“For eight days, people weren’t at each other’s throats arguing about flooding or development,” she said. “People that were arguing a day before were now out together searching for the dog, and it was so fantastic.”
Perez was flooded with nearly 1,000 messages within days from people trying to help and had several legitimate Birdie sightings. All confirmed she was still in the area.
On the ninth day, Perez got a call from someone saying they were with the Charleston Animal Society. Birdie had been found, but was injured and needed immediate surgery.
The caller asked the couple to consent to a $2,500 surgery and cited regulations that pet owners had to pay veterinarians directly.
“Something was off about this, but what really got me was when he started explaining payment options,” Perez said. “He told us we could pay Dr. Johnson directly with Venmo, AppleCash.”
Riddled with red flags, Perez and Butler rushed to the North Charleston shelter, remaining on the phone with the caller and demanding to see their dog.
“As soon as we pulled into the Charleston Animal Society, he then told us we needed to leave the premises,” Perez added. “ ‘Somebody’s going to get arrested,’ he said. Then hung up.”
The couple walked inside only to find their worst suspicions confirmed. Birdie wasn’t there. The call was a scam.
Perez fell to pieces, consoled by the shelter staff. Then her phone rang again.
Birdie was found, this new caller said. This time the couple knew it was real.
A local woman had voluntarily scoured the area for days when she spotted Birdie wandering by the edge of I-526, right around Ashley Oaks Apartments. When the woman stopped, Birdie ran into the brush, so she tossed sausages at the dog until Perez and Butler could arrive.
