Chester C. Baird, a former Arkansas animal dealer, and several of his family members were charged by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with more than 100 counts of animal abuse and neglect and have been ordered to pay a $262,700 civil penalty, the largest ever given for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The fine includes a personal civil penalty of $12,700 for failure to adhere to a USDA cease and desist order regarding previous AWA violations.
Showdown in the "Steal Me State"
For more than 15 years, Baird, his wife Patsy, and their daughters, Patricia and Jeanette, ran Martin Creek Kennels and Pat's Pine Tree Farms in Willifore, Arkansas. Both kennels operated primarily as animal suppliers for medical research facilities and universities. During recent years Missouri has experienced a high rate of lost pet reports, earning it the name "Steal Me State" among animal welfare groups. This fact prompted a California-based animal welfare group, Last Chance for Animals, to begin investigating C.C. Baird, who was long suspected by animal protection organizations of stealing pet dogs and cats to supply his kennels.
Over an eight-year period, LCA investigators filmed more than 72 hours of undercover video at Martin Creek Kennels, documenting animal abuse and neglect, including footage of dogs being shot to death. The videos prompted the USDA to take action against Baird. In July 2004, the USDA filed a 108-page complaint listing AWA violations found at the Baird kennels that were of "utmost seriousness" and included the "severe mistreatment and neglect of a multitude of animals." The complaint was based on USDA inspections dating back to 1998.
USDA Charges Against the Baird Family
The USDA charged the Bairds with violations for inhumane treatment of animals and illegal business practices conducted at both kennels. The case was set to go to trial on January 20, 2005 but a settlement was reached between the USDA and the Bairds regarding the civil case. According to the agreement filed on February 4, 2005, in addition to the fine, all four individuals are on probation for five years and have permanently lost all licenses to breed or sell animals. Under threat of an automatic $250,000 fine, none of the Bairds are permitted to engage in any animal-dealing activities. Both kennels were closed and all remaining animals, approximately 90 dogs and 120 cats, were removed and put up for adoption through local shelters. Criminal charges against the Bairds may still be filed in the case, according to the United States Attorney's Office in Little Rock, which is continuing the investigation.
The USDA complaint against the Bairds included 61 violations regarding failure to provide proper veterinary care to the animals; hundreds of violations regarding fraudulent health certificates for dogs and cats; 51 violations regarding stolen pets between January 2002 and March 2002; and more than 100 violations of minimum humane care standards for the animals, including temperature and humidity extremes, enclosures too small for the animals (inspectors found 30-inch tall dogs housed in 25-inch tall enclosures), dog food infested with insect larvae, and rat and mouse infestation in all pen areas. USDA investigators witnessed one dog consuming a live rat that had become trapped in a pen wall. USDA inspectors also found exposed dog and cat skeletons and carcasses still wearing their identification tags.
A History of Violations
The Baird family has a history of USDA and AWA violations, including those in 1995 for failing to keep detailed records of the number of animals bought and sold and for acquiring large numbers of "random-source" dogs that could not be traced to legitimate dealers. In 2003, the USDA raided Martin Creek Kennels and investigators spent six days collecting evidence and confiscated 125 dogs, many of whom were in need of immediate veterinary care. The raid recovered at least a dozen stolen pets who were returned to their human families.
The Baird family ran one of the largest dog-dealing businesses in the nation and their name was synonymous with puppy mills. Baird was formerly licensed as a Class B animal dealer, which allowed him to buy dogs from owners or raise dogs and sell them to research facilities. Class B animal dealers may also obtain animals from auctions or from shelters through pound seizures. Baird routinely traveled to flea markets in neighboring states, in particular Missouri, seeking to purchase animals.
Martin Creek Kennels sold thousands of cats and dogs to clients that included the University of Missouri at Columbia, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and Oregon State University. The University of Missouri continued to purchase animals from Baird even after the USDA brought federal charges against him in 1995, 2003, and 2004, including charges regarding the falsification of health certificates for an unknown number of dogs and cats that were sold to research facilities.
USDA and Animal Dealers
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is the USDA division responsible for ensuring animal dealers and others adhere to the regulations of the AWA. APHIS inspectors enforce the AWA by conducting investigations, and USDA/APHIS can impose fines and/or revoke licenses and registrations for serious violations. Animal dealers are required to provide sufficient food, water, shelter, veterinary care, and proper sanitation for their animals. To ensure the animals were obtained legally and are not stolen pets, the USDA also requires both dealers and research facilities to follow strict recordkeeping and waiting-period requirements when obtaining dogs and cats.
Although it is less common today than in the past, many pets are still stolen to be sold to medical research labs, used for dog fighting, or bred in puppy mills. According to data collected by Last Chance for Animals, five million family pets are reported missing each year and an estimated two million of those are stolen. Only about 10 percent are returned to their owners. Visit the links below to learn more on keeping your pet safe at home.
