IMPORTATION OF SHELTER DOGS & CATS INTO CONNECTICUT

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1 IMPORTATION OF SHELTER DOGS & CATS INTO CONNECTICUT Ray Connors Chief Animal Control Officer Supervisor State Animal Control Division Connecticut Department of Agriculture

2 WELCOME

3 Public Act No AN ACT EXTENDING CERTAIN PET SHOP LICENSEE REQUIREMENTS TO PERSONS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT IMPORT ANIMALS FOR ADOPTION.

4 PA SUMMARY: This act makes several changes affecting animal importers. Among other things, the act requires animal importers to (1) register with the Department of Agriculture (DoAg) commissioner; (2) have imported animals examined by a state-licensed veterinarian; and (3) notify DoAg and local zoning officials before offering the animals for sale, adoption, or transfer.

5 WHY

6 Dogs Coming Into CT Heartworm Positive Dogs With Infested With Internal Parasites Which Are Not Common To The Northeast Animals Incubating Disease

7 Couple Kept Animals In Deplorable Conditions. Animals Seized In Deplorable Conditions. Rescued Animals From Southern US.. Christmas Puppies Imported With Parvovirus.

8 PARKING LOT ADOPTIONS

9 NOWHERE TO TURN

10 IMPORTER Defining

11 What is an Animal Importer? A person who brings any dog or cat into this state from any other sovereign entity for the purpose of offering such dog or cat to any person for sale, adoption or transfer in exchange for any fee, sale, voluntary contribution, service or any other consideration. "Animal importer" includes any commercial or nonprofit animal rescue or adoption, humane relocation or delivery organization that is not otherwise required to be licensed under the provisions of this chapter.

12 REGISTRATION Must register with the Dept. of Agriculture $ / Year Fee Name / Address/ Phone/ Business address/ Internet address Number of Animals imported during the previous year including state or country of origin.

13 Out Of State Must have a Connecticut based agent Name/ Address/ Phone/

14 ONE REGISTRATION COVERS: EMPLOYEES & VOLUNTEERS

15 AFTER THE ANIMALS COME INTO CT

16 HEALTH CERTIFICATES HEALTH CERTIFICATE ONE GREAT PET DR. I. Lovepets

17 (a) Any dog or cat imported into this state shall be accompanied by a certificate of health issued no earlier than thirty days prior to the date of importation by a licensed, graduate veterinarian stating that such dog or cat is free from symptoms of any infectious, contagious or communicable disease, and that such dog or cat, if three months of age or older, is currently vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian. A copy of such health certificate shall be forwarded promptly to the commissioner from the livestock sanitary official of the state of origin. Any dog or cat originating from a rabies quarantine area shall have permission of the State Veterinarian prior to importation into this state. No person, firm or corporation shall import or export for the purposes of sale, adoption or transfer or offering for sale, adoption or transfer any dog or cat under the age of eight weeks unless such dog or cat is transported with its dam and no person, firm or corporation shall sell or offer for adoption or transfer within the state any dog or cat under the age of eight weeks.

18 VETERINARY EXAM Not later than 48 hours after importing and prior to sale, adoption or transfer, Provide for the examination of the dog or cat by a CT licensed veterinarian. Re examined every ninety days until the animal is placed. Must be examined not more than fifteen days prior to being placed. Must maintain record of veterinary services rendered to each animal. The animal health record must be kept for a period of three years.

19 ALL VETERINARY SERVICES RENDERED FOR EACH IMPORTED DOG OR CAT MUST BE KEPT ON FILE FOR THREE YEARS FILE MUST BE KEPT

20 Prior To An Adoption Event (2) Any animal importer who intends to offer for sale, adoption or transfer any dog or cat at a venue or location that is open to the public or at an outdoor location, including, but not limited to, a parking lot or shopping center, shall provide notice to the Department of Agriculture and the municipal zoning enforcement officer of the town where any such sale, adoption or transfer will occur, not later than ten days prior to such event. Such notice shall state the date for such sale, adoption or transfer event, the exact location of such event and the anticipated number of animals for sale, adoption or transfer at such event.

