GNR police have ‘rescued’ over 100 exotic animals, as well as dogs and cats, from a commercial space in Penafiel, near Porto.
The operation – which saw the shop’s owner made ‘an official suspect’ for the crime of animal abuse – also involved the seizing of various food products and medications (either because they were being sold ‘illegally’, or because they were out of date).
During the operation – in which NICCOA (the nucleus for the investigation of environmental crimes and offences), ASAE (Food and Economic Safety Authority), ICNF (institute for nature conservation and forestry) and the regional veterinary authority took part – 16 dogs, four cats. 45 mice, 11 lizards (‘bearded dragons’), eight leopard-geckos, eight chinchillas, six iguanas, four king pythons, four tortoises, four hedgehogs, four red American squirrels, three chameleons, two tarantulas, two scorpions, a false coral snake, another snake and a highly coloured parrot, were removed.
With exception of the dogs and cats, all the other animals are protected under the CITES convention.
According to reports, the operation, carried out on Tuesday, was investigating ‘deaths and crimes of animal mistreatment’ at the premises.
The bird was taken in by the Gaia Biological Park, while the dogs, cats and chinchillas have been distributed among private and public shelters. It is not explained where the lizards, snakes, other rodents and spiders have ended up.
The note issued by the GNR/ SEPNA explained that due to the lack of safety, hygiene, sanitation, pest control and adequate accommodation conditions, ASAE has applied a ‘precautionary measure temporarily prohibiting the sale of animals due to the risk to public health, while maintaining the commercial activity of the establishment in operation’.
Sources: SIC/ Rádio Renascença
