A 37-year-old individual has been apprehended and charged as the suspected perpetrator of ongoing animal cruelty following the demise of at least 15 animals on an old, abandoned farm in the El Tablero region, as announced by the Santa Cruz Local Police on Tuesday.
Eight additional individuals are believed to be implicated in this offence, according to a collaborative investigation conducted by the Local Police and the National Police which commenced last January.
The arrest of the suspect, identified as JPPS, was executed by officers from the National Police, who initiated the necessary investigation after the staff at the Valle Colino regional shelter alerted them, based on a citizen’s tip-off.
Subsequently, agents from the Urban Environment Protection group (Proteu) of the Santa Cruz Local Police discovered animals in deplorable conditions at the old, abandoned poultry farm, with others deceased and numerous skeletal remains of dogs and some sheep.
This operation occurred during the first week of January of the current year, when Local Police were contacted by Valle Colino personnel in response to a public complaint regarding the presence of loose dogs at the abandoned farm situated in El Tablero.
Initially, two dogs in good condition were found on the premises along with an individual residing in a building there.
The police action at that time was restricted to enforcing the municipal ordinance concerning the Protection and Ownership of Animals, although JPPS soon arrived, asserting his ownership of the two dogs, which lacked documentation.
This man also claimed to have 19 sheep on the property, although he failed to present any documentation. At that point, the Proteu agents sought to inspect the remainder of the farm and discovered two hound dogs tied up, one deceased and the other in a very frail state.
A drum filled with dog bones, collars, and leashes was also uncovered, along with several secure points in the wall intended for tying animals.
Due to the hazardous hygienic and sanitary conditions of the farm, it was necessary to arrange for fumigation work to continue gathering evidence, much of which supports this case.
The unsanitary conditions and the detected abuse necessitated an urgent intervention, leading to the subsequent joint police investigation.
Documentation was also compiled to be forwarded to the General Directorate of Livestock of the Government of the Canary Islands regarding the potential livestock exploitation on this farm.
The primary defendant, along with others implicated, could face monetary penalties under the Animal Rights and Welfare Protection Law, which could total up to approximately 620,000 euros.
Indeed, the visual inspections performed on the farm, along with the testimonies gathered and the verification of some deceased specimens, allow for a direct attribution of the deaths of 15 animals due to mistreatment to JPPS.
Among the factors confirmed by the law enforcement officials engaged in this case is that the animals lacked access to food and water, with many being restrained by very short chains, which led to a prolonged demise due to starvation, as highlighted in the veterinary assessments conducted.
A type of gallows rope was also discovered, commonly utilised for executing dogs, particularly those employed in hunting, when they no longer serve a purpose.
Numerous corpses and emaciated dogs located at the scene were from breeds specifically trained for hunting activities.
Through the meticulous identification process of many of the animals, it was found that some of the deceased had the obligatory microchip, allowing for the determination of potential culpabilities among those involved, to varying degrees.
Since the initiation of this service, the relevant procedures have been forwarded to the courts in Tenerife, and many of the actions and information supplied by the police forces remain ongoing.
In this context, the Local Police emphasises that this operation generated significant public outrage in Tenerife following the circulation of several videos showing the conditions of this so-called “farm of horrors.”
This police operation was named Operation Twiggy after one of the hounds discovered in a state of malnutrition at this facility.
