Where'd the dogs go? 15-year probe has answer

By LINDA REDEFFER ~ Staff Writer

For nearly 20 years people who love animals heard about the blue truck, and a brown truck, that patrolled the streets of Poplar Bluff and the roads of Butler County picking up animals. They knew about the truck that parked at the Sale Barn, the driver buying dogs and cats from people, then taking the hapless animals to laboratories selling them for experimentation purposes. Some people's pets turned up missing and the suspicion was that they had been snatched, put into the blue or brown truck, and driven away to be sold and taken to the lab.

C.C. Baird, a USDA Class B animal dealer, bought animals at the Sale Barn from bunchers, people who drive around picking up animals and selling them to dealers to make a quick buck. Local authorities suspected Baird was operating illegally, but were never able to catch him at it.

Two weeks ago C.C. Baird was finally caught.

After a 15-year investigation by the Last Chance for Animals Special Investigations Unit and 70 hours of documentation, according to the LCA website, an undercover investigator discovered overwhelming amounts of abuse, neglect and unsanitary conditions at Baird's kennel, Martin Creek Kennel, in Williford, Ark. There was also evidence of dogs being shot to death on the property.

The information was given over to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Postal Systems, Arkansas State Police and the local sheriff's department.

At 6 a.m. Aug. 26, law enforcement officials served a search warrant on Martin Creek Kennel and took over the animal facilities on the property.

According to Chris DeRose, president of Last Chance for Animals, Baird has not yet been arrested or indicted, but he expects that in the next couple of weeks he soon will be.

"Right now he's still on his property," DeRose said, "but I don't believe he's operating. We had someone check to see if he went to any dog auctions. The bunchers were there to sell, but he was not there to buy. He's not going to be doing much right now; he's talking to lawyers."

At present, DeRose said, authorities at the federal, state and local level are sifting through Baird's records to find all the evidence possible to convict him. He faces charges of animal cruelty, but DeRose said there will be other charges, some possibly federal, once all the information has been analyzed. It's possible, he said, that Baird will not only be fined but will get some prison time. The 15-year investigation has led investigators to Missouri and Arkansas, where DeRose said most of the Class B dealers are located. Investigators also have tracked Baird's activities to Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania and other states.

By selling dogs to research labs at between $250-$800 per animal, Baird was selling at least 3,000 dogs a year and making a fortune. "It's a lot of money," DeRose said. "We're going through his books, checking his income, and I don't doubt the IRS will get involved in this."

Baird reportedly sold animals to nearly 50 facilities around the country.

One of the reasons the investigation took 15 years, DeRose said, is because Baird covered his tracks well. His wife reportedly is a Class A dealer, who is allowed to breed animals for research giving him an alibi for where many of his dogs came from. Also, DeRose said, with stolen pets and a sloppy record-keeping system, it's extremely difficult to track animals and make a case.

Last Chance for Animals, headquartered in Los Angeles, claims this is the largest multi-agency investigation on any animal issue in the history of the United States.

"Prior to this case we busted dealers in California, the first time it ever happened," DeRose said.

LCA also has recently concluded an investigation regarding puppy mills in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, resulting in a conviction, and did a four-month investigation into Premarin and horses, which also concluded with a conviction. LCA does smaller investigations, but prefers to focus on large issues that can result in change.

"We have a bill in Congress, the Pet Safety and Protection Act," DeRose said. "We want to use this (the Baird case) as a vehicle to push the bill through. This licensing of Class B dealers is not going to go away until we do away with the whole system. They keep licensing these people and they create a criminal element."

DeRose also criticized USDA inspectors for turning a blind eye to obvious infractions.

DeRose said that by having federal agencies involved in the Baird case, it becomes not so much an animal rights group looking into a cruelty matter, but "it gives it more credibility."

He predicted that by the end of next year, Class B dealers will be eliminated and the bunchers will have to find other ways to make quick money.

Karen Coleman with the Animal Control Office of the Poplar Bluff Police Department remembers Baird, and recalled how she and others in Animal Control, as well as Humane Society investigators, inspected Baird's setup at the Sale Barn, but always found him in compliance with local laws.

"They have eliminated something the citizens of Poplar Bluff never wanted to be in business in the first place," Coleman said.

