Police say a New Jersey man posed as a female animal doctor, ran an illegal veterinary practice and set up a phony rescue agency that may have duped pet lovers out of thousands of dollars.
Vineland police arrested 26-year-old Daniel C Tyce on Friday and charged him with practising medicine without a licence.
He is being held on $US10,000 ($A15,163) bail and could face additional charges, such as theft by deception.
Vineland Police don’t yet know the full extent of Tyce’s activities and are still investigating.
They tracked him down to Atlantic County Jail, where he had been imprisoned last week on other charges.
Police say he ran a business called South Jersey Small Animal Rescue, falsely identifying himself as Dr Danielle Smith, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania veterinary school.
Tyce and his assistant would drive around in a white Jeep Cherokee with “Animal Cruelty Investigations” written on the side, and the two would dress in police-style uniforms with badges, according to Vineland Police.
In fact, Tyce was likely operating out of his Atlantic City apartment.
Police say he inoculated pets and offered small animals for adoption for a fee. He also solicited donations, claiming the agency was a nonprofit. Authorities say it was not.
Police do not know if Tyce has retained a lawyer.
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