One of the dogs ended up dying shortly after being rescued
A 78-year-old man from Loulé has been charged with three counts of animal cruelty, stemming from alleged mistreatment of three dogs in an incident dating back to September 2022.
According to the charges, filed by the public prosecutor of Loulé’s Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP), the man had two dogs roaming freely in his yard and a third dog chained inside a shed on his property in Sítio da Troia, Loulé.
Neighbours reportedly had to step in to feed and provide water for the dogs, as the man would often go weeks without visiting the house or caring for the animals.
When officers from the Environmental Protection Services of GNR police rescued the animals, they found one dog severely dehydrated and extremely underweight which died shortly, while the other two dogs were taken in by Loulé’s municipal animal shelter.
The investigation also uncovered that at least four other dogs had previously been in the man’s care at the same property and had died due to a lack of food and water.
Portugal’s animal protection laws include serious penalties for mistreatment of pet animals, including prison sentences which can reach two years, as well as hefty fines.
