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Downey, CA…
For two years in a row, animal law enforcement officers from the
Border Puppy Task Force (BPTF) worked alongside Customs and Border
Protection officials at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry
assisting agents looking for border crossers with animals. The
operations are conducted as a census with an emphasis on locating,
examining and documenting underage puppies found. The most recent
operation was conducted in December, 2006 with the following
statistics presented this week:
Total Animals Seen - 1991
Puppies Less than 3 months - 221
3-6 months old - 234
6-9 months old - 142
Adult Dogs - 1386
Total Quarantine Notices Issued - 381
Total Puppies Impounded - 15
The latest BPTF task force efforts are funded by a
$38,000 grant received from Petsmart Charities (PCI),
www.Petsmartcharities.org. “Special operations such at this task
force cost money. But, is money well spent when we find sick and
underage puppies, and able to get them the care they deserve,” said
Captain Aaron Reyes, a task force management team member. “We are
truly humbled by their (PCI) recognition and support for the task
force,” Reyes exclaimed. “They have made it possible for us to gain
ground in our battle to address sick and underage puppy sales; a
problem that continues to plague California, causing suffering for
both the innocent animals and unsuspecting buyers,” stated Reyes.
During the two-week operation, U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) officers directed drivers with animals to
the secondary inspection area where humane and animal control
officers interviewed people and gathered statistics on their animal
cargo. Drivers were asked to provide veterinary health records and
depending on the circumstances, were either cleared for entry, sent
back to Mexico, or the animals were relinquished by owners. In
severe inhumane circumstances, animals were impounded.
The BPTF is working closely with the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC), The California Department of Health Services
(DHS) and Los Angeles and San Diego County Health Departments with
the operation’s statistics. “Much task force work is also being
done away from the border as part of our enforcement strategy,”
Reyes said. “We continue to receive complaints, make undercover
buys, and follow leads. The problem is so big and so profitable
that the smugglers, brokers and sellers are changing tactics to
conceal their unlawful activities, yet remain in business,”
exclaimed Reyes.
The BPTF management team is urging the following of
the general public:
·
Do Not buy puppies out of throw away papers or on
popular online classified sites.
·
Do Not pay cash.
·
Do Not meet a seller in a parking lot. Legitimate
breeders do not typically ask this
of buyers.
·
Always get a receipt and sales contract.
·
Always ask to see the parents of the puppies, and
make sure they are in-fact the
parents. Does the mother look as though she’d been nursing?
·
Beware of sellers who have different breeds of
puppies available throughout the
year. Most legitimate breeders raise one or two breeds of
puppies and have a
good reputation.
·
Always have a newly purchased puppy examined by a
Veterinarian right away.
·
Report sick and underage (less than eight weeks) to
the task force at once.
Task force management members:
1)
Captain Aaron
Reyes (SEAACA) (562) 803-3301 x223
2)
Lt. Dan
DeSousa (County of San Diego Department of Animal Services)
(619) 767-2624
3)
Captain Dave
Havard (spcaLA) (323) 730-5300 x270
4)
Commander
Rita Gutierrez (Riverside County Animal Services) (951) 358-7365 |
Animal
Law Enforcement & Rescue
