From a friend;
Had my first taste of ugly dog trafficking today. This trailer packed full of dogs and puppies stopped at our hotel in Allentown PA this evening.
I took this picture and wandered down closer. Crates stacked floor to ceiling, most had multiple dogs in them. Dozens of people walked dogs ohhing and awwing. The transport owner stepped in front of me and asked what I wanted. I looked in the trailer and said really? If a breeder ever had that many dogs packed into crates like like they’d be crucified. Someone said “he’s not a breeder, he’s a rescuer!” I said how much to transport? He said I only charge $185 a dog. I said no you’re not a dog breeder, you’re a dog trafficker.
I started to walk away and he stepped in front of me and wouldn’t let me pass. I said please get out of my face. He screamed at me “I’M IN YOUR FACE”, with a lovely spray of spit. I probably should have called the police right then but I must tell you crowd was getting rabid. One woman screamed at me I was an asshole and I should get my head out of my ass. If they had rocks, I think I would have been pelted.
Boy, people are losing their heads and brains when it comes to this nonsense. My educated guess on his take for this transport? At least 150 dogs in this trailer. A neat $27,750. It’s just a damned shame people don’t get this concerned about hungry, poor children in this country than they do about this supposed load of these poor Texas dogs heading to the Northeast for adoption.
The ultimate virtue signalling accessory, so-called “rescues” are being farmed, imported, and sometimes stolen to supply the insatiable demand. Don’t fall for this scam.
An update — the original writer of this account has now withdrawn her Facebook post from public view, due to threats and abuse from purported dog rescuers, (some of which you can read for yourself in the comments here). Nice people, these.
Sept.20th Update: A look inside the tax returns and more.
I’m not posting anonymously. My name is Tom Narkin. I am easy to find. The author of this article has a lot of errors in what she has written. I am a volunteer for Rescue Road Trips in Allentown and can testify that these dogs ARE being rescued from a cruel end, being delivered to great homes (including in one instance my own home), and the operator is living a very modest life. The author cannot count (150 ?), can’t hear well (those rooftop ACs were running as they did all summer, and while I didn’t see the personal exchange she claims, I’d vouch for Mr. Mahle without reservation. As with everything, don’t believe it just because it’s written on the Internet. Find your own facts.
Please explain the problem. The dogs are being transported to a part of the country where they’ll be placed in homes that have been screened carefully. Is the problem that a person is getting paid for providing a service? Is the problem that you’ve made the determination that he’s being overpaid and you’ve chosen not to share the numbers by which you made the judgment that he’s being overpaid?
Prepare to be banned LOL. You don’t get speak out against the queen.
ewe forgot to use OCCAMS ELECTRIC RAZOR, butt I forgive ewe Mr McBates
beware of do-gooders doing “good” for mucho money……(a-la the Clinton’s w/ the Clinton “Foundation”)
Heh, sure got the cat lady types upset…
That can’t be true. The last 5 dogs we have had all were rescues. Several from the county shelters, one was a stray, one was from a private owner, and the last was from Justin Bartlett. Every one of them have been great dogs.
“The kristans!”
BTW: ewe spelt Bible Thumpers wrong
Nice to see someone use their brains for a change. I feel the same way. Funny how that animal shelter’s heating system and electrical system has no effect whatsoever on climate change, but I leave my car idle in front of the garage so I can check the transmission fluid, and I get dirty looks from my NDP neighbor who burns logs in her fireplace all winter.
OK, asshole.
Here’s another reference:
http://www.today.com/news/puppy-rescuer-takes-dogs-4-200-mile-odyssey-loving-arms-2D79517768
“It’s different when we stack cages three high, end to end.”
I suppose Michigan must be different from Ontario, either that or just most dogs are lucky not to be your dogs.
“Yup. There you have it, folks. The new breed. If it’s on a website or faceb**k page…”
Says a guy who contributes to comments on a blog under a post reprinting what was said on another blog. Yeah, you’re so much better.
Queen Bee better have insurance. Assembling a defense against libel can be expensive.
Queen Bee better have insurance. Assembling a defense against a libel court action can become very expensive.
“None of the people who are outraged about animals are outraged about aborted babies.”
I am.
“None of them go on blogs and cry at the babies being ripped out of their mothers’ wombs and tossed into garbage bags”
I went on record many times about that.
“None of them have been outraged at the news, backed up by video interviews, that baby parts are being sold.”
Bull$hit again.
“And do these fanatical animal lovers give a damn that while they’re providing food for these animals that children are starving? NO.”
