How much is that ferret in the window? Argentinians fall victim to scam as pet sellers pass off fluffed-up ferrets as pedigree poodles
An unnamed pensioner from Catamarca discovered he had been duped when he took the two animals to his local veterinarian to be vaccinated
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
A gullible retired man in Argentina has fallen victim to a scam after discovering the toy poodle pups he bought at a local market were actually fluffed-up ferrets on steroids.
The unnamed pensioner from Catamarca discovered he had been duped when he took the two animals to his local veterinarian to be vaccinated.
The ferrets had been given steroids to increase their size and had been groomed to make their coats resemble those of pedigree poodles.
Following an investigation local press realised that the man was not alone. Another woman had been told she was buying a chihuahua, but also ended up with a ferret.
According to reports the pensioner paid around £50 for his pedigree 'poodles'. The genuine article can ordinarily cost anything up to £700.
Neither the man or the woman have filed complaints. It's not known whether they kept their new pets.
The sale of ferrets as dogs at La Salada market, Argentina's largest bazaar, has long been considered an urban myth in Argentina.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments