A settlement has been reached in the USDAs case against C.C. Baird -- one of the countrys largest USDA-licensed Class  animal dealers selling random source animals to research facilities. Many random source animals are stolen pets, strays, seized shelter animals, or obtained through free to good home ads under false pretenses.

As a result of a 15-year investigation by LCA, the USDA charged C.C. Baird with hundreds of violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
 
Cruelty/Violations  Sick/Injured Animals

A settlement was reached in Bairds case on January 24, 2005 and the case did not go to trial three days prior as scheduled. A consent decision was signed and finalized on Friday, January 28, 2005 and included the following terms:

The animal dealer licenses of C.C. Baird, his wife Patsy, and their two daughters, Patricia and Jeanette, have all been PERMANENTLY REVOKED.

Fines amounted to $262,700, the largest fines EVER imposed by the USDA/APHIS, which included a personal civil penalty of $12,700.

A five-year probation including a penalty of $250,000 (without further procedure) if any Baird is caught engaging in any activities under which their licenses were revoked.

C.C. Bairds "Martin Creek Kennels" is OUT OF BUSINESS FOR GOOD! 89 dogs and 146 cats, the last of the animals at Martin Creek Kennels, were removed from the premises shortly after the consent decision was filed.

CLICK HERE for information on locating your stolen pet or about adopting animals rescued from Martin Creek Kennels

LCAs INVESTIGATION
In September 2003, Last Chance for Animals (LCA) Special Investigations Unit (SIU) concluded a 15-year investigation into Class Dealers, cumulating in the bust of Americas largest and most notorious Class  Dealer, C.C. Baird. LCAs undercover investigations acquired over 70 hours of video surveillance footage, shot at Bairds facility "Martin Creek Kennels" detailing overwhelming amounts of cruelty, abuse, neglect, and unsanitary conditions, as well as dogs being shot to death on the property.

The SIUs information on Bairds Martin Creek Kennels was handed over to the U.S. Attorneys Office, who brought in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Postal Systems, Arkansas State Police, and the local Sheriffs Department. As a result, law enforcement officers descended upon Martin Creek Kennels, search warrant in hand, in a 6 a.m. dawn raid on August 26, 2003, and took over the animal facilities on the property.

This is the largest multi-agency investigation (Federal, State and Local) on any animal issue in U.S. history.

THE TORTURING AND KILLING OF ANIMALS AT THE NOTORIOUS MARTIN CREEK KENNELS HAS COME TO AN END!

LCA thanks you for all of your support on this case. Together we made a difference!