Nor they should. F*** the turd world and starving turd worlders. They are not only beyond help, they are unworthy. The sooner they starve the better.
“And do these fanatical animal lovers give a damn that while they’re providing food for these animals that children are starving? NO.”
If only Africa had enough mosquito nets we could save billions of mosquitoes from needlessly dieing from AIDS.
My friends do not not leave excrement and urine where I take my my grandchildren, except those places are are getting harder to find.
Err… there would be a libel action for what? Publishing her own POV in her own blog about what she personally saw, and what happened to her when she tried to leave the area? You do realize that failing to move out of the way of someone (especially blocking their ability to leave) is legally considered holding someone prisoner, don’t you? Which is not a misdemeanor in most states, I imagine. Spitting on someone is considered an assault, with AIDS and God knows what else can be carried in bodily fluids. That too is not a misdemeanor.
And why would this driver file a slander or libel suit if (as that other article states) he makes so little income on these trips that it’s barely enough to survive? How could he afford an attorney? Or the filing fees? He used to be a restaurant manager; but now he does this twice a month even though it barely covers the bills and keeps him on the road ten days-ish a month? Maybe the 501(c)3 group would provide an attorney for him? Would someone do this for free? Why? How in the world does he support himself if he is on the road making barely enough to break even ten days out of the month? Does his wife make that much money to cover his absence from however he earns his money the rest of the time?
So many questions… I wonder if a FOIA request for this organizations data would show that this guy is paid a salary for his work, which would have nothing to do with the transport fees? After all, the group does a lot of fundraising, doesn’t it? I wonder… again, more questions than answers. Fascinating.
Err… there would be a libel action for what? Publishing her own POV in her own blog about what she personally saw, and what happened to her when she tried to leave the area? You do realize that failing to move out of the way of someone (especially blocking their ability to leave) is legally considered holding someone prisoner, don’t you? Which is not a misdemeanor in most states, I imagine. Spitting on someone is considered an assault, with AIDS and God knows what else can be carried in bodily fluids. That too is not a misdemeanor.
And why would this driver file a slander or libel suit if (as that other article states) he makes so little income on these trips that it’s barely enough to survive? How could he afford an attorney? Or the filing fees? He used to be a restaurant manager; but now he does this twice a month even though it barely covers the bills and keeps him on the road ten days-ish a month? Maybe the 501(c)3 group would provide an attorney for him? Would someone do this for free? Why? How in the world does he support himself if he is on the road making barely enough to break even ten days out of the month? Does his wife make that much money to cover his absence from however he earns his money the rest of the time?
So many questions… I wonder if a FOIA request for this organizations data would show that this guy is paid a salary for his work, which would have nothing to do with the transport fees? After all, the group does a lot of fundraising, doesn’t it? I wonder… again, more questions than answers. Fascinating.
Err… there would be a libel action for what? Publishing her own POV in her own blog about what she personally saw, and what happened to her when she tried to leave the area? You do realize that failing to move out of the way of someone (especially blocking their ability to leave) is legally considered holding someone prisoner, don’t you? Which is not a misdemeanor in most states, I imagine. Spitting on someone is considered an assault, with AIDS and God knows what else can be carried in bodily fluids. That too is not a misdemeanor.
And why would this driver file a slander or libel suit if (as that other article states) he makes so little income on these trips that it’s barely enough to survive? How could he afford an attorney? Or the filing fees? He used to be a restaurant manager; but now he does this twice a month even though it barely covers the bills and keeps him on the road ten days-ish a month? Maybe the 501(c)3 group would provide an attorney for him? Would someone do this for free? Why? How in the world does he support himself if he is on the road making barely enough to break even ten days out of the month? Does his wife make that much money to cover his absence from however he earns his money the rest of the time?
So many questions… I wonder if a FOIA request for this organizations data would show that this guy is paid a salary for his work, which would have nothing to do with the transport fees? After all, the group does a lot of fundraising, doesn’t it? I wonder… again, more questions than answers. Fascinating.
This is a horribly misleading article. I did rescue for 7 years and put probably 1000 labs on this exact transport with this man, Greg Mahle, who is a SAINT. These are dogs who were scheduled to be euthanized in TX pounds, and we worked with New England rescues to get them up north, where they DON’T have an overpopulation problem because of spay/neuter laws and responsible ownership. He earns every cent of what he charges (rescues and adopters pay the fee GLADLY) and the unwanted dogs end up, after 3 days, with the life they deserved in the first place. I HOPE NOT ONE PERSON BELIEVES THIS NONSENSE. Go deal with the Amish and their puppy mills if you want to pick a much needed fight.
