Many pet parents will move mountains to help their sick fur babies — especially those with terminal illnesses. But sadly, some people take advantage of this bond for their own gain.

Recently, a man in Pennsylvania was convicted of defrauding 900 pet owners out of more than $1 million used to purchase what they believed were cancer-curing drugs. For big dollars, he also promised to enroll customers’ pets in promising clinical trials. By the end, the state found that the so-called drugs in question were just homemade mixtures of bulk ingredients.

To avoid this kind of cruelty, make sure to ask your veterinarian before using any product you think may help your pet. That’s because you, your veterinarian and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which approves veterinary drugs, put your pet’s safety above all else.