Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Animals deserve so much better than this, August 15, 2007
Before starting my review, I feel it's absolutely necessary to warn all viewers of what they are about to witness here. The secret video footage taken of the dogs along with the illegal, cruel, and inhumane activities in this kennel is deeply disturbing on many levels and it is very difficult to watch. I wanted to cry more than once while watching this program and I'm not afraid to admit this. The journey through this documentary is a heartbreaking one but the ending is rewarding and it makes the effort worthwhile.
Thousands of dogs are bought by research labs and veterinary schools every year in America. These animals are supplied by `Class A' dealers (they breed the dogs themselves) and `Class B' dealers (they buy dogs from the pound, shelters, and small breeders) and this latter category are the ones who have been known to regularly violate animal welfare laws meant to protect animals. Class B dealers are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to buy, house, and sell dogs. The USDA, through the federal Animal Welfare Act, is supposed to ensure the humane treatment of these dogs. Obviously they are failing in their responsibilities as this program clearly demonstrates.
In 2002, a small animal rights organization, Last Chance For Animals, began a 6 month undercover investigation of Martin Creek Kennel in Williford, Arkansas which happened to be America's most notorious Class B dog dealer. An investigator, known only as 'Pete', successfully infiltrated this kennel as an employee working for the owner C.C. Baird. After 6 months undercover and with over 70 hours of covert footage amassing evidence of hundreds of violations, Pete left the kennel.
After 9 months, the evidence was turned over to the U.S. Attorney's office in Little Rock, Arkansas where they began their own investigation. On August 26, 2003, a joint federal task force raided the Martin Creek Kennel and rescued 125 out of 600 dogs. Justice was agonizingly slow in coming. Finally, in January 2005, the USDA settled the civil case. C.C. Baird, his wife, and 2 daughters were charged with over 500 violations of the Animal Welfare Act. His license was permanently revoked to buy and sell animals and he was fined $262,700, the largest fine ever imposed under the Animal Welfare Act. However, the U.S. Attorney's criminal case was still ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Northeast Arkansans For Animals organization took the opportunity to prepare the previously rescued dogs for adoption. This is the most rewarding and satisfying footage of the program as it showed the dogs being loved and cared for. Every animal rescued from Martin Creek Kennel found a new home.
Further charges were brought against C.C Baird eight months later. Baird surrendered 700 acres of his land including his home and kennel, all worth 1.1 million dollars. He then surrendered $200,000 and paid $42,400 to animal rescue groups who cared for the animals seized in the 2003 raid. In July of 2006, Baird was sentenced to 3 years supervised probation, 6 months home detention, and fined $7,500.
Looking back now, I'm glad the penalties in this case were so severe yet somehow I don't feel it was enough. I think C.C. Baird should have done some serious jail time too but that's just my opinion. My 5 star rating for this program is dedicated to publicizing the message of out of control dog dealing, the courage and perseverance of Last Chance For Animals, and final justice for the detestable Martin Creek Kennel.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Indifference towards life is a difficult watch, May 19, 2009
This was a very difficult watch for any dog lover. I watched this with my dogs on my lap and by my feet and with tears on my face. I haven't seen this type of indifference towards life since watching documentaries on concentration camps. It is unfortunate to put it that way, but that is who these Arkansas rednecks resemble the most:Nazis. Hell cannot be hot enough in my opinion for these people.
The program is very well done and allows us as the viewers to understand the danger that the undercover activist is in. As an undercover informant he has to see(and share with us) such cruelty and large amounts of unnecessary deaths. If you plan on watching this with children present, you would probably want to preview it first and see that it would be a very bad idea. The hope all throughout the show is that the evil-doers will get punished. They do and they don't. The fines and losing of ones license (eventually) seem a little too much like the proverbial slap on the wrist.
The only way I see someone wanting to watch this possibly to convince someone about animal rights and cruelties. I don't see this as an entertainment type program, but it does help to inform about something that most of the country isn't aware of, especially my grateful happy dogs who are still wondering why I shed so many tears.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very sad and disturbing documentary., March 25, 2009
In short, this is a very disturbing documentary on one "Class B" dog dealer, and how they mistreated and abused the dogs held in their care. In the end, because of the efforts of a small animal rights organization who sent in an undercover investigator, the operation gets shut down by the feds, and the owner fined. There are also elements of hypocrisy in this film, such as when the owner is revealed as being the preacher of his small Christian church. The hypocrisy, of course being how can a religious and supposedly caring Christian disregard and abuse many of these beautiful, innocent animals?! It's hard to believe that this kind of stuff goes on in this day and age.
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