Fresno Veterinary Clinic Warns of AI Scam Targeting Missing Pets

Elderly man contacted about his missing service dog, Chewie, being held for ransom

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A veterinary clinic in Fresno, California is warning the community about a scam involving artificial intelligence (AI) after an elderly man was contacted by someone claiming the clinic had his missing service dog, Chewie, and demanded payment to return the pet. The clinic says the scammer even sent AI-generated images to make it appear the dog had undergone a procedure at the clinic.

Why it matters

This type of scam targeting pet owners is becoming more common, with the Animal Compassion Team reporting they receive around 20 similar calls per day. The use of AI technology to create convincing fake images makes these scams particularly concerning, as they can seem more legitimate to unsuspecting victims.

The details

According to the Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic, the elderly man was contacted on Thursday and told the clinic had his missing service dog, Chewie, who had been missing since November. The scammer then sent the man AI-generated images that made it appear the dog had just undergone a procedure at the clinic. The scammer instructed the man to send money online to get his pet back. The man contacted the clinic directly before sending any money.

  • The elderly man was contacted on Thursday about his missing dog, Chewie, who had been missing since November.

The players

Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic

A veterinary clinic located in Fresno, California that received the call from the elderly man about his missing dog.

Samantha Ocegueda

The assistant manager of the Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic who spoke about the scam.

Animal Compassion Team

An organization that the Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic contacted, who reported receiving around 20 similar calls per day about this type of scam.

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What they’re saying

“We work with the Animal Compassion Team. We contacted them to see if they had gotten any similar calls and to see if this is something going around in our fields, and they mentioned that yes, they get about 20 calls a day, similar instances.”

— Samantha Ocegueda, Assistant Manager, Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic (yourcentralvalley.com)

The takeaway

This scam highlights the growing threat of AI-powered fraud, where criminals can create convincing fake images and communications to trick pet owners. Veterinary clinics and animal welfare organizations are working to raise awareness and warn the public about these types of scams targeting vulnerable pet owners.