Where’s the proof that these dogs could not be adopted locally; that the only choice was to ship them over a thousand miles?
And the conditions of shipment deserve a LOT of scrutiny. If a breeder provided the same level of care as what the dogs in the truck went through, the breeder would be brought up on charges of abuse. There cannot be two standards; what is expected of breeders by the PETA hate-mongers must be expected of the self-proclaimed “rescue facilitators”.
There’s another very ugly side to all of this. The “rescue” outfits cherry-pick the dogs most likely to be adopted; they select very carefully by breed, age, health, etc.
So, the various local adoption centers end up with the outcasts – dogs with health issues; older dogs; “mutts” of no particular breeding. They have to try and place many dogs who are gentle, loving, responsive, and wonderful with people – but these dogs have been “condemned” by not being sufficiently purebred, young, or free of any care issues.
I have zero tolerance for so-called “rescue” groups that ship dogs interstate. I have seen far to much first-hand evidence that the dogs they are cherry-picking from the system would have had no problem being adopted locally.
I’m not a dog person, I’m a cat person. And other than my very first cat (bought direct from a breeder) every cat since then has been a rescue. The rescue centers have been easy to deal with, ready to help in any way they can, and totally committed to the well being of the animals they foster.
If there were justice in this world, the driver of that truck would have been arrested on charges virtually identical to those involved in trafficking of human illegals….
“If a breeder provided the same level of care as what the dogs in the truck went through, the breeder would be brought up on charges of abuse.”
Yes it is very stupid and harmful law that is aimed at hurting breeders the law should be abolished instead of expanded to harm others.
It says right on his website he’s transported up to 150 dogs. Being generous, that trailer has about 340 square feet of floor space. That’s about 2 square feet per dog. Subtract a 2ft x 40ft aisle and that leaves 1.7 square feet per dog. A big dog couldn’t even lay down in that space. Even if he stacked the crates and doubles the space, it’s still only 3.4 square feet per dog.
I’m sure it’s less than that if he sleeps in the trailer like he says…
If you look at that trailer you can easily stack crates three high for medium breed dogs, up to seven high for toy dogs. Give it up, there is nothing inhumane in the way these are transported. Have you ever been to dog show? The breeder I got my last retriever from can transport up to five adult retrievers in crates in a minivan with removed middle and back row seats.
You may want to check your information. In 1800, there were hundreds of breeds of dogs the world over. In the ensuing 200 plus years, more breeds formed to fill different niches.
If you look at that trailer you can easily stack crates three high for medium breed dogs, up to seven high for toy dogs.
They must look a sight after a couple thousand miles with all the vomit, urine and feces dripping down on the lower dogs…still less than 5 square feet per dog stacked three high.
These rescues are 90 percent MUTTS. It has nothing to do with breeding of purebred dogs. Responsible breeders try to eliminate the genetic problems. Shipping up all these mutts from the south only encourages people there to continue to allow their mutts to breed. Spend some of that money spaying and neutering if there is such an over population down there.
Hundreds you say? Perhaps I will have to adjust my upper number accordingly.
Must be 1000’s of ‘niche’ breeds today.
So I’ll point out the difference: I made no comment on the veracity of this story.
Good girl. Now add it to your facwbook page.
My breed is docked. There is a reason for docking. Have you ever seen a dog with “happy tail”? That’s what it’s called when they whack their tail on a hard object and split it open. Tails are incredibly difficult to heal and often end up being amputated. It’s much kinder and easier to do it when the dog is 2 days old and hardly feels a thing because their nerves are not fully developed yet. Springers are hunting dogs and those tails get caught in fences, brush, and burrs. They’re also very excitable dogs whose tails go everywhere and do smack against hard objects. Docking isn’t just for looks, it’s important for the well-being of our dogs.
So according to you (who is too fearful to post a name mind you) the pet overpop problem is then over~ You did say that this dog trafficker is taking dogs to areas where there are not enough dogs for adopters! I still call bullshit
I don’t know how someone who has no clue as to what their talking about can be applauded. These dogs are all rescued from the shelters or streets. I personally have fostered for one of the rescues and know that they spend more to take care of the animals they rescue then they will ever see come in for adoption fees. Dogs from the shelters and streets aren’t healthy and sometimes have to be treated for heartworms, dental, leg injuries and multiple other issues that’s taken care of before these dogs are even adoptable.
