A gruesome discovery shocked Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires. More than 200 mutilated and embalmed animals were found in a house.
Additionally, authorities rescued over 50 pets in poor condition. However, the owner was released after a few hours of delay at the police station.
Over 200 embalmed and mutilated animals found: how the case unfolded
The discovery took place on Saturday at a residence located on Conesa Street, 200, almost at the corner of Bolívar.
This occurred following a report from a neighbor and animal welfare organizations who alerted about the conditions in which the animals were living on the premises.
After persistent efforts, the prosecutor Alejandra Lucía Núñez, in charge of the UFI No. 8 of the local Judicial Department, ordered a search of the property.
In the house, where there was also a large amount of garbage and accumulated objects, according to authorities, they found over 50 animals in overcrowded conditions.
“We’ve never seen anything like it”
The other shocking discovery was the more than 200 animal bodies found mutilated and others embalmed. In many cases, the animals living there were also consuming the remains of the deceased.
The case sparked strong outrage among neighbors and organizations that participated in the operation, sharing images and videos of the scenes found on social media. Among the most widely circulated was the one shared by El Campito Refugio.
“We’ve never seen anything like it”, they say at the beginning of the video. “We went at the request of @resguardando.almas and @santuariodeflorcita who took on a rescue that turned out to be impressive,” they mentioned on their social media.
According to reports, neighbors in the area had often noticed unpleasant odors coming from the location, but always believed it was a hoarder.
Volunteers from the NGOs Fauna Urbano, Resguardando Almas also participated in the rescue.
The homeowner, identified as the sole responsible party
The cats and dogs found were rescued and taken to shelters. On the other hand, the homeowner, identified as Carlos Gabriel Caimo, was accused of animal abuse.
However, the man was released after being detained. At the time of the operation, he argued that in his view they were “in good condition” and considered them “his children.” The NGOs that participated in the operation also requested help through social media to find temporary or permanent homes for the pets.
In addition to the conditions in which the animals were found, animal welfare organizations began investigating whether some of them may have been stolen or lost.
According to one of the rescuers’ lawyers, the issue with the accused’s penalty lies in the punishments established by current law. The legislation Law 14.346 does not provide for penalties exceeding one year of imprisonment.
What is the animal abuse law
Law 14.346 in Argentina establishes prison sentences for those who mistreat or commit acts of cruelty against animals. It also sets forth a series of requirements for the animal’s well-being.
It is the legal tool that penalizes individuals who subject certain species to violence.
Despite its age (from 1954), it remains a landmark in Latin American law and worldwide because it considers animals as “victims” of a criminal act and, in that way, grants them a legal status, or makes them subjects of law.
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