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Puerto Rico Massacre: Justice Begins

by Matt Van Hoven

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BY CATEGORY:
BY PET:

December 7, 2007

PUERTO RICO – Three men have been charged with animal cruelty for allegedly throwing some 80 pets off a bridge outside the town of Barceloneta.

Animal Control Solutions owner Julio Diaz and two employees, 18-year-old Lucas Montano Rivera and 28-year-old Roberto Rodriguez Ceballo, face nine year prison sentences and $3,000 fines.

Charges were filed under the U.S. territory's laws against animal cruelty.

Upon departing from court yesterday, Diaz said, “We are going to prove that we are not guilty.”

The charges were first raised when injured pets came hobbling back to Barceloneta after they had allegedly been thrown off a nearby bridge. Animal control workers hired to remove them from a housing project were supposed to humanely dispose of the animals.

People living nearby said that after a few days, the stench of rotting animals was overwhelming.

Sixteen families are filing a $22.5 million suit against the company. Allegations that Barceloneta city workers were also involved are being denied by the town's Mayor – he says their role ended once animals were loaded into Animal Control Solutions vans.

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peurto rico, massacre, justice, dogs, international

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Katie M.
Katie M. (katielynn7)
3 months ago
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What a horrible story. I hope these men get what they have coming to them.
 
Cindi K.
Cindi K. (tinaturner)
8 months ago
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this is truly a sad story, hope these men are charged with the highest penalty they can get
 
mike h.
mike h. (mike2201)
8 months ago
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This is just awful, they need better shelters.
 
Pam N.
Pam N. (truffle322)
8 months ago
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This is disgusting. I wish they had no kill shelters down there. It's bad enough that all those animals were to be euthanized let alone getting killed like that. These people need spay/neuter clinics too, but I think they are behind the times with their concern of animals.
 
Jodi S.
Jodi S. (jodiscaife)
8 months ago
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I hope that the three men were charged heavily if they were proved responsible. This story is more sickening as we get more details.
 
Suzanne L.
Suzanne L. (CandysMom)
8 months ago
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Too horrible to even read about.
 
Michele C.
Michele C. (pattimichele)
8 months ago
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I WANT an UPDATE!!!!! These workers are lazy, in-humane and definitely should NOT be working for or around any animals. I would say "They are animals themselves", but that is not true. They are pure evil...
 
Cindi K.
Cindi K. (tinaturner)
8 months ago
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these are some sick people to do such a thing. Hope they get the book slammed at them big time.
 
lruder
lruder
8 months ago
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Would like to see a followup on the actual sentences they received. Remember reading about this when it first happened and it was horrific as to the suffering these animals went through. I just wish these individuals could experience some of that suffering, but my bet is they won't.
 
oldmaidcatwoman
oldmaidcatwoman
9 months ago
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What is wrong with these people?
 
Gloria B.
Gloria B. (ktsmom)
9 months ago
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Sick people-I hope they throw the book at them!
 
Jan P.
Jan P. (lakewoodliz)
9 months ago
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Would really like a follow up on this story. How awful!
 
Choya M.
Choya M. (bamcorps)
10 months ago
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Sick Sick indiviuals what a way to die. Oh my gosh. the smell.
 
L.H.S.
L.H.S. (libertyshelter)
10 months ago
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Yes we can't wait for a follow up either.
 
VKiggins
VKiggins
10 months ago
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How does this end?
 
jennifer r.
jennifer r. (jjenika1)
10 months ago
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Seems like some of this story is not being told! More information please....
 
Horrible!
 
DDRau
DDRau
11 months ago
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Luckily this situation is improving little by little thru public education. Adopt a Sato!
 
Marnie B.
Marnie B. (mb4cats)
1 year ago
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Losers...let the punishment fit the crime...literally!
 
beverly y.
beverly y. (beverlyyerk)
1 year ago
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that is horrible
 
jan l.
jan l. (janlincicome)
1 year ago
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I hope they have to pay for what they did, but they will probably get off easy.
 
Anna
Anna (xDemolitionLoverx)
1 year ago
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9 YEARS? ONLY? ridiculous! Come on. That much abuse deserves LIFE in prison! Or being on strict watch by the police!
 
melissa7271
melissa7271
1 year ago
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Justice is beginning but I think they deserve much worse than what they will probbaly get.
 
