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BPTF Officers Return from Border Duty

San Ysidro, Calif. – For the second consecutive year, the Border Puppy Task Force (BPTF), comprised of 17 California animal law enforcement agencies, spent two-weeks at the Otay Mesa and San Ysidro ports of entry gathering statistics on the animals being transported from Mexico to the United States. Four SEAACA officers who worked varied shifts during the two-week border operation returned safely to their headquarters in Downey.

Task force officers were at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa border crossings from November 27 through December 10th gathering data. Although the final statistics are not yet available, the findings show that the number of sick and underage puppies smuggled in from Mexico to the United States appears to have dropped from last year. However, several underage puppies were seized in the operation and transported to the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services, who provide animal control services to the affected border areas. The puppies ranged in age from one-week to three-months-old.

“Even though the number of underage puppies seen during the operation appeared to have dropped from last year, the issue is still relevant and we are concerned that smugglers are finding new ways to bring puppies over,” stated Aaron Reyes, BPTF management team member. “The only way to truly end this problem is for consumers NOT to purchase puppies at swap meets, parking lots, or by answering ads.”

Thousands of underage puppies, many toy breeds, are brought into the U.S. for re-sale via the border crossing stations annually. Many are later discovered to be sick, potentially creating a health epidemic for animals and people in the U.S. Adding to this problem are the inhumane breeding and transportation issues, an existing overpopulation problem, and the fact that people may spend thousands of dollars on veterinary bills for a puppy in very poor health, which oftentimes dies. The situation may call for new laws to protect people and animals. Some of the issues are the threat of rabies, zoonotic diseases that can be transferred to humans, new disease epidemics, inhumane living and transportation conditions, and fraudulent business transactions by dealers and brokers with unsuspecting buyers.

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. The findings from the two-week period will be reviewed by the CDC and San Diego Quarantine station and potential health issues investigated. The task force will be following up on contacts made during the border operation and are exploring the feasibility of maintaining a long term presence working alongside CBP Officers to monitor this disturbing practice.

About the Border Puppy Task Force
The Border Puppy Task Force (BPTF) is a consortium of California animal welfare and law enforcement agencies working together for the well-being and protection of animals that are brought from Mexico into the United States through California entry border points. The BPTF is working in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control, California Department of Health Services, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and San Diego County Department of Health Services and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agencies.