21 SUMMARY Registered As A Public Charity Must Have An Importers Registration If From Out Of State CT Contact Person Imported with Health Certificate From State of Origin CT Veterinary Exam within 48 hours / Not more than 15 days prior to adoption / every 90 days that animal is held until adopted Notify Dept. of Agriculture and Town Zoning Official 10 Days Prior To Adoption Event

22 HOW WELL IS IT WORKING?

23 OCTOBER 1, 2011

24 SUSPECT PARVOVIRUS

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32 HELP WAS OFFERED TO HOUSE THE DOGS Refused Help Was counting on the money to get home To this date Never registered in CT

33 PAWS & CLAWS - KENTUCKY

34 NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM ADOPTERS OF SICK DOGS

35 RESCUE WOULD COME INTO CT EVERY OTHER WEEKEND WORK IN PARKING LOTS AT INFORMANT FROM KY WOULD LET DOAG KNOW WHEN SHE WAS ARRIVING

36 A GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE

37 RECEIVED FINES IN CT DID REGISTER AS AN IMPORTER FOUND LOCAL YOUNG GIRLS TO VOLUNTEER AT EVENTS

38 KENTUCKY RESCUE IN CT GRAVES COUNTY, Ky. - The Graves County Sheriff's Department along with the Animal Rescue Corps, served a search warrant at Paws and Claws in Wingo, Kentucky this morning. This is an animal shelter run out of a home. After receiving multiple complaints from neighbors, Animal Rescue Corps concluded a seven-month investigation on the business and presented their findings to the Graves County Sheriff's Department on Wednesday. A search warrant was secured and the search and seizure was executed this morning. The Graves County Sheriff's department had been getting complaints for more than two years, but could not build a good enough case against them. Authorities say at least 100 dogs have been found alive while multiple dogs were found dead. The owner of the business is Shannon Lacewell. She was not there at the time of the search and an arrest warrant on one count of animal cruelty has been issued. More counts could be added as the investigation continues.

39 PIGGY BACK Registered Importer has legal event at a shopping center Group from MA. Comes into event to pick up dogs from the transport. Piggybacks onto the event and illegally adopts out their dogs fresh off the transport Receives substantial fines

40 The Madison Sting

41 On Line Adoption

42 Driving On Caffeine And Cigarettes

43 Deplorable Conditions

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47 Sick Animals

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50 Donna Lee Caswell

51 Still In Action State of Georgia Has Been Chasing Her Across Numerous Counties Rumored To Be Back In New England

52 Illegal Rescues Has Ct address which is empty apartment Operates on line but based in Florida Uses monies for luxury life style

53 STANDARDS OF CARE

54 STANDARD OF CARE OF IMPORTED ANIMALS Condition of facilities Lighting Water facilities Ventilation Facility temperature Sanitation Animal Care

55 **Land Transport. a. Transport vehicles must be cleaned and sanitized to industry standards prior to transport. b. Proper climate control must be maintained the vehicle must be able to provide heat and or air conditioning to the animal housing areas and there must be sufficient air ventilation.

56 c. Animals should be transported in separate enclosures (except in the case of litters) with solid, leak-proof bottoms and adequate bedding. Animals should be able to comfortably stand up, lie down and turn around. d. Enclosures cannot be stacked more than two high and that the front of the enclosure must be kept free from being blocked to allow for proper ventilation. e. Ensure access to fresh water for every animal at breaks.

57 f. At a minimum, stop every 4-6 hours in a safe area to perform a visual check and to clean transport kennels, feed, and water the animals. g. Puppies should be fed a small meal or snack every 4-6 hours. h. Adult dogs should be walked or exercised on trips longer than 8 hours. i. Maximum transport time to a final destination facility should be no more than 12 hours. j. All trips should be made with a minimum of (2) drivers and sufficient personnel to appropriately handle and care for all animals.

58 k. There must be appropriate Identification on each animal and its carrier during transport. l. If an animal has recently been spayed or neutered, there has been other surgery, or it is recuperating from other medical treatment, the animal should have at least 48 hours recovery time before transport. Surgery other than spay/neuter is not recommended prior to transport.

59 **SOURCED FROM THE ASPCA AND THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF HUMANE SOCIETIES BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES.

60 NOT MORE THAN 25 Dogs and Cats may be imported to Connecticut at once unless such organization employs the services of a USDA licensed hauler or procures a USDA Hauler license.

61 GATEWAY TO NEW ENGLAND

62 REGISTRATIONS Over 130 organizations have registered

63 IS IT PERFECT?

64 WHAT LAW IS?

65 WE HAVE NOT LOST SIGHT OF THE ORIGINAL GOAL

66 WORKING TOGETHER TO REACH ONE GOAL

67 HEALTHY ANIMALS IN HAPPY HOMES

68 State Animal Control Division (860)