After losing his dog China to cancer last week, Kenneth Marler was desperately searching for hope.

“I’ve always wanted an English bulldog and a week ago today, I had put my pit bull to sleep. She had cancer the last three years," said Marler, the victim of an alleged online scam. 

"So my wife and daughters tried to get me the dog I’ve always wanted and they looked online and seen one and went from there," Marler explained.

Meanwhile, Marler shared home video of the puppy with News 13 that was sent to him on Monday.

It was not long after this visual confirmation that investigators with Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said Marler agreed to buy a puppy named “Lina” on a website called Biddgy Bulldogs Home

At first, Marler sent $565 through Western Union to have the dog sent from Maryland to Daytona Beach.

Then after a second request, he sent another $680 through Western Union for what he told was refundable travel insurance. 

However, when Marler got a third request asking him to wire another $680 so the dog could clear customs in Iowa, he called the airport there, and found the flight number given to him by the website did not exist. 

Although previously suspicious, that's when he realized he was being scammed.

“He deserves everything and he deserves the best and I know this puppy would have brought him a lot of love and hope and joy. That’s pretty much why me and the girls wanted to do it for him," said Jaynie Marler, who is Kenneth Marler's wife.

“Losing this dog that I wanted, it just made me feel like when I lost my dog last week. It’s like I wanted to cry," Kenneth Marler said.

We reached out to Biddgy Bulldogs Home via email asking for their side of the story. 

We received a form email back, offering to sell us one of three English Bulldog puppies, including one named Lina for $400, the same dog that Kenneth Marler said he has already bought for about $1,350, including wire transfer fees.

Right now, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office is investigating Marler's case as possible fraud, and they believe it may be a part of a holiday scam, in which investigators say puppies are being used as the bait.