Although Baird managed to stay above the law at the Sale Barn, Coleman said he was never allowed to adopt animals from the city animal shelter.

The shutdown of Baird's kennel is a step toward eliminating the suffering not only of the animals, but of the people whose pets had been stolen.

"The people became victims as well," DeRose said. "Some of the letters and phone calls I've received are heartbreaking. One woman said it's probably going to cost her a divorce but she's going to spend the rest of her life looking for her dog. She will not stop until she finds out what happened to him. She said she had that dog eight years; it's not just a dog, it's family."

According to the Last Chance for Animals, about 700 animals from Martin Creek Kennel need to be rescued. LCA is running a campaign to save them but requires that the animals are not to be euthanized or used for any commercial purposes. To rescue an animal, go to the website at www.lastchanceforanimals.com/invest/baird.htm. The phone number is (310) 271-6096 ext. 24.

In addition, the USDA has issued an alert for people who believe their dog may have been stolen and taken to Martin Creek Kennel. Most of the dogs seized, according to the USDA, were hounds, beagles or lab mixes. Anyone who has lost a dog and believes it may have been at this kennel should submit the following: name and address of the owner, phone number, and a description of the dog including breed, age, sex, weight, its name and distinguishing marks or other characteristics. Also supply the date the dog disappeared and a recent photo (an electronic format can be e-mailed).

Information can be faxed to (970)472-9558 or e-mailed to ACWEST@aphis.usda.gov.

Or it can be sent by regular mail to USDA/APHIS/Animal Care, Arkansas Dogs, 2150 Center Ave., Building B, Mailstop 3W11, Ft. Collins Colo. 80526.

For more information call Missourians Against Pet Theft Alliance at (573) 225-2630. Callers will reach a recording, but if they leave a message someone will return the call.

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND!

CC Baird Violations Charged By The USDA (Synopsis)

Finally, this is the beginning of the end of C.C. Baird. This is the result of 15 years of investigations, in that part of the country, by LCA's Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Last Chance for Animals has vowed that these Class B Dealers will no longer exist to terrorize American families in having their beloved family member stolen. Stay in touch with LCA to find out what you can do as this case proceeds. We are still awaiting other criminal charges to be filed by other federal agencies. It's not over yet. But for once there will be a win for the animals in these hellholes. This is a promise but we will need your help and I don't just mean financially. We are an organization that puts "ACTION" before pleading for money. We are determined to make REAL CHANGES for the animals. Thank you for all you are doing to help make this happen. Remember, LCA is YOU! What LCA has accomplished is because you made it happen!


Thank you again.
Chris DeRose
President

The USDA/APHIS have filed 108 pages complaint consisting of hundreds and hundreds of violations against notorious Class B dealer CC Baird, his wife Patsy Baird, and their 2 daughters Jeanette Baird and Patricia Baird. Both businesses, Martin Creek Kennels and Pat's Pine Tree Farms, came under severe scrutiny by USDA investigators.


This is the culmination of many, many years of investigations in the Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi and surrounding states B dealers by LCA's Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Just synopses of some of the violations are:



a.. "Severe mistreatment and neglect of a multitude of animals"


a.. "Falsification of health certificates of dogs and cats that the respondents sold to research facilities"


a.. "Multitudinous record keeping deficiencies and instances of non compliance with the barest standards of care, husbandry and housing for dogs and cats"


a.. "Knowingly falsified official health certificates for unknown numbers of dogs and cats and paid their attending veterinarian (who had not examined the animals) to supply them with blank, undated, signed heath certificates for dogs and cats with false information and used in connection with the sale of the animals to research facilities."


"Having previously been informed, among other things...respondents have nevertheless continued to acquire large numbers of random source animals, and to keep scant or no records while paying lip service to their adherence to the law.'"


"These respondents have continually treated hundreds of animals cruelly and inhumanely in myriad ways including failure to provide them with the most basic needs: sufficient and nutrient food, potable water, safe shelter, and adequate veterinary care."


CC Baird "has a history of previous violations of the Act and regulation...who was previously found to have violated same regulations. Mr. Baird has knowingly disobeyed the cease and desist letter issued by the Secretary in Mr. Baird's previous case."


