Hundreds of Puppies Smuggled Across U.S.-Mexico Border

Dec. 20, 2005 — -- Hundreds of small-breed puppies -- many too young or too sick for export -- are allegedly smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border every year, according to a report released today.

The Border Puppy Task Force, made up of representatives from 14 animal-welfare and law enforcement agencies, gathered statistics from a two-week study showing that large numbers of lap-dog puppies are brought into the United States yearly, said Aaron Reyes, spokesman for the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority.

"It just confirmed what we already suspected," Reyes said, adding that the puppies confiscated at the international borders were "consistently not being well taken care of."

The puppies, many of them Chihuahuas or poodles mixed with terriers, cocker spaniels and Maltese breeds, often have not yet received immunizations because they are too young, Reyes said.

"Buyers should beware when purchasing puppies at swap meets, parking lots and answering ads online or otherwise," Reyes said. "These animals can cost from $300 to $1,000 and may be underage, sick and carrying diseases that are not initially visible."

Concern over the spread of rabies, zoonotic diseases that can be transferred to humans and other ailments may call for new laws to protect people and animals, according to the task force.

Often the puppies have suffered inhumane treatment and could cost new owners thousands of dollars in veterinary bills to care for a puppy that will very often die, according to the group.

Task force officials said there has been an increase of puppies coming from Mexico to California in the last several years because of the growing popularity of smaller and "designer" breeds of dogs. Mark-ups on the dogs brought into the country can be as much as 1,000 percent.

They're usually smuggled in batches, which can number as high as 30 dogs in one trunk, said U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Vincent Bond.

"We are usually interested in bugs, drugs and thugs," Bond said, adding that puppies carrying rabies, distemper and Parvo virus are also a danger to public health.

"We're concerned about the introduction of sickly puppies into the United States," Bond said.

ABC San Diego affiliate KGTV contributed to this report.