Barbara Jasinski from Massillon, Ohio, expresses frustration as she feels duped after spending $1,400 on two Dachshund puppies. She bought them from a breeder in the Beloit area, but she never received them and could not recover her money. Jasinki’s experience echoes that of other former customers, who describe the breeder as running a puppy “Ponzi scheme.”
Clients accuse April Waidman of running a puppy ‘Ponzi scheme’
Customers who have dealt with backyard breeder April Waidman allege she promised the same animal to multiple buyers and kept the money, as Canton Repository reports. Those fortunate enough to receive a puppy say the dogs arrived sick with worms.
Waidman, who also operates under the alias April Simon, specializes in selling mini Dachshunds and English Bulldogs. Her business has operated under various titles, including Simon Doxies, Simon Bulldogs, and April Doxies, while she also goes by the name April Marie.
Additionally, when a reporter contacted Waidman’s home this week, she offered little response. Upon opening the door, Waidman simply stated, “I hope you get the truth.” She also declined to provide further comments or accept a business card for potential future discussions.
Accordingly, Waidman is currently under investigation for puppy scams by Goshen Township police, which is responsible for the Beloit area. She was indicted by a grand jury in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Thursday, Apr. 4. At this time, she is facing 32 theft charges, including 18 felony counts.
Moreover, Waidman has faced numerous losses in small claims court, with the most recent occurring last week. Jeff Jakmides, Waidman’s attorney, declined to comment on the ongoing investigation or any pending legal issues.
People who have been the victim of Waldman’s puppy scams have formed a private Facebook group called “April Simon of Simon’s Bulldogs/Daschunds is a scammer/abuser.” The group boasts a membership of at least 80 individuals across the United States and Canada, spanning from California to Ontario to Florida.
As a result of the harrowing experiences, many may now realize the value in choosing adoption over buying their next pets. Until irresponsible breeding practices and puppy scams are a thing of the past, the number of victims of such ploys will only continue to grow.