I bet your friend who considers debarking her dog as a plus wouldn’t spend the time and effort that the rescues put into saving these dogs.
We rescuers and fosters put our heart and soul into the care of these forgotten and abandoned animals. We help the abused and sick animals. When we can’t save one due to distemper or parvo or really advanced heartworms because the people who were supposed to care for them didn’t vaccinate or give them a monthly prevention our hearts break and we cry.
When we have our fosters adopted and they’re in their forever homes and being spoiled like they deserve we are all happy. I personally keep in touch with most of my fosters forever homes as do a lot of other fosters.
Fostering saves lives of the animals that would’ve been euthanized in shelters or died on the streets.
I don’t know how someone who has no clue as to what their talking about can be applauded. These dogs are all rescued from the shelters or streets. I personally have fostered for one of the rescues and know that they spend more to take care of the animals they rescue then they will ever see come in for adoption fees. Dogs from the shelters and streets aren’t healthy and sometimes have to be treated for heartworms, dental, leg injuries and multiple other issues that’s taken care of before these dogs are even adoptable.
I bet your friend who considers debarking her dog as a plus wouldn’t spend the time and effort that the rescues put into saving these dogs.
We rescuers and fosters put our heart and soul into the care of these forgotten and abandoned animals. We help the abused and sick animals. When we can’t save one due to distemper or parvo or really advanced heartworms because the people who were supposed to care for them didn’t vaccinate or give them a monthly prevention our hearts break and we cry.
When we have our fosters adopted and they’re in their forever homes and being spoiled like they deserve we are all happy. I personally keep in touch with most of my fosters forever homes as do a lot of other fosters.
Fostering saves lives of the animals that would’ve been euthanized in shelters or died on the streets.
At the moment I’m sitting up in the bush (on a rez) waiting for the weather to clear so I can fly out on a float plane. You wanna see dogs that need a rescue -check out a rez. They are everywhere all bid. Probably never saw a vet ever. You guys that want to just do good work should get on these rez dogs. Never seen a rez that didn’t have a dog problem.
Fostering saves lives of the animals that would’ve been euthanized in shelters or died on the streets.
What about all the other livestock? Thousands of cattle are ‘euthanized’ every day…some livestock more equal than others?
“The ultimate virtue signalling accessory”…
Really? The *ultimate* virtue signalling accessory??? You mean, there’s nothing on college campuses exceeding this?
Kate, you’ve got to stop ranting when people decide to get a pet from other than an Officially Approved Purebreed Breeder [TM]. Please.
You don’t buy a dog from the spca, you rescue one. Some have been abused, others neglected, all failed by humans charged with their care. You pay them so they can save another life because you covered SOME of your new dog’s vet care while with them. You have to go slow, with love and patience. If you’re not dog savvy, behavioralists will almost always give free advice to help both you and the animal. Stinks your dead dog went out of the fire and right back into the flame. The spca should have done more to prepare you and you should have reached out for help – if you didn’t. Not judging you – but advice if you rescue again. Some shelters are why people give up on rescuing and start buying puppies. Others do so out of ignorance like my husband did while we were dating and others out of laziness. It takes time and effort to make a shelter dog feel loved. Not just feeding it twice a day. And some of these transporters need to be fined and jailed for animal abuse.
You people are what’s wrong with everything going on here. You want proof that dogs can’t be adopted here in Texas? How about call a shelter down here and find out. It’s because of idiots like you breeders/dog snobs who keep the over population sky rocketing that there are too many dogs down here already that we have to send them up there. All you’ll are worried about is the perfect dog blah blah blah. It is not dog trafficking you morons. It’s the dogs ride to freedom. Yes he charges to transport them and who cares. What’s the difference? You make dogs have sex and take their puppies and sell them for 1k plus and make a profit on you just sitting there! So what makes you any better than him? He does this and really does barely break even. At twice a month do you know how much fuel and maintenance it takes? My wife runs one of the rescues that uses rescue road trips, and I am damn proud of her. And I have personally met the operator of the truck Greg and he’s a great guy. I don’t believe for one second that he yelled at you. But I’d be damn happy if he would have! I know I would have had you been snooping on my business. How would you like it VICKI KUBIC (original post writer and supposed friend of blogger) if we came to your puppy mill and started criticizing you?????
