Well first off i have to comment on this since i work out of an IT department. Even when you dont reply to an e-mail they still know its a valid e-mail address. Simply by not getting the mailer-daemon auto response. If they dont get the e-mail rejected back to sender than its a valid e-mail address. As per where they found your e-mail address? LoL Well first off if i were to scam with this e-mail i would check all the forums for dogs since most kind hearted compasionate people towards dogs would be registered with those forums, and most people leave their e-mail addresses public. Simple software programs can be made to just search boards with the same format to look up all public addresses and put them into a nice spreadsheet, or even automate the message to those public profiles. And there are many many more ways than this. Just an example. I hate doing IT security among the 100 things a day i do but it does give me insight on what actually is going on in your computer, even when your on it! Spyware which about 98% of PC users have can easily transmit your information to other companies/solicitors and those who just flat out want to fraud you.
If any of you are intrested i would be more than happy to post a short session on security and the best "FREE" way to protect your PC. ITs probobly the only way i can pay you all back for all the "FREE" yorkie advice i've absorbed!!
