The Animal Pad has released this information
Sales at the Tijuana borders are quite regular and normal, the main sales are focused on food so that drivers who are waiting in lines early to enter the United States can eat;Â however, something that is not talked about much and that also happens in these spaces is the sale of puppies.
These are offered as if they were objects, sold at high prices, in addition to being exposed to the sun, is only carried by the seller. For this reason, The Animal Pad (TAPACT), a San Diego-based non-governmental, non-profit organization that rescues dogs of all breeds, has shared information on how to report these street vendors.
TAPACT assures that it is always looking for ways to help the four-legged little ones and one of those is by stopping the sale at the border;Â They added that the sellers will try in any way to persuade the drivers to buy a puppy;Â however, one of the key actions to stop this business is not to buy them to stop the demand for puppies and their sale.
If when you decide to go to the United States through one of the Tijuana checkpoints you see one of these street vendors, it is crucial that you collect as much information as possible so that it can be reported to the Tijuana authorities, the city’s Animal Control or go to TAPACT for the evaluation of the situation, this organization shared the following points of information that can be obtained to make the report:
It is imperative to take as many photos and videos as you can, both of the seller and of the puppies. This can help the authorities correctly identify the person in question and put an end to their peddling.
Take detailed notes on:
- What is the status of the puppies? Include the approximate age of the dogs, their appearance, whether or not they have fleas, ticks, or mange (a type of skin disease caused by parasitic mites, identifiable by severe itching, hair loss, and formation of crusts and lesions), their behavior (they are lethargic, irritable, shy, etc.)
- How does the seller look? Try to capture the gender, approximate height, hair and eye color and clothing
[li]How are the puppies kept? Are they in a box or a bag? Do they have food and water? Protection against the cold? - How many puppies are there and what breed are they?
- Did the vendors actually sell any puppies you saw?
If a provider approaches you and you have the opportunity to interact with them, ask questions if you feel comfortable. Below are the questions we recommend asking. We also recommend recording the conversation, if safe.
- Where do puppies come from?
- Where are the parents?
- How old are they?
- Do they have vaccinations/have they been to the vet?
- How do you get the puppies across the border?
- How many do you sell per day? One week?
- How many do you have with you or at home?
- What breed are the puppies?
- What race are the mom and dad?
- Do you own mom and dad?
Having this information helps to stop the sale of puppies at the border completely. If you wish to report these acts, you can call Tijuana Animal Control at +52 664 973 7006 or send photos, videos, recordings and/or information. to TAPACT@theanimalpad.com.
