SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. -- A dog theft fraud ring is broken up in Central Florida and deputies say there could be more victims. Investigators say a woman was writing bogus checks to pay for purebred dogs and then reselling them for cash.

Jo Ann Nelander (photo left) was arrested near Sarasota and is being brought to the Seminole County Jail. Once deputies figured out what she was doing, they alerted a network of dog breeders. When she set up an appointment to buy another dog, they busted her before she had the chance.

"We had an ad in the Orlando Sentinel for English bulldog puppies for sale," says dog theft victim Sharon Staples.

Eight adorable dogs looking for homes, that's how Sharon met Nelander.

"She called on the phone and made arrangements to see the puppies," Sharon explains

GET WFTV NEWS HEADLINES BY EMAIL 9 a.m. Headlines Noon Headlines 4 p.m. Headlines News of the Strange Breaking News Alerts

Sharon and her fiancé Dennis didn't suspect a thing. Especially when little Patty took to Nelander right away. "They just loved her. She picked her up and kissed her and hugged her and took outside for her husband to meet and, 'Oh this one, we want this one,' and they gave us the check."

The check was for $1,500. The trouble is, it never cleared the bank.

"What she was doing was paying with a check under a closed account and telling people, 'I'm going on vacation.' So when the check bounced, she had time to turn around and sell the dog," explains Deputy Bill Scott, Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

"The first thing that went through my mind was, 'Oh my God, my puppy!' All I wanted to know, was my puppy all right," says Sharon.

They found out Patty had been sold to a loving family in Davenport. Nelander made $1,550 on the sale.

"She has this pretty well down and I think this is probably how they've been making their living for some time," says Deputy Scott.

So far, officers have tracked six cases in five Florida counties involving other bulldogs, yorkies and a Chihuahua. They say there are probably more.

Sharon's just glad her puppy is safe. Next time she'll be more careful. "No, no it'll never happen again with a check. It's too bad, because you can't trust people."

Deputies say, in one case the breeder gave Nelander medicine for a puppy and she never passed it along to the new owner.

Investigators say if you bought a puppy from Nelander or if you sold one to her, you should give them a call.