PUERTO RICO - A Puerto Rican judge issued arrest warrants for the owner of an animal-control company and two of his employees for allegedly killing dozens of dogs and cats that were drugged and hurled from a bridge.
Julio Diaz, the owner of Animal Control Solutions, and workersLucas Montano Rivera, 18, and Roberto Rodriguez Ceballo, 28, were each charged with three counts of violations to the US territory's animal-protection laws. Charges were also filed against the company.
"We are going to prove that we are not guilty," Diaz said as he left the court in suburban San Juan.
The charges involve the October massacre of pets seized by municipal officials and animal-control workers from three housing projects in the town of Barceloneta under city rules prohibiting pets in the projects. Some 80 pets were seized, and only a half-dozen survived the 15m fall from the bridge, some with serious injuries.
Puerto Rico police chief Pedro Toledo has said those responsible could face cruelty charges that carry prison terms of between six months and three years.
Jose Arzola Mendez, attorney for the two animal-control employees, Montano and Rodriguez, said there was no evidence linking his clients to the pet massacre and said dogs and cats were confiscated by municipal employees of Barceloneta.
A US$22.5 ($29.73) million lawsuit against Animal Control Solutions and city officials - including those who helped round up the animals - has been filed on behalf of 16 Barceloneta families whose dogs and cats were seized.
Barceloneta Mayor Sol Luis Fontanes, named as a defendant in the suit, claims the city's responsibility ended after Animal Control Solutions took the pets away in vans.
Puerto Rican authorities said last month that they will broaden their investigation after a report by The Associated Press showed that thousands of unwanted cats and dogs may have been slaughtered in the tropical US territory.
