Philadelphia men run mobile puppy-selling scheme in Manhattan’s Diamond District
Three Philadelphia residents, who market themselves as “celebrity breeders,” have been caught selling designer puppies from a car on West 47th Street in New York City.
Brandon Rone, 34, Tyshawn Walker, 31, and Dasheim Harris, 29, all from Philadelphia, present themselves on social media as “celebrity breeders” and have been spotted selling toy poodles, cavapoos and other small breeds from the trunk of a Mercedes SUV on West 47th Street in Manhattan’s Diamond District. Their Instagram accounts showcase luxury watches, designer bags and cash, and they boast of a sale to rapper Cardi B. Both Rone and Walker were previously convicted of illegal dog-selling in Philadelphia, receiving modest fines, while Harris has a prior gun-related arrest. New York police have not detained the men, but the Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia and advocacy group Voters for Animal Rights are probing the operation, noting the lack of veterinary oversight and the stress inflicted on the animals.
Why it matters
The case highlights illegal pet-selling practices that endanger animals and evade consumer protections.
In this story
