Alex on September 21, 2009, at 09:56AM – #1

I feel safer now, living downtown, knowing that the LAPD is out there spending tax money on busting those nefarious baby turtle vendors.

Jasmijn on September 21, 2009, at 10:28AM – #2

I hope more raids like this can be arranged to crack down on this cruel practice: cruel to the animals who are put in those conditions (unweaned, unwatered, too hot -- all issues discussed in earlier articles on this topic) and cruel to the children whose wonderful new pet dies soon after coming to their home (and who themselves, perhaps, catch salmonella from the baby turtle or iguana). Also cruel to the hardworking parents who let themselves be persuaded by their children's begging and the puppies' cuteness to spend $150 with that illegal vendor in the photo rather than on a healthy and monitored pup at the shelter. Perhaps more frequent raids will make this a less frequent situation, if only for the inconvenience they cause.

I don't feel any less safe on our streets because the LAPD detailed a few officers for a few hours to address this. Having read in the other articles about the vendors actually attacking people who even just appear to be too interested in the welfare of their wares, this is just as potentially violent an issue as many others. Thank you to all the involved services.

Fabrcio on September 21, 2009, at 01:04PM – #4

Well done. Now let's see what happens with these vendors. Do they pay a fine, go to jail? I'd like to see to what extent the LAPD makes sure this doesn't happen anymore. Also... the person that buys these animals should pay the same price as the vendors who sells them. On another note.. This is what is happening at the core of downtown Los Angeles in United States Of America?

Mary Cummins on September 21, 2009, at 01:16PM – #5

The animals confiscated are in the shelter here http://www.laanimalservices.com Search lost pet then look under "other" for all shelters. You can see the newborn bunnies, too young to adopt turtle/sliders and unweaned puppies. It's illegal to see newborns and unweaned animals, illegal to sell sliders under six inches in diameter. What will happen to all these animals? The puppies may be fostered but the rest will all die. Does it make sense to raid these pet stores when you will just kill the animals? The illegal pet stores pay their fines then go get more animals, cost of doing business. The City needs the power to permanently shut down the store. Slapping them on the wrist doesn't curb their illegal habits.

FTR bunnies are not good pets for kids. They are very sensitive and die easily.

Mary Cummins on September 21, 2009, at 04:18PM – #7

I've only seen the stores which they have raided in the past. The stores are intermixed in that fashion area. Last time I was there I saw a terrarium with mom hamster and juvie babies and a day old litter of babies. I told the owner he should separate mom and the newborns from the others. He told me to pound sand. He had another tiny bird cage with barely eyes open bunnies by themselves on the ground. They were too young to survive on their own. I checked out some pet food on the shelves and it was all expired off brands. I don't know how these tiny, dirty stores could have a pet store license even just to sell toys and food. I wish the Department could find a place for these animals before they confiscate them. Most are euthanized, though that may be better than their actual fate of dying slowly.

Angelcity on September 21, 2009, at 04:38PM – #8

Those "nefarious baby turtle vendors" are dangerous, violent people who have and will attack people who show the wrong interest in what they are doing. Besides it is illegal...I didn't realize the LAPD should pick and choose which crimes to inforce and which to ignore.

Valida on September 22, 2009, at 12:54AM – #10

@Alex I wonder how you would feel if you had been taken away from your mother at only 2 weeks old and left on a sidewalk to suffer in heat with no water? Those baby bunnies/pups need to be with their mothers until they are old enough to survive on their own...Most of these never make it. Trust me, I know first-hand...Yes, I understand that there are other crimes that need to be looked after, but surely there are enough resources in the world's richest country to take care of it all? Especially the needs of the most defenseless of beings? And yes, I feel a lot better knowing these people were arrested because anyone capable of cruelty to animals is capable of much greater crimes.

carlos on September 22, 2009, at 08:34AM – #11

agreed.. good job LAPD.. BUT we need to do ,more than just slap them with a fine.. do we know if these people are in the states legally? has anyone asked for a green card? calling INS might be another good move in scaring these people and making it harder for them set up shop and abuse these animals.. anything to make this illegal animal trading stop.

carlos on September 22, 2009, at 08:34AM – #12

agreed.. good job LAPD.. BUT we need to do ,more than just slap them with a fine.. do we know if these people are in the states legally? has anyone asked for a green card? calling INS might be another good move in scaring these people and making it harder for them set up shop and abuse these animals.. anything to make this illegal animal trading stop.

Alex on September 22, 2009, at 09:47AM – #13

I wonder if you all take the same stance about factory farming as you enjoy your bucket of chicken at KFC or most any American restaurant.

Jasmijn on September 22, 2009, at 11:42AM – #14

So... people who eat factory-farmed chicken are not allowed object to illegal baby animal sidewalk sales? Does that also apply to factory-farmed beef, or is it only the chicken? May people who wear leather object? Or are only the vegans ethically pure enough to be permitted to say "stop selling unweaned bunnies in the sun"?

One step at a time, Alex. It's a continuum, not all-or-nothing.

Alex on September 22, 2009, at 02:13PM – #15

if you think pet stores are any less cruel, you're really deluded by the gloss of a modern shopping mall; further, you would be equally as horrified by the treatment of animals the world over, including in this country, by the majority of the animal owning /selling population like in agricultural areas, neighborhoods of poverty (oh, like downtown), hunters, etc. -- all who laugh at people who dress their dogs in sweaters

no one discusses the cruelty of owning dogs in downtown lofts, where dogs suffer the boredom of living in a box, defecating / urinating on sidewalks and rarely being allowed to be what they are: animals in nature

Oscar on September 22, 2009, at 07:35PM – #16

I couldn't care less about animals, IN MY VERY PERSONAL OPINION treating animals like humans when there are other humans in the world who are dying of hunger, to me that is cruelty to humans.

I can't wait to have a child of my own asking me for a pet and be able to explain him that all of the other children he knows that have pets are little spoiled brats whose parents are either uneducated ignorants or rich SOBs that don't have a clue of what's going on in the world.

That being said (and really hoping I made some people angry but hopefully they will also think about my point here) I am against PETS trading, legal or illegal, and yes I also think that those morons caught in the alley should be put in jail and/or be thrown out of the country (and yes I'm an immigrant myself but I think immigrants should behave or be thrown out).

But what really annoys me is all those comments directed towards the LAPD, it is not their fault nor I think they should be WASTING resources on this.

This is a political situation, the people we really have to pressure is our politicians (Jane Perry, Jose Huizar, Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, anyone?) and then when we have a law that will give jail time to pet traders and even go after the people that knowingly help them (like those landlords that know that a pet store is working on their property) then we can give the LAPD some heat for not applying the law.

In the meantime what is the point of spending all that money when is not going to solve the problem, but hey, covering the sun with a finger is fun... until you go blind!

ChattyCathy on September 23, 2009, at 04:48AM – #17

We should be sensitive to the suffering of all worldly creatures, human and animals alike.

Bless you Ed Fuentes for bringing this story to light. I want to shake your hand. Ed, you are truly a great person. I applaud you. I also need to write our police chief on a job well done.

Love on September 23, 2009, at 09:38AM – #18

I love Oscar.