The administrator of a Facebook group for lost pets is urging people to be vigilant of cruel scams after witnessing pet owners being inundated with prank calls and extortion attempts.
Nas Khan, a community volunteer who helps reunite people with lost pets, recently assisted a Point Cook couple in their search to recover their elderly dog.
During the search, the couple received repeated calls from people pretending to have the dog, asking for payment and threatening harm to the animal.
Ms Khan said trolls prey on grieving pet owners and can cause severe distress.
Emotional distress, sleep deprivation, difficulties concentrating on their other daily tasks and financial strain are among the most common things she has witnessed among grieving pet owners.
“Falling victim to such scams can prolong the emotional trauma of losing a pet, making it even harder for owners to cope with their loss,” Ms Khan said.
“These factors combined create a particularly reprehensible form of exploitation.”
However, she said there are ways pet owners and other community members can do to protect themselves.
Verifying information such as unsolicited offers to return pets, looking into the reputation and legitimacy of any organisation or individual offering help, and reporting suspicious behaviour were some of the protective measures she recommended.
Shohre Mansouri of the Animal Justice Party said the current anti-troll laws might be worth examining, more so than pet-specific protection laws.
“While we already have laws against harassment and fraud, it may be worth considering whether existing protections adequately cover cases like this,” Ms Mansouri said.
“Local councils and the state government could play a role in raising awareness and ensuring law enforcement takes these incidents seriously.
“Collaboration with animal welfare organisations could also help educate the public on how to respond to such situations.”
Ms Mansouri said “While these pranks primarily impact pet owners, they also show a disregard for animals as sentient beings.”
“Pets are family members, and using them to manipulate or distress people is unacceptable. Respect for animals should extend to all aspects of society.”
Both Ms Khan and Ms Mansouri said ensuring pets are microchipped is an important preventative action that can make rescue efforts easier.
Jaidyn Kennedy
