TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — In an attempt to call off the dogs, a Craigslist parvo puppy peddler faked her own suicide.

Several viewers contacted 8 On Your Side, to report that 23 year old Hayley Lidey of Riverview sold them gravely ill puppies. Texts about Lidey killing herself frightened 23 year old Cecily Cortes, so she backed off.

In March, Cecily spotted an ad on Craigslist. It said, “Jack Russell/Beagle puppy for re-homing. And then as you scrolled down it said first shots, deworming, one hundred fifty dollars,” recalled Cecily.

So she reached out to the seller. After a series of texts, Cecily agreed to meet the seller at the Westshore Mall. There, Cecily met a woman who called herself Jessica.

“She told us that the vet had the records and that she had lost one of them,” said Cecily. So, she paid Jessica $150 dollars for Daisy.

The very next morning Daisy was passing blood, and Cecily rushed her to a veterinarian.

“As soon as we got her there she just went limp in my arms, and I just started crying,” explained Cecily.

Records show the diagnosis, was parvo virus. The prognosis is most likely death.

Cecily and her family reached out to Jessica, but there was no response. They soon learned, her name wasn’t Jessica. It is actually Hayley Lidey. Our 8 On Your Side investigation found Lidey runs a sick business peddling puppies with parvo to buyer after buyer.

In March, Lidey was on probation for an unrelated fraud conviction. When they discovered that, Cecily’s family contacted Lidey’s probation officer. After many calls, texts and emails, to Lidey, Cecily finally got a response.

Someone claiming to be Lidey’s parent sent texts stating, “You harassed my daughter to death” and “Make sure u spread that she killed herself.”

Cecily was alarmed. Then in May, when she saw an 8 On Your Side report, she discovered Lidey hadn’t killed herself, she was in jail, for violating her probation.

“Good that’s where she belongs. It’s not a game,” Cecily stated.

During one court appearance, Lidey’s boyfriend, Alberto Anaya, confessed to me that he was selling the dogs, not her. But Cecily claims that night in March, Lidey was alone.

“She’s an evil person, no human being that is loving would do that to an animal or a family for money,” she added.

Haley Lidey’s father told me that she is a good person, has saved several animals, but he said she does have mental health issues.

After watching several 8 On Your Side reports, Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services opened a criminal investigation into allegations that Lidey sold dogs without state required health certificates.

According to the Department of Corrections website, she is now in a Probation and Restitution Center in Orlando. Judge Daniel Perry extended her probation for 5 years. If charges are brought against her while she is on probation she may face prison time.

If you have a problem you think needs to be investigated, call our 8 On Your Side Helpline at 1-800-338-0808.