Metro Detroit residents warn of pet care scam calls

Residents in Metro Detroit are warning others about a scam involving fake animal care officials. Many pet owners have received calls from scammers pretending to be staff from Detroit Animal Care and Control (DACC). The callers claim to have found lost pets and demand money for emergency care. Crystal Perkins, the Director of General Services in Detroit, clarified that the agency does not ask for payments over the phone or through services like Apple Pay. She emphasized that DACC has specific protocols for handling lost animals. Any found pet is checked for microchips and recorded with a photo in their system. Perkins urges residents to be cautious of such calls. She stresses that official channels exist for collecting funds and advises not to fall for the scam. Iesha Swift, a local resident who is looking for her missing pets, finds the situation troubling. She expressed that losing a pet feels as serious as losing a child. At least three dog owners have reported these scam calls to DACC, which helps raise awareness about the issue. Anyone who receives such calls is encouraged to contact their local police precinct to report it.