You people are what’s wrong with everything going on here. You want proof that dogs can’t be adopted here in Texas? How about call a shelter down here and find out. It’s because of idiots like you breeders/dog snobs who keep the over population sky rocketing that there are too many dogs down here already that we have to send them up there. All you’ll are worried about is the perfect dog blah blah blah. It is not dog trafficking you morons. It’s the dogs ride to freedom. Yes he charges to transport them and who cares. What’s the difference? You make dogs have sex and take their puppies and sell them for 1k plus and make a profit on you just sitting there! So what makes you any better than him? He does this and really does barely break even. At twice a month do you know how much fuel and maintenance it takes? My wife runs one of the rescues that uses rescue road trips, and I am damn proud of her. And I have personally met the operator of the truck Greg and he’s a great guy. I don’t believe for one second that he yelled at you. But I’d be damn happy if he would have! I know I would have had you been snooping on my business. How would you like it VICKI KUBIC (original post writer and supposed friend of blogger) if we came to your puppy mill and started criticizing you?????
Many or most of today’s breeds existed back then, they just weren’t cataloged as such. For example, we now recognize a couple dozen sighthound breeds that have existed for millennia and developed as local varieties of the working landrace. The same goes for collies, terriers, etc.
Yes, Rescue Road Trips, a 501(c)(3) organization with all necessary licenses and that is the subject of a New York Times Bestseller is some sort of animal trafficker. Please. Before you post libelous information on the internet I suggest you read the book, and do the research, and talk to people who have actually worked with the organization. I adopted my dog from a rescue in Texas, and he was transported here to New England by Greg and his amazing staff. The dog I adopted had spent MONTHS at the rescue waiting to be adopted after being rescued from the streets in terrible condition. He arrived to me fully treated for heartworm, spayed, micro-chipped, clean, well-fed and happy. He has been a joyful addition to my family. I believe in adopting, not buying, pets. But even if I didn’t, I simply could not afford the ridiculous prices breeders in the Northeast are charging. You take your chances with any animal, and all pets require training and love to fit into the human world. The bottom line is every person who wants to love and care for a pet has the right to obtain that pet any way they choose. It does not mean that uninformed, self-serving internet posters get to spread hateful lies about an organization they know about only from seeing a transport trailer in a parking lot. Step away from the computer if you aren’t willing to inform yourself before posting.
Kate,I’m sorry to have to be the one to break it to you but you are an idiot. My rescue has three dogs on that truck and each one of them came from the streets of Houston and the hundreds we have transported before them via Rescue Road Trip all came from the streets or high kill shelters. These dogs would be dead if it weren’t for Rescue Road Trips, each dog on that trailer has been spayed/neutered vaccinated and fully vetted and has a health certificate to travel. Each dog was loved by its foster family before being entrusted to Rescue Road Trips for the three day air conditioned journey to their forever home. The amount of love, time and money involved in this labor of love is probably more than you can wrap your head around but with propaganda like this if you turn even one person off of adoption YOU WILL HAVE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS!!! Dogs in the south will DIE bc of these LIES. The only thing factual about your friends post was the location! Take this post down, if you care about dogs in the least bit!
“Mongrels live longer. We all know that.” no we do not “all” know that because it is not true/ Meanwhile if you want a great dog and do not insist upon wearing a halo.. buy one from a good breeder or pet shop. Go to a few shows talk to the owners of the dogs you find attractive..that is the way to keep dogs out of shelters Rescues like this are a scam
Worst I had was my $1500 English Bull Terrier that nearly killed my neighbors dog and was put down last month as it was 3rd strike. maybe you needed to keep your dog fenced and under control
You don’t buy a dog from the spca, you rescue one.
I have some cattle I’d let you rescue before they’re killed…some fees may apply. I feel really sorry for them, but can’t afford to keep them any longer…Or are some livestock more equal than others?
…I think that trailer would probably haul 20 head…he hauls so cheap…of course you can’t stack them up…and think how much more virtuous you’d feel than those who do nothing 🙂
Jan you are dumb. So by breeding dogs over and over and over again and never spaying or neutering them is the answer to keep dogs out of the shelter? Haha your an idiot with idiot thinking. How do you know they are a good breeder, or a good pet shop. Most pet shop animals have more medical issues than you would know what to do with. As I have personally seen what having a pet shop dog is. I have seen several that have major medical issues that owners have surrendered due to medical issues. So carry on with your thinking Jan. Just know you are dumb!
Our rescue group had hoped to use this guy’s service to transport dogs to our partner groups. We can’t afford $185 per dog when we move 5 at a time. Plus, he won’t transport a dog that has just been wormed for parasites or who hasn’t been spayed/neutered. Many of our partners prefer to do the spay/neuter with their preferred vet. $185 is very high for transport.