"Respondents have made a great deal of money from their large-scale sales of dogs and cats to research facilities. They have derived their substantial income through illegal means. Their violations have alleged herein strike at the very heart of the Animal Welfare Act and are directly contrary to the three congressional purposes that prompted it's enactment nearly forty years ago: '(1) to insure that animals intended for use in research facilities or for exhibition purposes or for use as pets provided humane care and treatment; (2) to assure the humane treatment of animals during transportation in commerce; and (3) to protect the owners of animals from the theft of their animals by preventing the sale or use of animals which have been stolen.'"


ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF VETERINARY CARE


"Respondents failed to have an attending veterinarian provide adequate veterinary care to their animals."


(i.e. "Respondents' attending veterinarian provided respondents with hundreds of blank, undated, signed health certificates for numerous dogs and cats that the attending veterinarian had not examined.")


There are sixty-one of these types of violations.


ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION REGULATIONS


"Respondents failed to identify all live cats on the premises by an official tag, or an approval tattoo marking as required."

a.. "Respondents attached two official tags to primary enclosure which only contained one cat."


a.. "Respondents attached six official tags to primary enclosure which only contained two cats."


a.. "Respondents held more than one weaned cat in a single primary enclosure without affixed collars and official tags, or approved tattoos or collars."


There are fifteen violations identifying cats.


"Respondents failed to identify at least 56 live dogs by official tag, or a distinctive and legible tattoo, as required."


"Respondents failed to remove official tags from dead dogs and cats."


"USDA and Department of Justice officials found dog skeletons and carcasses still bearing their identification tags at the "disposal site" on respondents' premises."


ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF RECORD-KEEPING REGULATIONS


CC Baird "failed to make, keep, and maintain records that fully and correctly disclose the acquisition or disposition of dogs and cats."


"Respondents failed to record the vehicle license number and state, and the state of the driver's license number of the unlicensed person from whom respondents acquired 4 dogs."


"Respondents failed to make, keep and maintain acquisition records for 162 cats on the premises at Pat's Pine Tree Farms."


There are 63 violations failing to keep accurate and current records.


"On multiple occasions, respondents delivered to an intermediate handler or carrier for transportation in commerce, or transported in commerce, dogs and cats that were not accompanied by a health certificate executed and issued by a licensed veterinarian, and specifically, respondents arranged with their attending veterinarian to provide respondents with blank, undated, signed health certificates for numerous dogs and cats that the attending veterinarian examined...respondents paid their attending veterinarian $5.00 for each blank, undated, signed form, and respondents themselves placed false information on the forms, falsely representing that their attending veterinarian (1) had examined each of the animals on the date set forth on the certificate, (2) had certified that each of the animals upon inspection appeared free of infectious or contagious diseases, (3) had certified that each of the animals upon inspection appeared to be free of physical abnormalities, and (4) none of the animals had been exposed to rabies or originated from an area quarantined for rabies, and respondents knowingly used such false certificates on connection with the transportation of dogs and cats on commerce."


ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF HANDLING REGULATIONS


"Respondents failed to handle dogs and cats as required."


"Respondents subjected dogs housed at respondents' facility to a combination of temperature, humidity and time that was detrimental to these animals' health and well-being, and specifically, the temperature in respondents' 'Kennel Building' was over 86 degrees Fahrenheit for over twelve hours (the interior temperature was 86 degrees at 8:00 a.m., 90 degrees at 10:15 a.m., 88 degrees at 11:00 a.m., 92.8 degrees at 12:10 p.m., 97.2 degrees at 2:40 p.m., and 82.7 degrees-with a heat index of 90 degrees - at 8:13 p.m.)"


There are 8 handling violations.


ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF RANDOM-SOURCE REGULATIONS


"Respondents obtained random-source dogs and cats from individuals who had not bred and raised the dogs and cats on their own premises."


