citation_inspection

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 6:50 PM ET 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 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 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. Additional detailed information is documented in the Field Service Report generated by the Captain of the Delaware Health and Social Services Animal Welfare Division, dated 06April2023. During a two-hour phone conversation held with the transporter, the Animal Care Transportation Specialist, and the Inspector on 07June2023 at 1 pm ET, the transporter stated that he had no knowledge or records of the frequency of or the times when he checked on the dog, provided it with appropriate husbandry, food and water, or when he last saw the dog alive. Upon discovery of the deceased dog, the receiver immediately took the body to their veterinarian, who conducted a necropsy soon after. The veterinarian stated in the necropsy report dated 05January2023 that “the patient was emaciated and covered with dirt and urine. After further examination, patient is severely dehydrated, eye are sucken in (sic), and has dark tar-like stools. Can confirm that patient was not fed or watered, due to severity of malnourishment.” The veterinarian stated by phone conversation with the Inspector on 15June2023 that "there was no ingesta in the stomach or small colon and only the dark tarry material in the large colon and the dog had been dead for at least 12 hours prior to the necropsy, based on the level of post-mortem changes." By not providing routine husbandry and health observations, and not providing food and water, the transporter did not ensure the dog’s continued good health, which resulted in serious compromise of its health and led to the starvation and dehydration death of this dog. The regulations state that handling of all animals shall be done as expeditiously and carefully as possible in a manner that does not cause trauma, overheating, excessive cooling, behavioral stress, physical harm, or unnecessary discomfort. Correct by 20June2023.

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.

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 6:50 PM ET 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 consignor and receiver had been told by the transporter that the transport would take approximately 2 days. The distance between the two locations is approximately 1040 miles, yet the transport took 5 days. The consignor and the receiver became concerned about the length of time the transporter was taking, as recorded in the detailed Field Service Report generated by the Captain of the Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) Animal Welfare Division, dated 06April2023. 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. The transporter was unaware that the dog had died while in his possession. This information was verified by the transporter and the Iowa receiver. 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 knowledge or records of when he fed and watered the dog during the 5-day transport. The transporter stated that he had no records of when he fed and watered the dog and provided no clear information on the type of food provided and at what frequency food and water were offered. The transporter was also unable to provide a travel itinerary or when/where he stopped during the 5-day transport. Although the transporter stated during the call that he did feed and water the dog (but provided no details or documentation), the necropsy report dated 05January2023 states that the “patient is severely dehydrated, eye are sucken in (sic), and has dark, tarlike stools. Can confirm that patient was not fed or watered during transport due to the severity of malnourishment." During a phone conversation on 15June2023 between the veterinarian who conducted the necropsy on 05January2023 and the Inspector, they stated that "there was no ingesta in the stomach or small colon and only the dark tarry material in the large colon. The dog had been dead for at least 12 hours prior to the necropsy, based on the level of post-mortem changes." Based on the information provided by the veterinarian conducting the necropsy the same morning of the discovered death of the dog, the transporter apparently did not feed the dog at least every 24 hours and water the dog at least every 12 hours, as required by the federal AWA. The transporter was unable to state or document when the dog was last fed or watered. The failure to provide food and water at the required intervals directly contributed to the starvation and dehydration death of this dog. The regulations state that each dog that is 16 weeks of age or more must be offered food at least once every 24 hours. Each dog must be offered palatable water at least once every 12 hours. Correct by 20June2023.

Opie, a four-year-old neutered male corgi dog in good physical condition, 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 deceased on arrival. 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 stated that the dog was allowed to roam about in the minivan during transport and that he took the dog out of the van on leash to walk him outside. A video of Opie being walked on a single leash outside on a sidewalk was sent to the consignor the day after transport started. A text message confirming that the dog was allowed to ride loose in the minivan was received by the consignor. Allowing the dog to roam loose in a moving vehicle put this dog at significant risk of injury and death should an accident have occurred. Walking the dog outside in an uncontained area put this dog at significant risk of escape or injury. The regulations state that removal during transportation in commerce is prohibited. Except during the cleaning of the primary enclosures, as required in 3.15(b), during transportation in commerce a dog must not be removed from its primary enclosure, unless it is placed in another primary enclosure or facility that meets the requirements of 3.6 or 3.15. Correct by 20June2023. This inspection and exit interview were conducted with the registrant. Additional Inspectors: CHAD MOORE, Transportation Field Specialist n