Man Buys Two Poodles, Gets Home To Discover They’re Ferrets On Steroids

A man in Argentina has been conned into buying two ferrets that were passed off as dogs.

The man, who bought what he believed were two toy poodles in Buenos Aires’ giant La Salada market, became suspicious when he returned home.

A visit to the vet confirmed his doubts: He had purchased two ferrets pumped up by steroids administered at birth. The ferrets had also undergone additional grooming to ensure their coats resembled a fluffy toy poodle.

The unidentified retiree from Catamarca is reportedly the latest victim in a long line of new fake poodle owners. Sellers at the La Salada market are exploiting gullible bargain hunters, tricking their customers into paying hundreds of dollars for what they believe are adorable puppies.

Another woman has said she ended up with a ferret when she was told she was buying a Chiuhuahua. Neither the woman or the retired man have lodged complaints.

The opportunity for profit in the ferrets-as-dogs trade is obvious: Toy poodle puppies typically cost more than $1,000 in the United States whereas a ferret can be picked up for $75. Regarding the La Salada market, The Daily Mail writes:

“Compared to Mumbai’s infamous Dharavi slum, La Salada is a self contained micro-economic center of the Argentinian capital, largely filled with skilled Bolivian workers who have migrated.

“A stark contrast to the sprawling wealth of some parts of Buenos Aires, La Salada is a collection of small and informal workers, distributors and entrepreneurs – some lucky enough to sell ferrets as dogs for $150.”

You can see an Argentinian news report on this story below. Would you have been fooled by this?