UPDATE: The CFIA responded to Global News today via email saying the declarations presented by the owner to Canada Border Services at the time the puppies were brought into the country showed they were rescue animals under eight months of age from an animal welfare organization. Their statement goes on to say, given the number of dogs being brought into Canada at one time, Ryall would need to have met the CFIA requirements for commercial dogs under eight months of age. The requirements are: an import permit and an ID mechanism (ie. tattoo or microchip).
The CFIA says the criteria were not met but if the dogs had been imported for personal use, meaning Ryall would be keeping all of the puppies, then the only requirements would be a vaccination certification and ID.
On November 25 the CFIA issued a Notice to Remove from Canada to Ryall and has since offered her a quarantine extension of 31 days “to deal with the situation.”
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A group of British Columbians had the best intentions in mind when they attempted to adopt some puppies from Mexico, but now the six young ‘refugees’ are on death row in Calgary.
A week ago the six puppies were strays, living on the streets of a village north of Puerto Vallerta and in danger of being culled. That’s when Lisa Ryall stepped in to bring them back to Canada for adoption, something she’s done in the past without issue.
” I just couldn’t come home without them… they were just adorable and they broke my heart,” explains Ryall. “One puppy was emaciated and I just knew I could give them a better life here. ”
To control the number of dogs, the Mexican community does semi-annual strychnine campaigns, where chicken laced with poison is left in the streets for the dogs to eat.
Now due to paperwork issues, the dogs are being detained by Canadian Border Services (CBS) in Calgary due to new Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) rules. The new rules identify rescue dogs as commercial property, which brings in a new set of rules, something that was a complete surprise to Ryall.
“The puppies now all of a sudden needed an import permit,” Ryall says. “They require a microchip or a tattoo and they have to come from an approved kennel.
“These dogs came from Mexico and it wasn’t an approved kennel.”
Burnaby Veterinarian Carolyn Buxton volunteers internationally by providing spaying and neutering, along with treating any ailments, and she frequently bringing dogs back to Canada for adoption.
In an ironic twist, Buxton brought back five dogs this week, from the same location in Mexico without any problems.
“I’m totally surprised,” Buxton told Global News. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense why they’d restrict access to a small amount of puppies that are clearly not from a breeder. They’re rescue puppies and it’s sad they’re not going to get into the homes they deserve.”
The puppies were initially ordered out of Canada within 72 hours but now they’ve been given a 30-day reprieve. After that time expires, the puppies would have to be sent back to Mexico, where they’d be killed or if they stayed, they’d be euthanized.
Ryall says she doesn’t want “to subject the puppies to a month long quarantine, a long journey back to Mexico only to meet a death sentence.”
Note: If you’re interested in helping the puppies, McKnight Veterinary Hospital in Calgary is accepting donations on behalf of the dogs. Contact Dave Rubenstein at (403) 457-0911. If you want to provide feedback on the issues of the puppies quarantined in Calgary by the CFIA, contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regarding their pet/animal restrictions.
~ with files from Geoff Hastings
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