Individuals, or "bunchers" whom CC Baird obtained random-source animals from who had not bred and raised the dogs and cats on their premises:


a.. Donald Allen


a.. Ellis Ray Barnes


a.. Thomas L. Barrett


a.. Gary L. Black


a.. Thomas J. Bonds


a.. Robert Moore


a.. Allen Glenn Byrd


a.. Glen T. Choate


a.. Charles J. Cox


a.. Larry Wayne Cox


a.. Milford Cureton


a.. Alvie Davidson


a.. James B. Dean


a.. Jimmy T. Dillard


a.. James Leon Edmondson


a.. John Ellenburg Jr.


a.. Wayne Wilson


a.. Charles Ford


a.. Donnie R. Garrison


a.. Joe D. Gilchrist


a.. Robert L. Grayson


a.. Danny Lavern Green


a.. Mike "Slick" Pittman (also known as: Wayne Pittman or Roger Trent Pittman)


a.. Phillip D. Guynes


a.. James H. Heard


a.. L.D. Hendrix


a.. Harce Mannon Hill


a.. Dewey Holland


a.. John K. Horton


a.. Edwin Dewayne Matlock


a.. Claernce James


a.. Marvin James


a.. Presley H. Jones


a.. Ronnie E. Jones


a.. Stevie R. Jones


a.. Marvin Kirby


a.. Daniel Ladd


a.. Jimmy L. Lawson


a.. Hubert Matchett, Jr.


a.. Lesa Joann Matchett


a.. Joey F. Mayfield


a.. Richard McBrayer


a.. Ruby F. Peeks


a.. Ricky Glen Rickman


a.. John Marshell Sauls


a.. Franklin D. Smith


a.. Bobby F. Tillman


a.. Curtis E. Tunnell


a.. Dee D. Vaughn


a.. Elva H. West


a.. Illinois Wilkes


a.. Chad Lee Yeargan


There are 51 violations (in only 3 months) found regarding stolen pets from January 2002 - March 2002.


ALLEGED NONCOMPLIANCE WITH MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR HUMANE HANDLING, CARE AND TREATMENT OF DOGS AND CATS


There are 65 pages of violations regarding noncompliance with minimum standards for humane handling, care and treatment of dogs and cats.


Facilities and Operating Standard: Housing facilities general


"Failing to comply with the Facilities and Operating Standards for dogs and cats, and specifically by failing to meet minimum structure standards."


There are 52 violations of general housing facilities.


Facilities and Operating Standards: Indoor housing facilities


"Failing to meet the indoor housing facility Standard for dogs and cats regarding heating, cooling and temperature."


"Failing to meet indoor housing facility standards for dogs and cats regarding ventilation."


"Failing to meet the indoor housing facility Standards for dogs and cats regarding lighting."


"Failing to meet the indoor housing facility Standards for dogs and cats regarding indoor surfaces."


There are 22 violations regarding indoor housing facilities.


Facilities and Operating Standards: Outdoor housing facilities


"Failing to comply with the Facilities and Operating Standards for cats regarding restrictions on housing dogs and cats in outdoor facilities."


There are 5 violations regarding Outdoor housing facilities.


Facilities and Operating Standards: Mobile or traveling housing facilities


"Failed to sufficiently cool mobile or traveling housing facilities for 12 dogs, to protect them from extreme temperature or humidity extremes and to provide for their health and well-being, and caused the dogs to become overheated."


Facilities and Operating Standards: Primary Enclosures


"Primary enclosures were not designed and constructed of suitable materials so they are structurally sound and maintained in good repair, and specifically, 222 of respondents' pens were in disrepair."


There are 34 violations not providing minimum standards of primary enclosures.


Animal Health and Husbandry Standards: Compatible grouping


"Respondents housed dogs exhibiting a vicious or overly aggressive disposition with other non-aggressive dogs, and specifically, USDA inspectors observed multiple dogs housed in groups suffering from fresh puncture wounds and lacerations."


Animal Health and Husbandry Standards: Exercise for dogs


"Respondents failed to develop, document and follow an appropriate plan approved by respondents' attending veterinarian, including written standards and minimum compliance."


Animal Health and Husbandry Standards: Feeding


"Respondents failed to provide food and dogs that was uncontaminated, wholesome and palatable, and appropriate for the individual animal's age and condition, and specifically, the food provided to dogs in pen 222 was infested with insect larvae."


"Respondents failed to use feeding pans that were either disposable of made of a durable material that can be easily cleaned and sanitized."


"...USDA personnel observed, upon turning on the lights in the main kennel room during night rounds at 1:30 a.m., among the dozens of live rats and mice in all areas of the room, one rat that became stuck in a wall, and was killed and eaten on the spot in pen number 38. Live, whole rats do not constitute 'wholesome, palatable' food for dogs."