Sue R.
Sue R. (suerafferty)
1 year ago
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Someone needs to step up and take responsibility here - what a cruel, cold and callous way to handle a living thing- they just disposed of them like a bag of trash. I hope they get the maximum and then some.
 
Heather
Heather (littlepeeps)
1 year ago
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so disturbing
 
Karen M.
Karen M. (Karemel)
1 year ago
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Animal Control Solutions huh? Those people aren't part of the solution to anything. Sounds like they're part of the problem. For Shame.
 
ashley G.
ashley G. (ashgraham)
1 year ago
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Thats so sad,them people need to be locked up for doing such a cruel thing!
 
jill l.
jill l. (JillLong)
1 year ago
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This is absolutely disgusting! I really can't imagine someone being able to do this to a living being. Just terrible!
 
christine a.
christine a. (christinea411)
1 year ago
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This is terrible, some people are really sick minded... I don't know what the people in this world are thinking.
 
shelterhelper04
shelterhelper04
1 year ago
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Why are people so dumb, at least they are getting punshised, i wouldn't go as far as killing them but come on
 
sharon z.
sharon z. (Sharonzaldumbide)
1 year ago
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this article is disturbing and im very disgusted...i justr really want to kno what is wrong with people?
 
siegewolf
siegewolf
1 year ago
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I wouldnt mind seeing these guys get the death sentence. Killing 80 some-odd pets should be the same as killing children.
 
MaterialGurl
MaterialGurl
1 year ago
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they should be put into jail for how ever old each dog was.
 
nicolekoller
nicolekoller
1 year ago
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this is just rediculous
i dont even want to read it
 
Rebecca O.
Rebecca O. (roliver)
1 year ago
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This story makes me irriated. How can anybody throw dogs off a bridge. What did they ever do to them. Some people are jsut cruel cruel people and deserve to go to jail
 
marinomike
marinomike
1 year ago
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this is so bad how can anyone kill animals like that
 
Karyl
Karyl
1 year ago
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They should got to jail for however many dogs they threw off the bridge. This is such a sad story
 
brent g.
brent g. (brentgustafson313)
1 year ago
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i cant stand animal abuse those people should be put in jail no doubt.
 
Kelly013
Kelly013
1 year ago
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These men need to go to jail forever. There is no reason to just throw animals over bridges. They are sick and cruel and should even recieve the death penalty. There is no reason to hurt helpless animals.
 
mtreezy
mtreezy
1 year ago
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only nine years? they should go to jail for 198473596517559832679013563 years for being meanies!!
 
Kate R.
Kate R. (KateRattanni)
1 year ago
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i agree ^^^^^ this is absoultely ridiculous!!!!!!!
 
Kelly013
Kelly013
1 year ago
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I AGREE!
 
shelterhelper02
shelterhelper02
1 year ago
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What's wrong with people? What kind of person can do this to an animal? If they can kill an animal then they have no respect for anyones life. This is really cruel and unusual.
 
Kelly013
Kelly013
1 year ago
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I completely agree with this statement. It is extremely cruel.
 
Lana S.
Lana S. (critterfriend)
1 year ago
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They don't need pet control, they need people control! How sick!
 
Ashlee S.
Ashlee S. (ashleerdh)
1 year ago
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Only nine years???? How about they get thrown off a bridge???????? People are sick!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Mark B.
Mark B. (fortissimo37)
1 year ago
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These people will get what's coming to them.
 
ruthie
ruthie (ruthiegirl66)
1 year ago
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Some @#$% solution??? The mayor needs to not give them any business in fact they need shut down if this is what they call animal control solutions, Good Grief.
 
5doxiemom
5doxiemom
1 year ago
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What were they thinking? Common sense tells you this is not right
 
Jill6Johnson
Jill6Johnson
1 year ago
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They need punished.
 
WANSTREET
WANSTREET
1 year ago
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Yea, they are charging someone for this cruelty. I hope they get what they deserve and I don't know if nine years are enough. Just toss them off the bridge and let them hobble back, if they can.
 
loveshorses
loveshorses
1 year ago
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Very cruel - hope they are punished
 
linda s.
linda s. (furrybabies)
1 year ago
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not harshe enough
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