Turtle Soup - Part 2: The Chinatown Bust

Dear little childhood turtles,

I'm really sorry you died such a horrible death, but I hope this sort of makes up for it. This is for you.

Love,
Ana

The Scoop

On Sunday, August 25th, I went to Chinatown to take pictures of the baby turtles. At least NINE establishments were selling newborn red eared sliders, even after recent crackdowns on bunny and turtle sales in the downtown area.

With my phone voice recorder on, I walked into Yan Gift & Souvenir, while a couple walked out with a pair they had just purchased next door! I pretended to be on a phone call with my "son", who absolutely needed me to text him photos of the turtles so he could pick out the ones he wanted. The saleswoman seemed comfortable with me under these circumstances. I went outside where the poor things were sitting under the blazing sun in small, uncovered plastic boxes and a shallow puddle of water. They were no longer than 1.5 inches. 

Two Fo Fi Dollah

At Saigon Plaza, the saleswoman became very anxious when she saw me taking pictures. "No pictuh, no pictuh," she said. "Why can't I take pictures?" "No pictuh, no pictuh." That's all I got from her. I asked the salesman. He said they don't allow pictures of anything in their store (right), but that I could go ahead. Just then, another saleswoman approached me and tried to sell me the turtles I was photographing. "Two fo fi dollah! Newbohn, newbohn!" My phone was still recording.

The Real Task - Who to Call First?

1) First, I contacted PETA. They responded the next day and asked that I contact the FDA through their criminal investigations Web form as well as my local animal control agency.

2) I submitted two forms to the FDA but haven't heard back. Hopefully they're working on it...

3) I then called LA Animal Services and left a message with Mark Salazar, Director of Field Operations. 

4) Then I Facebook messaged Acting Lieutenant Annette Ramirez, of LA Animal Services, whom I had seen in an ABC7 News report from Oct. 2012: Public warned of illegal turtle, bunny sales in LA  Annette returned my call within the week! She was wonderful. She asked that I send her names and addresses, and she'd send over an officer. Unfortunately, she said that the sellers are relentless, and they'll keep coming back, that it is up to US to call and report, since they don't have the resources to send an officer for regular enforcement. More on this below.

5) Because these vendors are breaking a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service code, it is this organization that confiscates the turtles. I called the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service South Coast regional office and spoke to a nice woman named Sandra who interestedly asked that I email her the same info so she could forward it to enforcement.

6) I also contacted the investigative teams at ABC7 and at NBC4, who ran a great two-part investigative report last year about illegal bunny sales in the Fashion District. They are worth watching!  

Part 1: Investigation: Unhealthy Bunnies for Sale in LA's Fashion District
Part 2: Animal Traffickers Continue to Operate Illegally in Fashion District

7) Finally, as if by some mystic convergence of energies, three days after I went to Chinatown, Donna Evans published an article in the LA Downtown News, which has since been linked to by several other news sources: Illegal Turtle Sales in Chinatown Leave Some Shell-Shocked Thanks again, Donna, for spreading the word!

Where Do the Turtles Go?

An important question. I asked LA Animal Services and U.S. F&WS and have not yet received a sure answer but will update you when I get any info.

WHY is this Still Going On?

Many of these vendors are REPEAT offenders. According to NBC4, Juan Mena, the ring leader for illegal animal sales in the Fashion District, has already been arrested four times for illegal animal sales. He has also been charged with animal cruelty, assault with a firearm, and is on probation for battery. His "punishment": an unenforceable stay-away order forbidding him in that area. Good thing it's working. The cherry on top: he is in the country illegally! His wife has been arrested seven times!!!

This is not surprising. Illegal animal sales are only treated as a misdemeanor and a nifty $100 will bail ya out. 

There is evidently a HUGE gap in the law here. Risk vs. Reward??? It's no wonder they keep coming back.

Officials also passed a law that fines anyone who buys animals from these criminals up to $1,000 (if caught). Now that makes a lot of sense, given that most of the public is uninformed. Now, merchants in the Fashion District trying to protect the area have passed out flyers warning the public. There are also signs like the one on the left hung about 8 feet off the ground, with print to small too see, in obscure areas of downtown. (According to Wikipedia, there are five people over 7 ft tall still alive in the U.S. today, and none of them live in Los Angeles.) Either way, who is monitoring the buyers? 

What Now?

First, we fail to realize how much WE can do. Turtles are not the only victims. Puppies, bunnies, and birds are also in danger. If you spot illegal animal sales, just drop LA Animal Services a voicemail. It is EASY, and they WILL listen. Mark Salazar's number is 213-482-7455. 

Second, spread the word and share my blog!!!

Third, get informed.

I will continue to push on my end and keep you updated! Thank you PETA, Annette Ramirez and Sandra! Thank you NBC4 for your eye-opening reports!

I know up on the top you are seeing great sights, but down at the bottom we, too, should have rights. -Dr. Seuss, Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories



Helpful Reources
LA Animal Services website
LA Animal Services Department phone numbers
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Offices
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service South Coast Regional Office - 858-467-4201