They will manipulate the photos to make it look like the animal is hurt and then call the pet's owner, promising to reunite them for a fee.
"It's almost like losing a piece of myself, to be honest with you," the turtle's owner said.
The woman and her family are offering $500 for the return of their dog.
"I'm in agony," Paula Rodriguez said. "I've been living a nightmare since Friday, knowing my baby is out there somewhere scared, or might be injured. All kinds of thoughts come into my head and I can't do anything. Every minute feels like a day."
Ryder has a microchip, making it easy for the shelter to track down his owner, who said he got out of their Las Vegas yard on July 3.
The family lost 3-year-old Mocha back in January and after searching for months were ready to adopt a new pet.