B.C. woman fined US$5,000 after crossing U.S. border to rescue dogs

For years, Karyn Methven has travelled to Washington state to pick up rescue dogs bound for adoption in Canada. Asked how many dogs she has helped, she said, “It’s got to be in the thousands.” But she says a trip last month may bring those cross-border journeys to a halt.

Methven says she drove into the United States through a NEXUS lane, then picked up three rescue dogs in Washington. She returned to Canada through the commercial crossing with the animals and the required paperwork. While she was in line, U.S. Homeland Security officials determined she had not paid a required US$20 fee before entering the United States and should not have used the NEXUS lane when travelling south. Within weeks, she says, her NEXUS card was revoked and she received notice of a US$5,000 fine.

Methven said the officer was unlike others she had dealt with, who had been kind, polite and friendly. She also accused the officer of having “a vendetta.” In a statement to CTV News, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said NEXUS is intended for personal travel and cannot be used for commercial purposes. The agency said animals imported on behalf of rescue organizations or for adoption must go through appropriate procedures and meet all applicable customs requirements, including required user fees and manifest declarations.

Immigration lawyer Len Saunders, who is based in Blaine, Wash., said the penalty appears extreme. “It just seems to be completely out of proportion. It seems to be a complete waste of time, and I’m quite frankly shocked that they would take the time. It’s ridiculous,” he said. Earlier this month, CTV News reported on two other B.C. business owners who lost NEXUS privileges after failing to pay fees they said they did not know were required. Saunders said the cases mark a change from what he has seen over decades of practice. “I’ve never seen in 25 years these types of cases. It’s almost like they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel. They’re looking for people violating obscure laws,” he said.

Methven acknowledges she knew about the fee requirement, but says it has often been applied with discretion. She believes a warning would have been more appropriate. “I understand a zero-tolerance policy, but this is a bridge too far,” she said. Methven plans to appeal the decision. In the meantime, she is urging others travelling to the United States for commercial purposes to be especially cautious, research any required fees and keep detailed records. “Hit the regular lane or commercial. Don’t let this guy get you,” she said.