AG: Southwest Michigan woman faked vet records for dog sold online
OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A Kalamazoo-area woman will pay $2,000 after state investigators say she used a fake name and falsified veterinary records when she sold a dog online last year.
Paige Harkema of Oshtemo Township went by the name Abby Stratiskii when she posted a dog named Toby on an animal adoption website in May, the Michigan Attorney General's Office said in a . Two people from Michigan ultimately paid $250 for the dog, but the AG's Office said the veterinary and vaccination records Harkema gave the buyers were fake.
The AG in September, saying at the time that it had found two other similar adoption postings linked to the same name.
Under filed in an Ingham County court earlier this week to settle the AG's claims against her, Harkema must never again falsify vet records, post any animals on the adoption website or use an alias if she ever sells anything in Michigan. She also agreed not to sell or adopt out any animal for the next 10 years.
She'll also pay $2,000 by March 1, which will go to people she wronged if they present substantiated claims to the state, the AG said.
'Adopting a pet in need can be a rewarding experience, but always remember to be cautious, especially when adopting online,' Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. 'If you receive vet or vaccination records, always verify their authenticity with the veterinarian on file before finalizing the adoption. If you believe you were deceived during the purchase of a pet from Ms. Harkema, please do not hesitate to contact my office.'
The AG's can be reached , by phone at 877.765.8388 or by mailing:
Consumer Protection TeamP.O. Box 30213Lansing, MI 48909
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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