I'll be honest, I was completely skeptical when I first came across Virginia and her puppies listed online. It just seemed too good to be true. Avoiding scams was a top priority for me, so I called Virginia directly and asked to do a video call to meet the puppies. She kindly explained that she is part of a Mennonite community, which means they do not use modern technology. They run a small general store and only have access to a landline phone.
Admittedly, I had no idea what that meant, so I Googled the term Mennonites and learned that they are known for being honest, hardworking, and deeply religious. That gave me some reassurance. Still, I live in Texas and Virginia is in Pennsylvania, so getting the puppies to me was my next concern. That is when I turned to CitizenShipper. I listed a request for transport and received multiple quotes from reputable companies.
(Side note: I highly recommend using it to connect with transporters, but just a heads-up, CitizenShipper does charge an extra $200 fee. What I did was Google the transporters who sent me quotes and then contacted them directly to avoid the fee.)
I ended up working with Crown Canine Transport and had a fantastic experience. I was still a little uneasy about overnighting a check to Virginia, so I explained the situation to the transporter. She offered to accept my payment and pay the breeder directly, which gave me a huge sense of comfort. Crown Canine Transport has over 150 five-star reviews on CitizenShipper, Google, and Facebook, and now I see why.
In the end, everything went smoothly. I received two beautiful, healthy puppies, and Virginia was incredibly kind and honest throughout the entire process. Now that I know her setup is legitimate, I would have no hesitation sending payment directly in the future. It is just a different kind of experience than most of us are used to. No Venmo, no texting, but it is 100 percent real. Her sister-in-law helps post the puppies online, but Virginia herself is the breeder.
If you are feeling unsure, I recommend finding a highly rated transporter you can verify and trust, and doing what I did. Use them as an intermediary for peace of mind. I could not be happier, and I am so grateful to have found Virginia and her puppies.