23 Dogs Rescued at U.S.-Mexico Border

SAN YSIDRO, CA: Twenty-three puppies and adult dogs were in the care of County Animal Services Monday after being intercepted at the San Ysidro border crossing Saturday, authorities said.

According to a County of San Diego news release, U.S. Customs and Border Protection discovered the animals inside an SUV and feared they were dead because they weren’t moving. Once their crates were moved into the fresh air, many of the dogs appeared to revive but two weren’t responding so animal control officers took them to an emergency veterinary facility.

Animal control officers who responded to the scene said it was very hot and humid inside the vehicle.

The driver of the SUV, Daniel Canedo, told them the dogs had last been given water at 11 a.m., about five-and-a-half hours before he was stopped at the border, officials said.

“The driver said he picked up the dogs in Tijuana and was taking them to Los Angeles but we don’t know what the final outcome of these animals would have been,” said County Animal Services Director Dawn Danielson. “Under federal regulations, it’s illegal to import animals under six months old for resale.”

Canedo relinquished the dogs to County Animal Services and they are being cared for at the animal care facility in Bonita.

The two taken to the emergency veterinary hospital were treated and released to join the other puppies on Sunday, authorities said.