see also: in April 2006 News Releases:   CBP Officers Seize Thousands of Dollars from Sentri Participant   CBP Nabs Murder Suspects at Two Different Port of Entries   Border Patrol’s BORSTAR Team Saving Lives   CBP Officers Seize Over Three Tons of Marijuana at Calexico Ports   CBP Border Patrol Agents Apprehend Wanted Fugitive Featured on America’s Most Wanted   Homeland Security Officials Unveil Latest Radiation Technology to Secure our Nation's Seaports   Rising Temperatures in South Texas Prompt Rescue Efforts ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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San Diego -- For the second time in as many days, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa passenger port of entry on Thursday morning discovered seven puppies hidden in a car as its driver entered the U.S. from Mexico, CBP officials announced today.

A CBP officer conducting pre-primary roving patrol in the northbound port traffic lanes at about 8:30 a.m. spotted the dogs under and in a small container behind the front seat of the red Ford Aspire sedan after receiving a negative customs declaration from the driver, a 60-year old Los Angeles man.

The driver and vehicle were escorted into the secondary inspection area where the animals, a Cocker Spaniel and six Poodles, were removed from the car and a call was made to the San Diego County Department of Animal Services.

An animal control officer responded to the port, placed the value of each puppy at $500 and took possession of the animals.

The driver’s car was seized by CBP and he was assessed a $3,500 civil penalty for failure to declare the animals.

CBP officers at the Otay Mesa port discovered 28 young puppies hidden in a Dodge van on Wednesday. The dogs were turned over to county animal control officers and the driver was fined, officials said.

Dogs may legally be brought into the U.S. under federal law if they are declared, free of evidence of communicable diseases and are accompanied with a valid rabies vaccination certificate. Puppies younger than three months of age also must be declared, free of evidence of communicable diseases and must be confined at a place of the owner’s choosing until they are three months old when they must be vaccinated against rabies. They will then have to stay in confinement for another 30 days following the vaccination.

Many states, counties and local municipalities have restrictions and prohibitions on pets that may be stricter than federal requirements.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of the nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.