Smuggled Puppies in Care of DAS

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On Monday evening, 15 2-month-old puppies were discovered by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers as a smuggler attempted to bring the puppies into the U.S. at the Tecate Port of Entry to be sold as Christmas presents.

The sick puppies, all described as mixed breed miniature poodles, were immediately taken to an emergency veterinary hospital by Animal Control officers with the County Department of Animal Services. The majority of the puppies has been diagnosed with parvo and will be receiving intensive care provided by County Animal Services or an adoption partner.

The alleged smuggler, Raul Jimenez Gonzalez, claimed a bottle of tequila at the border, but CBP officers observed movement in the back seat of the vehicle. The puppies were found hidden in the back seat under a blanket.

Jimenez admitted to the officers that he was taking the puppies to Los Angeles to sell as Christmas presents. Animal Services had previously rescued 27 puppies in 2006 and 11 in 2007 after smuggling attempts involving Jimenez. The Department of Animal Services is working with Customs and Border Protection to determine what, if any, criminal charges can be filed against Jimenez.

“With the holidays approaching, there is a demand for puppies and this demand results in puppies being smuggled across the border into the U.S.,” said Dawn Danielson, Director of Animal Services.

“Unfortunately, most of these puppies are sick, so the unsuspecting buyer ends up spending a great deal of money trying to save the puppy’s life, usually without success.”

The Department of Animal Services encourages people to visit their local animal shelters or contact a rescue group to adopt a pet during the holidays. For more information on adoptions at any of the three County Animal Shelters, or to view photos of available animals, please visit http://www.sddac.com.

County to Provide Car Seats to Low-income Families

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Thanks to a $207,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety the County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) will improve child safety by offering vehicle protection education and providing 2,000 child car seats to low-income families.

Funding for “Keep ‘Em Safe” comes from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“This is great news for San Diego County families,” said Board Chairwoman Dianne Jacob. “The safety seats will help save lives and reduce the rates of injury during a crash.”

The “Keep “Em Safe” program will be implemented by HHSA’s local partner, the Pacific Safety Council, a non-profit, educational organization providing safety resources and child passenger safety education in San Diego County.

The program promotes the safe transportation of children through a traffic safety education campaign providing a total of 132 safety presentations and 50 safety check-up events throughout San Diego County. At least 2,000 child passenger safety seats will be provided free of cost to people in need through September, 2010.

The goal of the campaign is to increase the proper use of child passenger safety seats and seat belt usage by families; provide safety presentations that include education on the proper installation and use of a child passenger restraint system for children of all ages; seatbelt usage air bag safety; the dangers of leaving children alone in the car, and awareness of SB 255 (Kaitlyn’s Law).

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic crashes are the top cause of death among young children. In 2008, about 4 children ages 14 or younger were killed in motor vehicle crashes every day, and many more were injured, the CDC reported.

“Parents and caregivers can make a lifesaving difference by using age-appropriate, vehicle safety seats,” said HHSA Director Nick Macchione. “Whenever you’re on the road, make sure children are safe and secure, every trip, every time.”

The County and HHSA are strong supporters of programs that provide services on child passenger safety, particularly for low-income families who use safety vehicle seats at lower rates. HHSA’s Community Action Partnership (CAP) has been administering child safety programs for the last five years and this grant is the result of HHSA’s efforts to sustain programs that promote health and safety.

Holiday Bargain May be a Bust if You Don't Check Your Receipt

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With the holiday shopping season just around the corner, it is important for consumers to be aware of the prices they are being charged at the cash register. This year, the County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures scanned over 22,000 items at 1,592 locations, and found that 25 percent of the stores inspected for pricing accuracy had errors. Shoppers were 2.6 times more likely to be overcharged than undercharged on purchased items. That equates to an overcharge/ undercharge ratio of $4.50 overcharged for every $1 undercharged.

“Every dollar counts these days, so you should know the price of the item you’re buying before you checkout and bring the sales ad,” said Robert Atkins, County Sealer of Weights and Measures.

“Consumers should not pay anything more than the lowest advertised, posted or quoted price. We are protecting consumers through complaint investigations and routine inspections. In the last year, the percentage of violations has gone down due to strict enforcement and education of businesses.”

A County ordinance requires stores convicted of overcharging more than one dollar on a single item or overcharging on two or more items to post a “Notice of Penalty for Failed Inspection” at each store entrance for ten days. In 1999, the Consumer Confidence Protection Act was adopted by the County Board of Supervisors, which requires a Notice to Consumers be posted at each point-of-sale station notifying them of their rights and how to file a complaint. To view a list of businesses with overcharging violations, visit http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/awm/violations_scanners.html.

Tips for Shoppers:

  • Stores are legally required to position a price display so that it is visible to you when items are being scanned.  
  • Look for the “Attention Consumers” yellow sticker at the register, which has the County’s contact information.
  • Verify receipts and notify store management of any price discrepancies.
  • To file a complaint, contact the County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures at 1-888-TRUE SCAN (1-888-878-3722) or visit www.sdcawm.org.