Post by Brooke on Mar 4, 2004 1:38:35 GMT -5
Sick, Battered Puppies Sold In Central Florida
Hidden Camera Investigation Films Dogs Caged In Pens
POSTED: 11:29 am EST March 3, 2004
UPDATED: 3:49 pm EST March 3, 2004
A Problem Solvers investigation found sick and battered puppies being imported into Central Florida and then sold illegally.
Video
Sick, Battered Puppies Sold In Central Florida
A hidden camera filmed about 40 dogs caged in pens and crowded in plastic swimming pools at Puppy Land in Central Florida. The dogs were imported from Colombia, according to the report.
"They (dogs) are the victims of a clandestine animal trade," Local 6 News reporter Wendy Saltzman reported.
Pet storeowner Joyce Berkery purchased six poodles from an importer she said "has no conscience."
She said two of the puppies died in two days and others she witnessed were butchered to disguise them as pure breed dogs, according to the report.
"All their tails were cut off, and it looks really cruel," Berkery said. "And they're being mistreated and they are not in the right atmosphere by no means."
The Local 6 hidden camera investigation showed tea-cup puppies passed off as pure breds with their tails cut to a stub. Their papers identified their origination from Cali, Colombia, according to the report.
The video showed medications administered by the dealer, Burt Weinberg, who has no veterinary training.
"He had suitcases full of medication, he was digging through them to see what he was looking for to give this puppy a shot," Berkery said.
David Gillespie spent $400 on a poodle in one of Weinberg's previous shipments of puppies.
"He (Weinberg) said, 'Why did you go to the vet?" Gillespie said. "I could give you all the drugs you need to treat your dog. I asked if he was a veterinarian and he said, 'No, but I can get the drugs for you.'"
Local 6 News reported that Gillespie was suspicious from the start.
State law requires that an animal must be inspected by a veterinarian before it can be sold.
The papers for Gillespie's dog were signed by Greg Murray, a veterinarian, according to the report.
Murray is on probation and has been fined and surrendered his license, Local 6 News reported. He is under investigation for two pending complaints.
Murray allegedly "pre-signed health forms by hand in increments of 50 or 100 at a time," without examining the dogs for health risks or disease, Saltzman reported.
"The dog was just emaciated from the disease," Gillespie said. "From that point he was hospitalized, until she died, Jan. 29."
Gillespie witnessed Weinberg filling out his dog's health certificate with no inspection by the veterinarian.
The hidden camera investigation exposed another puppy sold without a proper inspection. The dogs were shipped in from Miami on Friday night and sold the next morning without health certificates or a legal exam.
When Local 6 News confronted Weinberg, he denied he is operating an illegal and deadly dog trade.
Saltzman asked: "What about the animals that you are selling with distemper?" "Were you aware that these are sick puppies?"
Weinberg: "Will you wait outside?"
Saltzman: "Are you aware that these are sick puppies?"
Weinberg: "These are not sick puppies."
Saltzman: "Why don't they have the proper U.S. vet certificates?"
Weinberg: "They have everything."
Saltzman: "The one's yesterday did not have the vet certificates."
Weinberg: "Everyone has certificates."
Weinberg provided Local 6 News with a health certificate for the dog featured in the story. Murray signed the form the day after Local 6 caught the illegal transaction on tape, according to Saltzman.
Local 6 News reported Gillespie's dog died of distemper.
Weinberg said he's in the process of refunding him his money.
Local 6 News also contacted Seminole County Animal Control, and found Weinberg was illegally dealing dogs without a proper occupational license.
The head of animal control say's he will investigate.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Hidden Camera Investigation Films Dogs Caged In Pens
POSTED: 11:29 am EST March 3, 2004
UPDATED: 3:49 pm EST March 3, 2004
A Problem Solvers investigation found sick and battered puppies being imported into Central Florida and then sold illegally.
Video
Sick, Battered Puppies Sold In Central Florida
A hidden camera filmed about 40 dogs caged in pens and crowded in plastic swimming pools at Puppy Land in Central Florida. The dogs were imported from Colombia, according to the report.
"They (dogs) are the victims of a clandestine animal trade," Local 6 News reporter Wendy Saltzman reported.
Pet storeowner Joyce Berkery purchased six poodles from an importer she said "has no conscience."
She said two of the puppies died in two days and others she witnessed were butchered to disguise them as pure breed dogs, according to the report.
"All their tails were cut off, and it looks really cruel," Berkery said. "And they're being mistreated and they are not in the right atmosphere by no means."
The Local 6 hidden camera investigation showed tea-cup puppies passed off as pure breds with their tails cut to a stub. Their papers identified their origination from Cali, Colombia, according to the report.
The video showed medications administered by the dealer, Burt Weinberg, who has no veterinary training.
"He had suitcases full of medication, he was digging through them to see what he was looking for to give this puppy a shot," Berkery said.
David Gillespie spent $400 on a poodle in one of Weinberg's previous shipments of puppies.
"He (Weinberg) said, 'Why did you go to the vet?" Gillespie said. "I could give you all the drugs you need to treat your dog. I asked if he was a veterinarian and he said, 'No, but I can get the drugs for you.'"
Local 6 News reported that Gillespie was suspicious from the start.
State law requires that an animal must be inspected by a veterinarian before it can be sold.
The papers for Gillespie's dog were signed by Greg Murray, a veterinarian, according to the report.
Murray is on probation and has been fined and surrendered his license, Local 6 News reported. He is under investigation for two pending complaints.
Murray allegedly "pre-signed health forms by hand in increments of 50 or 100 at a time," without examining the dogs for health risks or disease, Saltzman reported.
"The dog was just emaciated from the disease," Gillespie said. "From that point he was hospitalized, until she died, Jan. 29."
Gillespie witnessed Weinberg filling out his dog's health certificate with no inspection by the veterinarian.
The hidden camera investigation exposed another puppy sold without a proper inspection. The dogs were shipped in from Miami on Friday night and sold the next morning without health certificates or a legal exam.
When Local 6 News confronted Weinberg, he denied he is operating an illegal and deadly dog trade.
Saltzman asked: "What about the animals that you are selling with distemper?" "Were you aware that these are sick puppies?"
Weinberg: "Will you wait outside?"
Saltzman: "Are you aware that these are sick puppies?"
Weinberg: "These are not sick puppies."
Saltzman: "Why don't they have the proper U.S. vet certificates?"
Weinberg: "They have everything."
Saltzman: "The one's yesterday did not have the vet certificates."
Weinberg: "Everyone has certificates."
Weinberg provided Local 6 News with a health certificate for the dog featured in the story. Murray signed the form the day after Local 6 caught the illegal transaction on tape, according to Saltzman.
Local 6 News reported Gillespie's dog died of distemper.
Weinberg said he's in the process of refunding him his money.
Local 6 News also contacted Seminole County Animal Control, and found Weinberg was illegally dealing dogs without a proper occupational license.
The head of animal control say's he will investigate.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.