California has stopped destroying records that contain key details about the state's underground puppy market after a Times investigation found that some unscrupulous resellers import hundreds of dogs from the Midwest with little oversight. Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, confirmed that the records the agency receives are now being preserved, but offered few other details about how the state will use them.
Tom Umberg had called on the agriculture department to immediately cease destroying health certificates so that legislators and animal welfare officials can 'absorb the information that has come to light.' 'I have since received assurances from Secretary Ross that these documents are no longer being deleted, which is a relief,' Umberg said in a statement. Ross said the department has attempted to recover some of the destroyed records.