BORDER PUPPIES
Are becoming the majority of puppies being sold in California . At one time they were being smuggled in form Mexico In 2005 about 10,000 per year. Now thanks in part to breeder restriction laws and mandatory spay and neutering that number has jumped to 280,000 in 06. They are now coming in through countries such as Chili, Indonesia, Mexico , Korea and Russia. Unlike the USA some other countries don't have age restrictions and puppies are coming in as young as three weeks of age . Many die before being sold as young as 4 and 5 weeks of age. Customs requires that the people bringing in puppies from these countries quarantine them until they reach 4 months of age and have their rabies shot before being sold. Surprise to no one including customs the puppies are not being quarantined but sold ASAP. Most are Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians and Shih Tzu and mixes of the breeds Many at 4 weeks of age they are being sold as T cups
Boarder puppies are not necessarily cheap. Some sell as high as $2000. They are sold primarily through the internet and low cost ads . such as the recycler, penny saver. The easiest way to determine if it is a boarder pup is no parent. Don't be fooled by photos of the "parents". They are sold through mainly private parties. Occasionally they will be sold through pet shops and kennels. Pet shops must disclose where they were born. It must be on their cages and you may ask for documentation. If they call themselves kennels their license will be posted along with a sellers permit and business permit. If not they are operating an illegal kennel. The laws are not important to this type of puppy seller they just move and set up business in a new location. They use throwaway cells and very rarely leave a paper trail . Many puppies die prior to or shortly after being sold other may have ongoing heath concerns. The biggest concern is rabies. In the USA the main carriers of rabies are bats, and skunks. The domesticated dog and cat are not considered a problem. In the countries mentioned, dogs are major carriers of rabies The incubation period for rabies can be very short (3 weeks ) or very long (1 yr ) A rabies shot given to a puppy carrying the virus that has yet to incubate will not stop the virus. The County of Los Angeles has a border puppy task force. They sent out a form for Veterinarians to report possible border puppies. I have links to the letter and more information below. The first is called Breed Wars the second the Veterinarian form
http://admin.publichealth.lacounty.gov/vet/docs/BorderPuppiesPubHlth.pdf
HOT TOPIC MANDATORY SPAY AND NEUTER LAWS
The new City of Los Angeles mandatory spay / neuter law is now in affect. Cost to keep your dog intact is $235
Unincorporated cities in Los Angeles County (May get exemption with a breeder license)
City of San Bernardino (no breeding)
San Jose
ITS THE LAW
In California it is illegal for a person to sell more than two (2) pets without a valid sellers permit issued by the State Board of Equalization. . The permit is free so there is no excuse for any person not to have the permit . A person who dose not get the permit is more likely not to be reputable in their business practices also . Always ask if they have a sellers permit prior to visiting and if they say they have one it should be posted where you can see it along with other documentation required by their city such as breeders license, business permits and kennel permits .
UNITED STATES CUSTOMS ALERT
Everyone loves a soft cute puppy – those sweet brown eyes, short stubby legs, little wagging tail are hard to resist. Unfortunately, some people are willing to take advantage of that love and are smuggling very young puppies from Mexico into the United States.Purebred and designer breed puppies are purchased in Mexico for between $50 and $150, then sold at street corners, parking lots and flea markets in Southern California for between $300 and $1,000 each, according to the Border Puppy Task Force. The Task Force is a group of 14 California animal welfare and law enforcement agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and initiated by the San Diego Humane Society. The Task Force was formed in 2004 after a rash of complaints from owners who reported their dogs were getting sick and often dying.
The Border Puppy Task Force conducted a two-week statistic gathering operation at the Otay Mesa and San Ysidro ports of entry. The findings were announced at a press conference held on December 20, 2005 at the San Ysidro border crossing. The operation looked at animals brought from Mexico to the United States. During the two-week study 362 puppies under the age of 3 months were brought into the United States from the two points of entry. Over a year’s time, that equates to almost 10,000 young puppies entering San Diego County.
Puppies were found packed in glove compartments and truck beds. Some of them don't have teeth, are drenched in vomit, or are barely weaned. "Puppy peddling is better than selling drugs. The consequences are far less," said Simran Zilaro, with San Diego Humane Society.
"Most of these pups are bred in Mexico, pulled from their mothers at four to five weeks of age, sold south of the border and smuggled across into the United States for sale," said Capt. Aaron Reyes of the task force. "Each bust leads us to yet another seller and we're following up on leads as quickly as we can."
It is illegal to cross the border with dogs unless they are declared to CBP and they have rabies shots and health records.