citation_inspection: 40131

Opie, a four-year-old neutered male corgi dog in good physical condition per the consignor and transporter, was accepted for consigned transport at approximately 1850 on 30December2022 in Townsend, Delaware. The dog was transported in a crate in the transporter’s minivan. The dog was delivered to the receiver in Jesup, Iowa on Iowa at approximately midmorning on 05January2023. The dog was found cold, stiff, and clearly deceased when the transporter and receiver opened the crate together in the transporter’s van in the midmorning of 05January2023 at the receiver’s site. The transporter was unaware that the dog had died while in his possession. This information was verified by the transporter and the Iowa receiver and further details are provided in the Field Service Report generated by the Captain of the Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) Animal Welfare Division, dated 06April2023. During a two-hour phone conversation held between the transporter, the Animal Care Transportation Specialist, and the Inspector on 07June2023 at 1 pm ET, the transporter was asked if he had received the required paperwork stating when the dog has last been offered food and water when he accepted the dog for transport. The transporter stated that he accepted the transport even though the required documents accompanying any transport were not provided by the consignor. By not obtaining the required documentation of when the dog had last been fed or watered, the transporter had no idea when the dog had last received nourishment. Not having and utilizing this information resulted in the transporter having no knowledge of when Opie should have been fed again (at least once every 24 hours per 3.17(a)) and watered again (every 12 hours per 3.17(a)) during the transport. The lack of knowledge of Opie’s prior nourishment status contributed to the starvation and dehydration death of this dog. The regulations state that carriers and intermediate handlers must not accept a dog for transport in commerce unless the consignor certifies in writing to the carrier that the dog was offered food and water during the 4 hours before delivery to the carrier. The certification must be securely attached to the outside of the primary enclosure in a manner that makes it easily noticed and read. Correct by 20June2023.