News from Indigo Rescue

In early 2002, an LCA undercover investigator infiltrated Bairds Martin Creek Kennel in Williford, Arkansas and acquired over 70 hours of video surveillance detailing an overwhelming amount of animal cruelty, abuse, neglect and unsanitary conditions. The documentation gathered during the undercover investigation was handed over to the U.S. Attorney's Office, which resulted in the largest multi-agency (federal, state and local) investigation of animal abuse in U.S. history. As a result, Martin Creek Kennel was raided at dawn break on August 27, 2003. During the raid, 125 dogs and 1 cat were removed from Bairds premises.

As a result of the raid, C.C. Baird, the largest and most notorious USDA licensed Class B animal dealer, was officially charged with hundreds of violations of the Animal Welfare Act on March 11, 2004. These charges included mistreatment of animals, inadequate veterinary care and improper housing. This civil case was settled out of court in January 2005 and consisted of the following:

• The USDA issued Class B licenses of C.C. Baird and daughter, Jeanette, were PERMANENTLY REVOKED
• The USDA issued Class A licenses of Bairds wife, Patsy, and daughter Patricia, were PERMANENTLY REVOKED
• Baird and his wife were required to pay a civil penalty of $250,000
• C.C. Baird was personally assessed an additional civil penalty of $12,700
• The combined $262,700 penalties represent the largest civil penalty ever assessed and paid in an Animal Welfare Act case
• A five year probation including a penalty of $250,000 if any Baird is caught engaging in any activities under which their licenses were revoked

Separate from his civil case, Baird was also federally charged with conspiracy to launder money to which he pleaded guilty on August 30, 2005. Baird's guilty plea stemmed from his monetary transactions in criminally derived property (dogs and cats) to research facilities. Patsy Baird pleaded guilty to misprision of felony mail fraud (misprision is neglect in preventing or reporting a crime).

The federal charges against Baird were NOT for animal abuse. An animal abuse charge in the State of Arkansas is only a misdemeanor; therefore the U.S. Attorney deliberately went after Baird on federal charges to attempt a felony conviction. Bairds violations of the Animal Welfare Act were handled in his civil case.

The outcome of Bairds federal charges are listed below:

Guilty plea on August 30, 2005:

• Criminal forfeiture of 700 acres of property, valued at approximately $1.1 million. The property includes the Baird residence, another house and their kennel facilities
• Criminal forfeiture of $200,000
• Partial reimbursement of $42,400 to animal rescue organizations involved in taking all the animals after they were relinquished from Bairds Martin Creek Kennels

Federal sentencing on July 14th, 2006:

• 3 years probation for C.C. Baird including 6 months home detention.
• 2 years probation for Patsy Baird.
• $7,500 fine for C.C. and $2,500 for Patsy; $10,000 combined fines due in 30 days.

C.C. BAIRDS CASE SETS IMPORTANT PRECEDENT!

C.C. Baird is the first Class B dealer to be convicted of money laundering due to his Class "B" dealer activities. Due to this, future animal abusers like Baird are expected to face prison time for their offenses.

During the sentencing for the federal charges, C.C. Baird asked Judge J. Leon Holmes of the U.S. District for Eastern Arkansas for leniency.

"He was basically kissing the floor of the court room. It was pitiful. I would have liked to see him do hard time, but it was much more important to set a precedent for future violators of the Animal Welfare Act," said Chris DeRose, LCA President.

Judge Holmes admonished Baird for his crimes and then advised Baird that he was fully prepared to sentence him to prison, but reconsidered because of a motion filed by the government for a lesser sentence in response to Bairds substantial assistance to the USDA and others in multiple ongoing investigations.

