Give them a chance with YOUR money.
Frankly, I would NOT buy an animal that has to be SHIPPED to me but the payment goes to ANOTHER STATE with SOMEONE ELSES NAME ON THE CHECK OR MONEY ORDER.
Even though there is no proof and there's a lot of assumptions, they are LOGICAL assumptions and the conclusions are based on past events that had similar set ups. IF anything went wrong, the buyers would have little or no recourse in getting their money back as the seller can claim he never got the money.
As far as I know, he still hasn't given the buyer a requested picture with ID and we have really have no way of knowing exactly whose name is on the check, he can claim he never got paid...nah, too many red flags..but you go ahead and send him your money and then let us know how it worked. I will be one of the first to apologize.