America’s Pets Are Disappearing

By Susan Ingersoll-Cloer

Have you or someone you know had a dog or cat suddenly disappear recently? Chances are, with in the past several months you know someone who let their dog outside in the backyard for a few minutes, maybe while they made a fast run to the store; when they returned….their beloved “Prince” was gone. They called all the local veterinarians, the local shelters, posted signs around the neighborhood and placed ads in the paper. Even a sizeable reward was offered. It was to no avail. “Prince” was never heard from again; and for a very good reason, he had been stolen and sold to a dealer for $25-$35, This dealer then took “Prince”, loaded him on a truck with other dogs and cats from surrounding neighborhoods, and he was shipped hundreds of miles away to be sold into medical research. Do you think this is something that can’t happen to you? Think again! In one six month period in Rochester, NY. 10,000 dogs were reported missing! In Orlando, FL. 700 dogs vanished in 11 months, 1,000 disappeared in and around Indianapolis in one month…. Pet theft in this nation has reached epidemic proportions and at this point in time none of our pets is safe.

In a book published a few years ago, called Stolen for Profit written by Judith Reitman she explains, “Each year as many as 2 million family pets are stolen and sold into a gulag of a nightmare that trades them into a black market for pet stores, puppy mills, dog fighting rings, and satanic cults. But by far the most valued and reliable buyer for these animals is the medical research industry, which can pay premium tax dollars for a preferred laboratory subject family pets, no questions asked”

How does this chain work? Very simply, actually. A neighborhood is checked out by a “buncher”. He or she might even pay the neighborhood children $2 or $3 for the information on which houses have dogs and cats. The houses are watched and times are noted when the owners leave the pets outside, unattended. Then systematically, they will drive through with truck or van, entice them with a bit of food or toy, and pick them up. Sometimes they will use a stun gun if the pet tries to resist.

These trucks and vans are then driven to a “dealer”, where the Buncher is paid $3 to $5 for each cat and $10 to $15 for each dog. The pets are placed in a holding area until they can be shipped out to fill orders coming in from universities, hospitals, product testing companies, even military bases in the country that conduct research. Often times one dealer will transfer pets to another dealer hundreds, even thousands of miles away. Why? If the press or public gets wind of what is going on, the medical lab doesn’t want an irate owner beating down his doors to look for and try to reclaim “Prince”. If “Prince” should be found there it is very embarrassing and very damaging to public relations. So “Prince” is shipped hundreds, perhaps thousands of miles, across many state lines, where no one will find him. Research facilities pay up to $500.00 per animal, this is very lucrative business.

Just who are these dealers and how do they get licensed? There are two categories of dealers licensed by the USDA. Both classes of dealers buy and sell animals – dogs and cats – for laboratory research use. Class A dealers, according to Ms. Reitman, breed animals for this purpose. Class B dealers obtain animals from “random” sources meaning just about anywhere they can get their hands on them, including animals in yards, running loose on the streets, and “free to a good home” ads placed in the local newspapers. While they are not encouraged to steal and mislead people about where their beloved pets are going, as long as the dealer keeps tidy records on each dog and cat, the people buying don’t ask too many questions.

What can you do to protect your pets? Mary Warner of action 81 and Judith Reitman suggest the following:

  • Never leave your dog and cat out alone where it can be seen and taken.

  • Never, never, never place“Free” to a good home ad in the local newspaper.

  • Ask questions in your community. Do local shelters and pounds sell to medical research?

  • Talk to your neighbors. Be aware of what’s going on in your neighborhood.

  • Call people who are advertising any animal“Free” to a good home and warn them of the dangers of doing this.

  • Call the classified ads editor of your newspapers and ask them to preface“Free” ads with a warning of the risks.

  • Find out who the USDA Licensed Dealers and Research institutions in your area. The south central Texas number is 1-817-885-6923. Ask for Dealer and Research facility list.

  • Never forget that if you suspect that a stolen animal is at a Dealer kennel, act fast. You do have the right to request a law enforcement escort onto the property.

    • I highly recommend that you read Judith Reitman’s book. Only you can protect your pet. Become aware. Pet theft is going on in every city and town in this nation, and it will continue to go on until we as pet owners put a stop to it. After all it is our pets’lives that are at stake.