A 57-year-old man was charged with mistreatment of pet animals, following a search operation at a store in the municipality of Penafiel, which resulted in the rescue of 124 animals, 104 of which were exotic, the GNR reported this Wednesday.
The action was carried out on Tuesday by the Environmental Crimes and Administrative Offenses Investigation Unit (NICCOA) of the Nature and Environmental Protection Service (SEPNA) of Porto. In addition to rescuing the animals, veterinary medicines were also seized in a commercial establishment selling to the public.
During the operation, authorities rescued 16 dogs, four cats and 104 exotic animals, including rats, reptiles, rodents, arachnids and other species, kept inside the establishment.
A rosella (bird) and another snake were also rescued.
The GNR also seized 1,617 food products, 208 bags of feed and 138 products and medicines for veterinary use (illegally sold and/or out of date)
Infractions detected and measures applied by authorities
The birds were delivered to the Gaia Biological Park, and the dogs, cats and chinchillas were sent to the Official Animal Collection Center (CROA) in Penafiel and to zoophilic associations.
The note also states that during the course of the action, several infractions were also detected due to lack of sanitary conditions for the detention of pet animals and non-compliance with the European Convention for the Protection of Companion Animals.
Infringements were also detected relating to the violation of the CITES Convention, the sale of products and medicines for veterinary use without due authorization and the sale of food products for animals beyond their expiry date.
Given the lack of safety, hygiene, health, pest control and adequate dimensions of accommodation, the Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) applied the “precautionary measure of temporary ban on the sale of animals, due to a risk to public health, whilst maintaining the commercial activity of the establishment in operation”.
The facts were communicated to the Judicial Court of Penafiel.
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