Sick, and illegal, puppies smuggled in from Mexico
San Diego, CA (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006
County: San Diego
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Martha Rodee of La Verne wanted was a Maltese Poodle-mix, a popular breed among Mexican dog smugglers. "Just look at her. She didn't deserve to die, but she did. I'm sorry," said victim Martha Rodee after he dog died. During a two-week crack down at the border, authorities said they found more than 500 puppies hidden in cars bound for the U.S. "They were coming across the border illegally to be sold on the streets," said Dr. Mark Goldstein, President of San Diego Humane Society. The puppies are concealed in boxes, under blankets and are sometimes crammed into suitcases. If the trip doesn't kill them, the lack of veterinary care might. In some cases, the canines are too young to be taken from their nursing mothers. "Of the puppies coming in from Mexico, three-quarters will be seriously ill in three to five days," said Goldstein. Goldstein said that most of the puppies would die unless they receive extensive care, which is what happened to Rodee's puppy Sophie.
"We saw an ad in the Los Angeles Times. He asked us to meet him at a car wash," said Rodee. For $550 Sophie was Rodee's for six days, most of which were filled with heartache. "About two days [after I got her,] she wouldn't eat," said Rodee. "She was throwing up and had diarrhea. I took her to the vet, and they told me she had Parvo." Parvo is a disease of the intestines that a puppy can get if its mother has not been vaccinated. "The hospital bill was almost $1,600," said Rodee. After three days in the hospital. Sophie died. "You really don't expect it to die a couple of days after you buy one," said Rodee. "It's just not fair to the puppy."
Animal-control authorities said Sophie might have been from a puppy mill in Mexico, but they are not sure because the seller disappeared. "When the truck door opens, and people see how cute these puppies are -- that just separates them from their money," said Capt. Aaron Reyes with the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority. NBC went to Tijuana with hidden cameras to see where authorities said the puppies are coming from and what conditions the were living in. The station reported that caged puppies are sold at big open markets or on the side of road out of boxes and are so small, they're whimpering and barely able to stand up. The prices asked for the pups: $130 for the Chihuahua, $200 for Scottish terriers and $350 for a Pekinese. The prices are almost half what you'd pay in California and a bargain for some Americans who were shopping in Mexico. Authorities said most of the black market dogs are actually sold in Southern California.
Authorities said that not only are most of the dogs sick, they can make people sick.
"Ringworm will affect people; certain forms of mange," said Goldstein. "Fleas and, God forbid, rabies -- that's fatal in people," Some confiscated pups were nursed back to heath at the San Diego Humane Society, where at least one has found a loving home. "With the expense of the dog and the hospital, it's going to be a really long time before I get another," said Rodee. Federal authorities said that if you are caught trying to hide a puppy while crossing the border you could be charged with smuggling and your car can be taken away. References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in San Diego County, CA
|
