According to the National Animal Interest Alliance:

"Rescue transport, “humane relocation,” or simply dog trafficking is the practice of rescues and shelters shipping dogs for adoption from regions where there is a surplus of dogs (other states, territories, or countries) into areas where there the problem of dog overpopulation has been largely solved. In theory, and on its surface, rescue transport may seem like a practical solution to the problem of surplus dogs. Under closer inspection and in practice, however, rescue transport has proven to be a way of transporting unknown dogs that often harbor contagious illnesses or parasites, health issues, and/or aggressive behavior, without accountability and without solving the issue of surplus dogs at its source.

NAIA has long opposed the practice of unfettered “humane relocation” as irresponsible, inhumane, and dangerous to the health and safety of both people and pets. At best it is well-intentioned but reckless, at its worst, it represents an inhumane and potentially lethal combination of cynicism and greed."

how does Pra fit into this definition of dog trafficking?

PRA also known as Pet Rescue Alliance claim to rescue dogs and transport strays from San Benito Texas to the DC area. However well intentioned this effort may have started, we have noticed that these "rescue" attempts and how they are handled are reckless and dogs/puppies who could otherwise still be alive have died in vein because the source issue in Texas is not being addressed. We have heard from former volunteers, witnesses, adopters, current, and former fosters that this effort is backfiring with contagious outbreaks due to the hoarding of dogs until transport, the transport process, and lack of vaccinations/veterinary care prior to transport. Sadly, we have found evidence of healthy puppies that have died under their neglect because the owner UMA does not seem to understand that dogs need to be fully vaccinated before being crammed in a van with other dogs who are sick and/or have not received proper medical attention. One instance reported by witnesses was an entire transport of 25 dogs were put down because of a distemper outbreak. We strongly believe this could have been avoided if all dogs were tested for distemper and not transported in addition to ensuring all dogs without distemper were properly vaccinated. Many witnesses have attested to numerous parvovirus related deaths. Casualties do sometimes happen in shelters, however, since they have no physical location where dogs are sheltered after transport, this should be easy to avoid. They meet fosters in commercial parking lots to release them to said fosters immediately upon arrival from Texas.

reports of neglect and profit opportunity during covid

There have been many reports of sick/dying dogs who were neglected by PRA in not providing veterinary care or allowing fosters the ability to take dogs to a vet unless they are not "eating, drinking, and pooping". Former volunteers have indicated that they strongly believe Uma's goal as the sole board member, owner of PRA, and individual recieving profits from solicited donations and adoption fees during Covid was to bring more puppies since the demand for puppies increased dramatically during Covid and many shelters were historically clearing out. It has been reported that the adoption fee was increased to $500 with no additional costs to PRA, but rather "flip" puppies. It has also been reported that puppies younger than 8 weeks of age and not properly weined from their mothers have died because of being transported and taken from their mothers too young. Additionally, it has been reported that a pregnant dog who was not medically cleared to travel from Texas to NOVA, and gave birth either during transport or right afterwards which put her and her puppies lives at risk.

unfounded blame, unproffesionalism, and false yelp reviews

She blames rejected adopters reviews on being disgruntled and takes no responsibility for the death, neglect, or contagious diseases caused by her feverish desire to irresponsibly transport dogs without adequate medical care or vaccinations. Since UMA is the sole deciding factor on who to adopt for, the pattern seems to be adopters who are willing to ask no questions seem to be the ones who get dogs and those who do have questions about medical records, transport, foster care, etc. are rejected with little to no reason as to why.

We also have reports of threats from UMA and friends to previous adopters/fosters/volunteers/yelp reviewers that speak up about these terrible and atrocious crimes against these innocent animals.

She publicly ridicules those who post on yelp, or have fake profiles do so. Instead of apologizing for negative experiences and attempting to turn a negative experience into a positive one, she seems to enjoy childish call outs in her responses. Even calls people liars in her responses.

They have even gone as far as to give out and publish online, personal information taken from adoption applications for further harassment and the compromise of personal information to those "disgruntled" and "unapproved adopters" who leave reviews.

money, greed, and deception

The $500 fee does not even include spay/neuter for dogs either according to our latest update. It was even reported that there were dogs up for adoption that had heartworm at the time. Instead of being treated for heartworm and adopted after completed treatment, it would be the adopters responsibility to treat for heartworm instead of being treated by fosters and before adoption. The expenses of heartworm treatment may have not seemed worth it to her, therefore resulting in risking the lives of these dogs as the earlier they receive treatment the less deadly heartworm is, the longer it takes, the more of a chance they have of dying.

There is irrefutable evidence that Uma also purchased puppies atleast on one documented and RECORDED instance from a breeder, who received up to 2 rounds of vaccinations from the breeder, but not all three which is required before being exposed to infected dogs. They were transported by her driver in San Benito who picked the puppies up with sick strays in the van and they all rode the long and probably traumatizing trip together from Texas to NOVA. These pups tragically died and she blamed the breeder who had evidence of a clean bill of health for the puppies prior to transfer. She also negotiated to pay less for these puppies than what she charges for adoption. The interaction from purchase to pick up of these puppies was recorded and is available on youtube and on the page about her interaction with the breeder.

theoretically based math founded on existing reports/witnesses

We believe that she has turned this "rescue" into a profitable business that solely relies on volunteers and volunteer fosters. There is no business location to pay rent for, no shelter to house dogs to pay for, no vet expense to pay for examining ALL the poor pups and treat them before transport, just volunteers and a dog trafficking van that goes to Texas to pick up purchased/sick/stray/lost dogs and drives them back illegally crammed together to Northern Virginia. The claim is that this is a non-profit, however, when you do the math - it's about $200 round trip in gas. You bring back 20 dogs per trip (we have been advised that the minimum is usually 25), that all go to volunteer fosters the moment their paws touch the greater dc area commercial parking lot pavement. You do not pay for veterinary examinations, vaccines, spay/neuter or treatment. You charge $500 per dog. That is $7,500 per Texas trip, which is made every weekend. In a year this is a total of $435,000. Let's subtract the gas from the van from this - 11,600. That leaves Uma with $423,400 to use for veterinary treatment and other costs that most rescues incur so let's subtract that - oh wait, those usual costs with sheltering, vetting, and caring for dogs don't exist!

is it worth it for the dogs, not uma, for pra to stay in business?

The question is, is it more humane for these dogs to stay in Texas and have a shot at getting rescued or purchased (for their breeder purchases), or get sick being crammed into a van with other dogs with contagious infections/diseases, traumatized from the overcrowded flea infested 1,500 mile/24 hour trip and potentially die unpleasantly to bring them to the area for $500 a piece? Or being adopted to a family that did not ask any questions, just forked up the $500 believing they are making an impact in the struggle to reduce homelessness. We have eye-witnesses and screenshots of falsified veterinary records from Texas which leads adopters to believe that they have healthy dogs and then are met with grief and heartbreak when they find out they adopted a sick dog/puppy that needs expensive treatment right away or give the dog/puppy back.

let's take action!

Sign the petition and/or Email us at EndDogTrafficking@gmail.com with your experience, evidence, or witnessing statement!

want more information?

Review the other pages on this site for evidence.