There are 18 violations regarding proper feeding of dogs and cats at Martin Creek Kennels.


Animal Health and Husbandry Standards: Watering


"Respondents failed to provide potable water to dogs as often as necessary to ensure their health and well-being, and specifically, provided water that was contaminated with flies and dirt."


"Respondents failed to keep water receptacles clean and sanitized, and specifically, failed to clean and sanitize the 5-gallon plastic buckets used as water receptacles for dogs which had developed a significant buildup of green algae."


"Respondents failed to keep water receptacles for cats housed in the 'Open Cat Building' clean and sanitized, and specifically, failed to clean and sanitize water dishes in three enclosures, each of which had a slimy build-up of brown residue on the inside of the receptacle."


There are 17 violations, failing to provide proper water for the dogs and cats.


Animal Health and Husbandry Sanitation: Cleaning, sanitation, housekeeping, and pest control


"Failing to remove excreta and food waste from primary enclosures daily, and from underneath primary enclosures as often as necessary to prevent an excessive accumulation of feces and food waste, to prevent soiling of the dogs and cats contained in primary enclosures, and to reduce disease hazards, insects, pests and odors, by failing to remove dogs and cats when steam or water is used to clean primary enclosures unless the enclosures are large enough to ensure that the animals are not harmed, wetted, or distressed in the process, and to remove standing water, and protect animals in other primary enclosures from being contaminated with water and other wastes during the cleaning."


"...waste covered the floor of the enclosure, preventing the animals from walking without stepping in urine, feces and food debris."


There are 77 violations failing to meet minimum cleaning, sanitation, housekeeping and pest control standards.


Animal Health and Husbandry Standards: Employees


"Failed to have a sufficient number of adequately-trained employees to carry out the level of husbandry practices and care required by the Regulations and Standards and specifically, respondents' personnel ignored or failed to comprehend basic animal husbandry requirements, failed to handle animals carefully, failed to conduct even minimal cleaning of respondents' facility and animals, and failed to provide adequate food and water to animals."


Transportation Standards: Primary Enclosures used to transport live dogs and cats


"...too small to provide each animal contained therein enough space to turn about normally while standing, to stand and sit erect, and to lie in a natural position, and in particular, housed 30-inch tall dogs in 25-inch tall enclosures."


"Respondents transported dogs and cats in commerce using sixteen portable pet carriers that were neither permanently affixed to respondents' conveyance nor clearly marked on the top and on at least one of the side with the words: 'Live Animals' in letters at least one-inch high, and arrows or other markings to indicate the correct upright position of the primary enclosures."



For the Animals.

Campaigns Department
Last Chance for Animals
campaigns@lcanimal.org
310-271-6096 x21
http://www.lcanimal.org

Last Chance for Animals · 8033 Sunset Blvd. #835 · Los Angeles · CA · 90046

Press Release

USDA REVOKES C. C. BAIRD’S DEALER’S LICENSE

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2005—The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that it has settled its administrative enforcement case against Chester C. Baird, aka C.C. Baird, along with his wife, Patsy and their daughters, Jeanette and Patricia Baird, who bred, bought and sold animals as Martin Creek Kennels and Pat’s Pine Tree Farms. The hearing in this case had been scheduled to commence Jan. 24, in Little Rock, Ark.

The consent decision, issued on Jan. 28, revoked both of the Animal Welfare Act licenses held by the Bairds, effective Jan. 21. The AWA regulations bar any person whose license has been revoked from becoming relicensed.

The consent decision also required C.C. and Patsy Baird to pay a $250,000 civil penalty, and assessed an additional $12,700 civil penalty against C.C. Baird personally, for failing to adhere to a previous USDA cease and desist order. All $262,700 of the civil penalties has been paid in full. This represents the largest civil penalty ever assessed and paid in an AWA case.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service had alleged that the Bairds violated the AWA regulations on numerous occasions, by acquiring dogs from random-source dealers and 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 addition, the Bairds agreed to liquidated civil penalties of $250,000 each if APHIS finds that the Bairds engaged in regulated activities during a five-year probationary period. The liquidated penalties would be due and payable within 60 day’s notice by APHIS.

The Bairds have also relinquished their remaining dogs and cats to APHIS, for placement with suitable caretakers.