The UFEMA ordered a raid due to an animal abuse complaint that resulted in the seizure of 67 animals, including exotic species, found in tiny cages and showing signs of malnutrition.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, through the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor’s Unit (UFEMA), carried out an inspection and raid operation in a commercial establishment in the Chacarita neighborhood, detecting serious irregularities in the possession and sale of wildlife.
The procedure, framed in case MPF 124839 and under the direction of Dr. Blas Matías Michenzi, sought to corroborate a previous complaint related to animal abuse.
The property, located on Avenida Federico Lacroze at 3900 and operating as a pet shop (Pet Shop), displayed to the public a variety of birds and exotic and domestic mammals in visibly inadequate conditions. The preliminary investigation by UFEMA determined that species such as canaries, Gouldian finches, guinea pigs, and Russian hamsters were in a critical overcrowding state, housed in small cages just upon entering the establishment.
The veterinary medical team present during the procedure confirmed that the animals had dull plumage, a clear indication of nutritional and environmental deficiency. The confinement was such that the birds could only hop instead of flying, due to the minimal dimensions of their enclosures.
In total, 67 animals were seized, including 26 canaries, 7 Java sparrows or Java sparrows, 4 Gouldian finches, 7 zebra finches, 9 manons, 4 guinea pigs, and 10 Russian hamsters.
In addition to the alleged crime of abuse, a violation of City Government regulations regarding the display and sale of animals was detected.
The store also sold medications without the proper pharmaceutical labeling and without the required traceability, and did not have a veterinary director to endorse the sale of drugs and animals.
As a result of the operation, which involved the participation of the Environmental Crimes Division of the City Police, the General Directorate of Environmental Control, and other agencies, the corresponding infringement records were drawn up.
The UFEMA ordered the total seizure of the animals, cages, and medications, with a combined estimated value of approximately $750,000 pesos. The animals were immediately transferred by the Police to a specialized NGO to receive the pertinent veterinary care and begin their conditioning and rehabilitation process.
