ORANGE PARK – Best Friends Forever Puppies pet store has a big problem: they are offering a reward for the return of two puppies said to be worth about $2,600 each.

According to store manager Alex Nichols, a man and woman entered the store on Jan. 5.

They were interested in the two male American Bullies puppies and went through the proper process to purchase the dogs.

They completed all the necessary paperwork and then completed the purchase via a credit card transaction.

All seemed well.

Almost a month after the purchase, the pet store was contacted by the credit card company. They there then notified that the charges used to purchase the two puppies were fraudulent and were being disputed.

The seemingly normal purchase quickly became a case of both fraud and larceny.

For Nichols, the issue is less about the money, but being an animal lover, the concern is for the puppies’ well-being and if they are with loving people who will take good care of them.

“Our biggest thing is these puppies are in a position where they are probably not getting vet care or vaccines like they’re needing to, so we’re just doing everything we can to do to try to get these puppies back,” Nichols said of her concerns over the puppies’ whereabouts.

A report was filed with the sheriff’s office to address the loss of the two puppies.

Both missing dogs have been microchipped, and the case is active, according to CCSO.

The chips numbers are as follows: 900111881646390 and 900111881646383.

Best Friends Forever Puppies is now offering a reward of $1,000 for any information leading to the safe return of the missing puppies.