2 Arrests Made At Illegal Slaughterhouse In SW Miami-Dade
SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBSMiami) – Two people were arrested on charges of animal cruelty Friday at a location described as an illegal slaughterhouse in Southwest Miami-Dade.
According to the State Attorney's Office, Leonardo Dumenigo and his son Yainiel Proenza were arrested and charged with three counts of animal cruelty.
Miami-Dade Police say animals at the Parenza Animal Farm, located near Krome Avenue and SW 184th Street, were brutally butchered for meat and sold for religious sacrifices.
Activists with the Animal Recovery Mission said they started investigating the Proenza Animal Farm in October 2012. They sent in an undercover animal welfare investigator who they say discovered a makeshift butcher area on the property.
"Everything from butchering animals alive, stabbing them to death, skinning animals, cutting their necks, hanging them upside down and water boarding them," said ARM's lead investigator on the case, Richard Couto. "And the operators taking enjoyment out of it."
The Animal Rescue Mission said the State Attorney's Office worked with Miami-Dade Police to make Friday's arrests.
The ARM organization provided undercover video to the State Attorney's Office, which issued the arrest warrants.
The Animal Recovery Mission estimated about 500 animals were rescued from the site including chickens, pigeons, goats, rabbits, sheep, geese, ponies and more. They are being taken to a sanctuary in Ocala, Florida. They estimate hundreds of thousands of animals have been killed at the farm since it opened 30 years ago.
This is the second raid on an illegal slaughter farm in a week.
On Friday June 19th, VIP Animal Sales, located just down the street from this one, was also raided and three people were arrested and charged with animal cruelty.
Investigators expect to take down more illegal farms through this undercover operation.