Baird consented to an on-camera interview initiated by LCA President Chris DeRose regarding the theft of companion animals for medical research. Bairds interview provided incriminating evidence against the entire "B" dealer system and the USDA. Bairds interview is part of the LCA documentary titled, The Case Against B Dealers. The documentary includes Bairds interview and interviews with other USDA licensed "B" dealers and documents the failure of the USDA/APHIS to enforce the Animal Welfare Act to protect America's companion animals from ending up in research laboratories. Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and U.S. Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA) and English (R-PA), are sponsors of the Pet Safety and Protection Act (H.R. 5229, S.451). Both Dealing Dogs and The Case Against B Dealers are crucial pieces of documentation that will help get The Pet Safety and Protection Act (PSPA) passed. The PSPA will amend the Animal Welfare Act by making B dealers an illegal source of animals for research, effectively putting all the remaining Class B dealers out of business.

Lots of hard work spanning many years was put into Bairds case by LCA. In addition to the sentences/penalties listed above, there are other positive outcomes in this case, such as:

• Baird operated as a Class B dealer for over 15 years, and now that he is out of business, thousands of animals will be spared from ending up in Bairds horrendous facility
• The numerous dogs and cats confiscated from Bairds property have all been adopted into loving homes
• The Bairds are now convicted felons -- several fundamental rights have been taken away from them, including voting and carrying firearms
• The Bairds annual income has dropped dramatically from their B dealer activities of approx $500,000, to $60,000 working for a construction company in Texas
• HBO America Undercover aired Dealing Dogs, a documentary on LCAs undercover investigation into C.C. Baird. As a result, millions of Americans became aware of the horrors of the pet theft trade and that companion animals are ending up in research facilities
• Most importantly, the Baird felony case has set precedent for future violators of the Animal Welfare Act

Indigo Rescue's newest campaign message

Shelter overpopulation is EVERYONE’s responsibility

Been to one of our animal shelters lately? Did you find yourself walking the rows of kennels wondering how so many dogs and cats, who had obviously once been someone’s companion, ended up sitting forlorn in a cage, many of them without hope of leaving the shelter alive?

Our society is a self-absorbed one. We “get rid” of anything in our lives that we consider an inconvenience, including our companion animals. We dispose of them when they haven’t trained themselves, when we’re moving, when our new partners don’t want to deal with them, and when the doctor says they “might” be the source of our allergies.

As a rescue group, it’s frustrating to listen to the countless excuses people provide for giving up their animal companions. And it’s unfair to expect rescue groups or no-kill shelters to continue enabling the endless number of people who want to relieve their burden of guilt and responsibility by leaving their companion animals somewhere they won’t be euthanized.

Many other cats, dogs and other small animals are shamefully left at our county shelters or regional humane societies which do not have no-kill policies. In fact, last year over 9000 unwanted companion animals were killed in Portland area shelters alone. We certainly can’t blame the overcrowded shelters for killing them either. Our society is at fault for most of the death.

How do we change it?

If you know someone who wants to give up their pet, take the time to encourage them to keep their companion for its entire life. Offer to help them find a solution to whatever issue is causing them to want to give up their companion animal. Put forth the effort to discourage them from continuing this tragic cycle. If we want to make a difference, we all need to help in this effort.

Anti-abandonment Billboard Campaign

Current Location:   It's moved again.   Email us if you see it!.

History of Locations:

• SW 4th Ave and Burnside in Downtown Portland
• Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy at Shattuck Rd (facing East)
• 185th and TV Hwy in Hillsboro (facing East)
• I-84 in Troutdale (facing East)
• NE Halsey at 92nd Ave in Portland (facing East)

While you sit in traffic during your daily commute, keep your eyes peeled for our  billboard. It features a black and white photo of a young cat behind an iron fence, provided by the Humane Society of the United States. It has been mounted at various Portland metro area sites.  The AK Media billboard, a whopping 48 by 14 feet in size looks like the following and reads

"Leave a cat behind...  YOU COULD GO TO JAIL.   Animal abandonment is against the law!":

Let's hope it leaves a lasting impression!

Animal Abandonment in Oregon is a Class B Misdemeanor punishable by a $2500 fine and/or six months in jail.

Read more about the laws here.