Smuggled pit bull seized by CBSA at Windsor-Detroit Tunnel

Canadian border officers briefly seized a pit bull from U.S. residents they allege were trying sell in Canada by smuggling it into the country through the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel in Windsor, Ont.

The Canada Border Services Agency claims three Michigan residents hid the undeclared dog in the hatchback of the car they were driving April 1. The CBSA made the incident public Monday.

It was found during an inspection of the car.

Officers also found a contract of sale for the dog, valuing him at $4,000 US, and registration paperwork describing the dog as a purebred.

The CBSA said in a news release its officers also had reason to believe the Canadian buyer encouraged the breeder not to declare the dog because Ontario legislation restricts ownership of pit bulls. 

Ontario banned pit bulls in August 2005, according to the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General's website. It says it is "against the law to bring pit bulls into Ontario, even for a short visit."

The CBSA also said the prospective buyer told the Michigan residents to not divulge the dog was coming to Canada for sale.

The dog was briefly seized at the border. The Michigan residents paid $1,037.68 CAN in fines and they and the dog returned to the U.S.