|
Downey, CA - As the puppy pipeline continues to
flow, so do the undercover sting operations in Southern California.
spcaLA and SEAACA officers, part of the Border Puppy Task Force (BPTF),
a coalition of animal law enforcement agencies, conducted their
latest sting operation in a parking lot in the city of Monterey
Park. At 1:00pm this afternoon, an undercover animal control officer
met with 26 year-old KAREN HO TO of Monterey Park in a parking lot
at Garfield and Newmark Avenues. The officer was instructed by TO to
meet the seller in the parking lot and to bring cash – a typical
scenario in Southern California’s illegal puppy sales network.
“Most of these pups are bred in Mexico, pulled
from their mothers at 4 to 5 weeks of age, sold south of the border
and smuggled across into the United States for resale,” said Captain
Aaron Reyes of SEAACA and the Border Puppy Task Force (BPTF). “Each
bust leads us to yet another seller and we’re following up on leads
as quickly as we can.”
TO was transported to a local police station
where she was cited and released. TO is being charged with selling
underage puppies, a MISDEMEANOR in California.
“We strongly urge that people not buy puppies
in parking lots nor on the street thereby increasing the demand for
these babies,” said spcaLA President Madeline Bernstein. “If you do
see puppies being sold on the streets, contact the spcaLA or SEAACA
immediately so proper action can be taken.”
In December, 2005 a coalition of fifteen animal
welfare agencies (public and private) worked alongside US Customs
and Border Protection officers to conduct a census to measure the
problem of puppy smuggling at both San Diego ports of entry. Since
then, several busts have been made by various task force agencies
throughout Southern California and officials state the work has just
begun. “Sellers will not know if that voice on the other end of the
phone is an officer or not,” exclaimed Reyes. “Just as they (the
sellers) operate with secrecy, so will the task force as we track
down and bust illegal puppy sellers in the community,” stated Reyes.
“Too many hearts are broken and far too many puppies are dying
needlessly,” Reyes said.
Anyone with information on this or other
fraudulent puppy sales activity are asked to call spcaLA’s cruelty
tip-line at (800) 540-SPCA (7722) or SEAACA at (562) 803-3301.
|
Animal
Law Enforcement & Rescue
