SAN DIEGO -
A known puppy smuggler was caught at the Tecate port of entry trying to sneak 15 sick pups into the country, and he admitted his plan was to sell them to people looking for Christmas gifts. They were taken to the San Diego County Animal Services Department in Linda Vista for treatment Monday night.
But with Christmas just around the corner, and the demand for puppies high, it's suspected that the practice may be more common than we think, and the new owner will be left with a hole in their heart and their wallet.
In this latest incident, Customs and Border Protection officers pulled over Raul Jimenez Gonzalez and found 15 mixed breed miniature poodles hidden under a blanket on the back seat of his car.
"This is the third time we caught him smuggling puppies," said Lt. Dan DeSousa of The San Diego County Animal Services Division. "27 of them in March of 2006, 11 of them on December 14th of 2007, and 15 of them on December 14th of this year."
All 53 were sick and according to DeSousa, the suspect admitted that he intended to sell them to unsuspecting people in the U.S.
"If you're going to buy a puppy, make sure you see the mother and the father," DeSousa added. "Make sure you see the house where the animals are kept because that gives you a little better idea of how well these animals are taken cared of."
The smugglers often dramatically discount their prices to give the buyer an incentive to buy the animal from them versus a breeder or reputable pet store.
DeSousa said these smugglers often buy the animals in Mexico for about 50 dollars, smuggle them into the U.S. And sell them for around 500 dollars which many times is still a bargain compared to the retail prices.
"Unfortunately the people that are buying them, are buying a puppy that is sick," said DeSousa. "It's going to cost them a thousand dollars maybe to possibly save the animals life and it's not a guarantee."
But with Christmas just around the corner, and the demand for puppies high, it's suspected that the practice may be more common than we think, and the new owner will be left with a hole in their heart and their wallet.
In this latest incident, Customs and Border Protection officers pulled over Raul Jimenez Gonzalez and found 15 mixed breed miniature poodles hidden under a blanket on the back seat of his car.
"This is the third time we caught him smuggling puppies," said Lt. Dan DeSousa of The San Diego County Animal Services Division. "27 of them in March of 2006, 11 of them on December 14th of 2007, and 15 of them on December 14th of this year."
All 53 were sick and according to DeSousa, the suspect admitted that he intended to sell them to unsuspecting people in the U.S.
"If you're going to buy a puppy, make sure you see the mother and the father," DeSousa added. "Make sure you see the house where the animals are kept because that gives you a little better idea of how well these animals are taken cared of."
The smugglers often dramatically discount their prices to give the buyer an incentive to buy the animal from them versus a breeder or reputable pet store.
DeSousa said these smugglers often buy the animals in Mexico for about 50 dollars, smuggle them into the U.S. And sell them for around 500 dollars which many times is still a bargain compared to the retail prices.
"Unfortunately the people that are buying them, are buying a puppy that is sick," said DeSousa. "It's going to cost them a thousand dollars maybe to possibly save the animals life and it's not a guarantee."
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