A Schuylkill County woman is facing felony theft charges after she allegedly ghosted a buyer of her French bulldog puppy earlier this year.
According to court documents, State Police-Frackville responded to a complaint shortly after midnight on Feb. 28 in Tuscarora, Schuylkill Township. Police say they made contact with an Illinois woman who had flown here to pick up a French bulldog puppy for which she’d paid $2,500.
The woman said she purchased the puppy online from a company called Jade Frenchies, owned by Diane Battaglia, 63, of Tuscarora.
Police were given a copy of a breeder agreement and bill of sale from the Illinios woman who had purchased the black and tan male puppy. The woman reportedly told police that she’d arranged to have the puppy shipped to her on Feb. 26 and it was supposed to be delivered on the 27th.
The original shipping company was unable to deliver the puppy so the Illinois woman said she made arrangements with Battaglia to have another company handle the shipping and delivery.
Battaglia allegedly coordinated with a company called Home Sweet Home Transport and the puppy was to be delivered late on March 2. At the same time, the Illinois woman also made contact with another shipper who could get her her puppy sooner but it required the dog to be picked up late at night.
This is when the lines of communication between Battaglia and the Illinois woman broke down, the victim told police. So, she boarded a plane and flew to Pennsylvania and purportedly notified Battaglia that she was due in the area to pick up the dog.
While driving from Philadelphia to Tuscarora, the Illinois woman reached out to Battaglia, suggesting that waiting until the next morning would be a better time for a pick-up because it was getting late. Battaglia, however, did not respond, the out-of-state woman told police. So, the Illinois woman decided to go to Battaglia’s home to pick up the dog that same night.
At just about midnight on Feb 28, the Illinois woman arrived at Battaglia’s home. She said she knocked on the door but got no answer even though Battaglia’s vehicle was allegedly parked in the driveway and there was a TV on inside.
Police arrived on the scene and also tried to get Battaglia to the door, they say, but also got no answer. They told the Illinois woman to come back in the morning and try again.
The Illinois woman said she did return in the morning but again couldn’t get Battaglia at the door. Police were called again and they got no answer so the Illinois woman went back home.
A refund for the puppy was requested and denied on March 12.
Police say they eventually did catch up with Battaglia on March 12, interviewing her at her home. She reportedly did tell police that there was an agreement to sell the Illinois woman a puppy for $2,500 and that she did receive the payment. Battaglia said she still had the puppy and showed it to police. She reportedly said the Illinois woman was unreasonable with her demands and that’s why she refused to give her the dog.
Battaglia also claimed that she was out money for cancelled shipping bookings but reportedly never provided proof of those transactions to police.
Police have charged Battaglia with felony counts of theft and deceptive business practices. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled before District Magistrate Judge David Plachko on May 6.
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