Each year, 42,000 dogs are sold to veterinary schools and research labs by Class B dealers, who are required by federal law to buy the animals from pounds, shelters and small breeders and to treat them humanely. However, many Class B dealers violate the law. DEALING DOGS exposes the abuses that took place at one of America's most notorious Class B dealers - Martin Creek Kennel in Arkansas.
"We had a meeting with Chris De Rose from Last Chance For Animals, and in the initial research that Tom had done about this issue, we knew about Martin Creek Kennels, and its owner C.C. Baird. He was the most notorious B dealer of dogs. B dealer means that he can buy dogs that are considered random source. In other words, he can buy dogs from anybody who claims they own the dog and, and raise the dog themselves. He also can buy dogs from animal shelters that are unclaimed. And as you see in the film, these dogs are often bought for fifteen or twenty dollars at country flea markets. Many of them are suspected to be stolen pets."
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All of the dogs are doomed; the only question is how much abuse they'll endure before they die.
(Class B dealers are licensed and overseen by the Department of Agriculture through the Animal Welfare Act, we are told. But officials of Last Chance for Animals, the small animal rights organization that sent Pete on his mission, assert that the USDA does little or nothing to ensure that these dogs are treated humanely. In addition, they say, many of the dogs sold by Class B dealers are stolen pets.)
- Chip Crews Washington Post
This HBO
documentary featured back in 2006 documents the modern illegal dog trade for animal research. While many view animal testing as across the board inhumane or others, a necessary evil, there is no excuse for animals being stolen from backyards, "adopted" out of shelters or purchased online only to be forced to endure appalling living conditions before ever reaching labs. This to say the least is a tough one to watch.
Slate has begun a five part history of animal rights in laboratory testing. A new chapter will be published each day through to the end of the week beginning with the story of Pepper, a Dalmation who was stolen from a farm in 1965 and sparked history in the animal rights movement. I'm definitely no proponent of animal testing though it's incredibly hard to deny that great medical advances have been made because of it. When dogs and cats, (our own companions) and apes who share 99% of our DNA are suffering for breakthroughs it's not difficult to wonder why there can't be any other way. However much of an idealist that may make me.
