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The Honorable Senator ______________________________________________
The U.S. Senate, U.S. Capitol Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator,
As a voting constituent who cares about animal protection laws, I strongly
encourage you to cosponsor the Pet Safety and Protection Act (S. 451). Senator Daniel
Akaka (D-HI) introduced S. 451 on February 17, 2005 to assure animals sold to medical
research facilities are acquired legally. The PSPA also fortifies the Animal Welfare
Act by banning Class "B" animal dealers from furnishing dogs and cats to research
laboratories.
Class B dealers, who derive most of their income from contracts with research
labs, amass dogs and cats from "random sources." They routinely falsify health
certificates and do not maintain verifiable records on the acquisition or disposition
of their animals. Many employ "bunchers" to steal companion animals or round-up
strays. Some animals are attained fraudulently from "free to a good home" ads.
Experimenters cannot distinguish between legally obtained animals and those procured
via theft or fraud. Moreover, the research industry is not required to patrol animal
dealers.
C.C. Baird was the nation's most prolific trafficker in random-source animals
until the USDA revoked his Class B license and imposed an unprecedented fine in
January 2005. Baird's trail of counterfeit health certificates and muddled records
made it impossible to trace the roots of tens of thousands of animals sold to
research labs nationwide. USDA/APHIS charged Baird with hundreds of AWA violations
after a raid of his Martin Creek Kennels exposed rampant abuse, neglect, and mass dog
graves.
C.C. Baird's case illuminates the need for stronger animal protection laws. Class
B dealers like Baird typically fail to provide veterinary care or adequate food,
water and shelter. Animals survive in squalid conditions, tethered or caged outdoors
with no protection from weather extremes.
Since the term "random source" was legalized in 1996, interstate traffic in stolen
animals has flourished. Weak laws let dealers sell animals of suspect origin to
researchers, illegal dogfighters, breeders, and the meat and fur trades. Ultimately,
USDA/APHIS ought to terminate all Class B random-source dealers. In the meantime,
your co-sponsorship of the Pet Safety and Protection Act would stop remaining dealers
from selling random-source animals to research laboratories.
Senator Akaka's bill enhances the Animal Welfare Act and empowers the USDA to
prevent dealers from inflicting untold pain upon animals and the people who love
them. Please urge the Chairman of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee
to hold hearings on S. 451 as soon as possible. Thank you for helping to safeguard
America's cherished companion animals.
Sincerely,
