Seal Beach woman suspected of running fake animal rescue and selling sick puppies

A Seal Beach woman has been arrested on suspicion of setting up a fake animal rescue organization online and selling sick puppies, authorities said.

A news release Friday from the Irvine Police Department alleged that Megan Ann Hoechstetter sold one of the sick puppies to a family in Irvine and it died a week later.

Hoechstetter, 42, is suspected of operating an organization called Pawlosophy. Authorities are trying to determine where the puppies were born, but they think she may have obtained them from Mexico, the release stated.

Police said it appeared the dogs “had not received proper healthcare.”

“She was advertising these animals online and selling them for hundreds of dollars apiece,” said Kim Mohr, an Irvine police spokeswoman. “She would find the customers that way and she would then take these animals and sell them to people in parking lots and public places.”

Hoechstetter was apprehended with six puppies in her possession, according to the release. Police later found 13 more at a hotel where she had been staying in Cypress.

It was unclear what happened to the 19 dogs.

In announcing the arrest, the Police Department’s Animal Services Unit set out guidelines for potential pet owners to follow when buying or rescuing an animal:

• Be cautious of individuals or organizations that only communicate online and don’t want to visit your home for an inspection.
• Request veterinary records of the animal and ensure it is up to date on vaccinations.
• Don’t buy a puppy that is younger than 8 weeks or advertised as being “saved from another country.”
• Consider adopting from a local animal shelter.

Potential victims in the Hoechstetter case, or others who may have information, are asked to contact Animal Services Supervisor Kim Cherney at (949) 724-7091 or kcherney@cityofirvine.org.

Bloom and Yost write for KTLA.