Do you guys remember the dog disease threat? This story was on the LA news tonight. One lady said the dog came down with pus pockets on it's stomach within 3 days and died soon after. Another said the puppy came down with mange and she had to disinfect her whole house, bleaching everything, sheets, clothing everything!!! Children were itching had to put something in their hair. Another Yuck!!
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There's also a huge cardboard fire burning in Salinas (near Monterey/Carmel in the central valley) "Local News now: Stretching 4 city blocks. Everyone within half mile evacuated. Fire still out of control. Propane storage facility nearby. One 1,000 gallon tank has exploded.
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Sick-Puppy Smuggling Is 'Epidemic,' Say Officials
Local Families Pay Hundreds Of Dollars For Animals
Sick puppies are being smuggled over the border and into the United States, then sold to San Diego families for hundreds of dollars, reported NBC 7/39.
The Humane Society says the smugglers don't care about the puppies -- they just care about the money.
Animal-control officer Mary Hoefort said a litter of puppies had recently been confiscated from a smuggler at the border
"She brought them from [Tijuana, Mexico,], didn't have any paperwork that they've been vaccinated," said Hoefort.
Last week, South County Animal Shelter picked up 34 Chihuahuas from a different smuggler.
"It ended up that many of them were sick and not being cared for," said Lt. Tom Ignacio.
Some of those puppies were so sick from diseases like distemper that they died a few days later, according to NBC 7/39.
"That cute little puppy can cost you thousands of dollars and a broken heart," said Mike Griffin, a San Diego Humane Society agent.
The Humane Society calls the smuggling problem an epidemic, saying that dozens of sick or dying puppies are being smuggled across the border on a daily basis, then sold for hundreds of dollars to unknowing families.
"These puppies are dying left and right," said Griffin. "These people are making a very big profit."
Investigators told NBC 7/39 that the dogs are being sold at places like shopping-center parking lots and are being advertised for sale in local newspapers.
"These [smugglers] are using disposable cell phones," said Griffin. "You can't track them. I'm literally chasing ghosts."
Griffin said that the smuggled puppies are being sold all over the state and in Nevada.
"It seems that it's the new way to make money," said Griffin. "It's almost better than selling drugs."
Griffin said that most people in the market for a puppy need to be aware of the following red flags:
Puppies being sold out of a car
Sellers who won't let you see the puppy's mother
Sellers who want to meet in places like gas stations or parking lots
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/3306153/detail.html
Selling sick puppies almost as profitable as selling drugs?
This is a surprise. Dog disease. The list of "coincidences" is growing.