder, who was selling him cheaply to move him on quickly.
"I share Russell's story so that you know the dangers of buying a puppy online", explains Shelby.
Thankfully for this lucky pup, he ended up in the best hands possible. For another dog, it could have been a very different story.
