ALVA Woodpeckers build home in woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
Photo via Pixabay Animal lovers are calling attention to a controversial scheme being used by some pet stores. Customers say they thought they were taking out loans to finance and own pricey pets. Instead, they say they were duped into signing lease agreements. Vladimir Duthiers, of our streaming network CBSN, spoke to one pet owner who paid almost double the sticker price to keep dogs she thought she already owned. Here’s how it works: pet stores lure customers in with a cute but expensive pet. Then the customers sign what they believe is a loan that will allow them to make low monthly payments for the pet. But it’s not really a loan; it’s a lease. And customers often don’t realize it until it’s too late. Courtney Peterman says she thought she was taking out a $3,000 loan to buy dogs Cass and Max at a Connecticut pet store in 2015. She signed a contract, made her first payment of $185, and took the dogs home. Eighteen months later, Peterman expected the loan to be paid off, but she called the bank and was told she had almost 20 more payments to go. “I was appalled,” she said. “When I asked how that was possible when it was only a $3,000 loan, AND I was told it wasn’t a loan at that point; it was a lease.” She kept making payments, fearing the worst about what would happen if she defaulted. “I was like, OK, what bills am I not going to pay now so I can make sure no one’s going to come to my door and take my dogs away?” Peterman said. The contract was with the leasing company Wags Lending. Peterman signed it electronically at the store and admits she didn’t read it carefully when it was sent to her later. “This is simply a business that’s built on deception and cruelty,” said Jennie Lintz of the ASPCA. She believes pet stores are purposely dangling low monthly payments to unsuspecting customers in exchange for these questionable leases. “Just like someone who goes to a car dealership, people get distracted thinking about the monthly payment and might no longer negotiate that sticker price,” Lintz said. “Once they start adding in the fees, all of a sudden, the dog that you could’ve bought for $1,500 is $5,000.” But more trouble comes trying to get out of the contract. Lintz said, “Even people whose pets have died during the course of the lease are continued to be expected to pay.” Duthiers asked, “If the pet that you’re leasing dies, you are still responsible for paying however many months or years are left on the contract?” “Yes.” Lesley Fair, an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission, says the first question consumers need to ask is, “Is this a lease?” She says “pet leasing” has been on the FTC’s radar for about three years, and while it’s not illegal, pet shops can be held responsible. “Companies have an obligation to make sure, first, that consumers know it’s a lease; second, that the terms are very clear upfront,” Fair said. “Consumers need to read these contracts very, very carefully.” Peterman was able to get out of her lease after filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. In the end, she paid about $5,600 to officially own the dogs. She told Duthiers, “Don’t finance a dog, ever. If you don’t have the means to pay for a dog, you shouldn’t be paying for one.” Last year, California and Nevada banned pet leasing. This year New York is expected to become the third state to ban the practice. “CBS This Morning” reached out to the Connecticut pet store where Courtney Peterman bought her dogs and have not heard back. Wags Lending would not provide a comment for our story.