EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso Animal Services said they are cracking down on illegal animal sales throughout the city limits.

Officers are targeting those selling animals on the side of the road without permits.

“People buy these dogs and they go home they breed them; these are your backyard breeders," said Officer Hugo Navarro, an Animal Services supervisor. "They cannot be selling or giving them away on the commercial property so we are out here issuing violations."

Navarro and his crew were out Saturday afternoon and found a 16-year-old boy selling a number of pit bull puppies. The boy and his mother were written citations that could total more than a $1,000 fine.

With more than 20,000 animals euthanized every year in El Paso, Navarro said that it is important to target those illegally selling animals.

"It's a lot of responsibility to have a pet. You just don't buy a dog off the street and put it in your back yard and forget about it,” Navarro said.