Successful Spay/Neuter Policies Create High Demand for Rescue Dogs in Washington
Over the last couple of decades, the number of rescues sending dogs from Southern states to the Pacific Northwest has increased significantly.
The reason for this phenomenon is simple. Municipal shelters and private rescues in the NW developed stricter spay/neuter policies and devoted resources to educate people about the importance of spaying/neutering their pets. As a result, shelters and rescues have fewer dogs available for adoption.
For example, in the Seattle area:
- King County (KCC 11.04.400) stipulates that, with a few exceptions, “No person shall own or harbor any cat or dog over the age of six months that has not been spayed or neutered.”
- The Seattle Animal Shelter spays/neuters dogs before they are put up for adoption. It also offers low cost spay/neuter surgeries to the public.
- Private rescues like The NOAH Center, Homeward Pet Adoption Center, Seattle Humane Society, and the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County also offer low cost spay/neuter surgeries to the public.
Increased focus on spaying/neutering have been so successful in reducing the stray dog population that shelters in the PNW often don’t have enough dogs to meet the public demand for rescue dogs.
To meet this demand, a number of rescues began transporting dogs from overcrowded shelters (primarily in southern states) to PNW shelters. They also import dogs from countries like Mexico that have few spay/neuter laws and huge populations of stay dogs roaming the streets.
That’s why the Washington State Department of Agriculture labeled Washington a “magnet state” for rescue dogs from other states and countries.
I don’t have a problem with rescues bringing dogs from other areas to Washington for adoption as long as they follow state and federal rules designed to protect the dogs’ health and prevent the spread of disease.
Rescue Groups Cannot Bring Puppies Under 6 Months Old in to US
Casa Dog, a rescue based in Puyallup, is one of the groups that bring dogs into Washington for adoption. Its website says it brings dogs here from California and Mexico.
Recently, someone alerted me that Casa Dog is violating federal law by importing dogs under 6 months of age from Mexico to the US.
The Animal Welfare Act is a federal law that “establishes requirements concerning the transportation, sale, and handling of certain animals and includes restrictions on the importation of live dogs for purposes of resale, prohibitions on animal fighting ventures, and provisions intended to prevent the theft of personal pets.”
Here are the elements of the Animal Welfare Act that rescues must follow when they bring dogs to sell into the US from other countries:
Majority of Puppies from Mexico Listed by Casa Dog are Underage
Currently, Casa Dog’s Petfinder page lists 60 puppies available for adoption: 39 of them are from Mexico and under 6 months old. It lists several underage puppies on its Facebook page as well.
I sent a couple of emails to Casa Dog asking how the rescue can bring puppies that young into the US and whether or not it has some special arrangement with the USDA to import them. The rescue never responded.
Without a response from Casa Dog I can only speculate how the rescue brought so many puppies across the border in violation of the Animal Welfare Act.
One possibility is that the federal officials tasked with overseeing the importation of animals aren’t checking the ages of the puppies at the border because they are inept, indifferent, or overworked.
Another possibility is that Casa Dog has people bringing the puppies across the border who mislead border agents by claiming the puppies are their personal pets.
Some rescues do this because the requirements for bringing personal dogs into the US are much less stringent than those for dogs brought into the US by rescue for rescue.
All you have to do to bring a personal dog into the US from Mexico is a health certificate signed by a certified Mexican vet stating the dog is healthy. The dog doesn’t even need to have a rabies vaccination if the “owner” provides an oral or written declaration that it “has lived in Mexico for the last 6 months, or since birth.”
Puppy Import Rules Less Stringent for Dog Owners Than Dog Rescues
Given the numerous requirements that rescues must meet before they can bring dogs into the US from Mexico for resale, it’s easy to understand why some unscrupulous rescues have people claim puppies are their own personal pets at the border.
It can also be extremely profitable.
Rescue puppies are always in high demand by potential adopters. People adopt them much more quickly than adults, so they generate cash faster than older dogs. And because they get adopted quickly, rescues don’t have to spend as much on their food and medical care.
As I said, I can only speculate why/how Casa Dog is bringing underage puppies across the Mexican border to sell in Washington since no one responded to my emails. But based on the ages of multiple puppies from Mexico it appears the rescue is violating the Animal Welfare Act.
Furthermore, by avoiding the more stringent rules for vaccinating dogs brought into the US from Mexico for resell, Casa Dog could be importing puppies that could either spread diseases or be more susceptible to them.
If you want to adopt a puppy from Mexico or other countries, please remember that unless it’s at least 6 months old, the rescue selling it may have brought it into the US illegally.
And if you know of a rescue that is selling underage puppies from Mexico, fill out and send this form to the US Department of Agriculture.
I adopted a dog who they claimed was friendly to all people and animals. This dog was good aggressive and almost killed my first dog that I have had for years, grabbing its neck and shaking it. When I called after a few months saying I needed help and had to give her back, the rescue head Bobbi literally said “you’re sad? It doesn’t sound like it youre not crying” and was so unprofessional
I’m so glad you commented. She’s very unprofessional and makes it hard to leave reviews. She is a bully and uses scare tactics to convince people she’s going to come after them with lawyers.
As previously mentioned to you, Sunny Sky’s in Puyallup also does this with the help of Mutt Mutt Rescue to get them across the border and to Washington. I wonder if Casa Dog is also getting them via Mutt Mutt.
Is there evidence of this?
Oh gosh, we went into all that early last year. It would take some digging to find again. However Mutt Mutt stated that they don’t bring them across for anyone specific yet bring them across and take them directly to various rescues. Probably so the rescues can’t be held liable for getting the underage puppies?
Recently adopted a dog from here and after I paid for her communication completely ceased to exist. I have repeatedly asked for her microchip number and to have a spay appointment set up (which is included in the adoption fee). It’s been over a week and I’ve received zero communication. I’m almost ready to file a consumer complaint with the ATG’s office. Three days into the adoption trial my dog became sick and I was repeatedly told to “wait and see” several days before given medicine for her, even though she was clearly getting worse not better. This rescue is irresponsible at best and negligent at worst.
I’m so sorry. Yes, file a complaint with the AG. Dogs are legally considered property in WA so, although it sounds awful, they sold you a defective product.
We did a trial adoption with a sick puppy that was clearly not only weaned too early, but exhibited all the indicators of having parvo. We took her back early and they tried to blame us for it. The puppy had wicked diarrhea before we even fed her. I had a hunch this operative was shady. $600 for a rescue and get stuck with an imminent vet bill off the bat? I don’t think so. I firmly let them know she needs to be checked out RIGHT AWAY.
Thank you for all that you’re doing to bring attention to these so-called “pet adoption agencies”.
The fees they’re asking for dogs that are literally taken off the street of Mexico is astronomical. I’m not against people making some money on top of their efforts because they need too that’s how you stay afloat as a charity.
My issue is the underage dogs and false advertising that these dogs are fine with other dogs and people etc and then not picking up the phone when there’s a problem.
Those are all of the reasons why I have issue with them calling themselves a charity. A good charity looks out for that animal even after they’ve adopted it out. Especially if there’s an issue they should gladly take it back and rehome it..Not avoid answering the phone.
Just wanted to let you know I read this article because I was interested in adopting a dog from Casa Dog.
Because of your advice I asked to see the health certificate signed by a vet, the shots records and a current picture of a dog that was coming in from Mexico. I was more or less told that was not available to me and if I don’t want the dog they will move on to another family.
I feel like I dodged a bullet. Thanks for the education.