By Stephanie Edwards
Chester C. (C.C.) Baird, an animal dealer who pled guilty to money laundering in connection with the sale of dogs and cats to research facilities using false acquisition records, was sentenced July 14 to three years of probation and six months of home detention. He was also fined $7,500.
His wife, Patsy Baird, who pled guilty to mail fraud, was sentenced to two years of probation and fined $2,500.
The Bairds, who operated Martin Creek Kennels in Arkansas, also agreed to pay $42,000 to assist in the cost of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's investigation of their facility.
In 2005, the USDA fined C.C. Baird $262,700, the largest civil penalty assessed and paid in connection with violations of the Animal Welfare Act, according to the USDA website. In addition to the fine, the USDA permanently revoked C.C. Baird's license as a "Class B dealer" to breed or sell animals.
C.C. Baird and Martin Creek Kennels were featured February 2006 in an HBO documentary, Dealing Dogs, which followed a Last Chance for Animals (Los Angeles-based animal protection group) undercover agent in his investigation of the kennel.
According to a USDA press release, "USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service had alleged that the Bairds violated the AWA regulations on numerous occasions, by ... failing to provide basic veterinary care to hundreds of dogs and cats; failing to maintain accurate records; and failing to meet minimum standards for housekeeping, husbandry, feeding and shelter."
In 2005, the Pet Safety and Protection Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate (S. 451), in an effort to protect animals from further AWA violations like those committed at Martin Creek Kennels. In 2006, this legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R 5229). The Pet Safety and Protection Act would prohibit animal research facilities from purchasing random source dogs and cats from Class B dealers. In support of the bill, The Humane Society of the United States, along with animal protection groups Last Chance for Animals and Society for Animal Protection Legislation, held a briefing to educate Congress and staff members on the topic.
Regarding the legislation, Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, said, "We are grateful to Representatives Mike Doyle and Phil English, and Senator Daniel Akaka, for introducing legislation to stop the theft and abuse of pets to supply animals to research laboratories, often for invasive, painful, and lethal experiments."
How You Can Help
Please contact your U.S. senators and representative to urge them to support the Pet Safety and Protection Act (S. 451/H.R. 5229). Click here to take action.
Stephanie Edwards is the outreach coordinator of Animal Research Issues at The HSUS.
