NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – The Miami-Dade Police Department on Thursday arrested two men accused of operating an illegal slaughterhouse.
Gregorio Santa Ana, 69, and Jose Armando Solis, 35, are both facing multiple animal cruelty charges.
Miami-Dade police said their arrests were the result of a five-month investigation.
Authorities said 9,500 animals were found on the property, making this the largest animal rescue in the country this year.
Authorities said the animals were being starved, deprived of water and slaughtered in vicious ways.
More than 3,000 animals were discovered in such poor conditions that they had to be euthanized by veterinarians at the scene, police said.
The rescued animals are in the custody of the Animal Rescue Mission, where they will receive nutritional and medical assistance.
Police said many dead animals were also found throughout the property.
On Friday, Solis appeared in bond court where he was ordered to be held in jail in lieu of $19,000 bond.
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