A man believed to have killed hundreds of animals by draining their blood to sell to vets across Europe has been arrested by Spanish police.
After a tip-off from a worker at an incinerator where the Spanish businessman dumped the animals’ bodies, agents from the Guardia Civil’s wildlife unit tracked down the suspect’s address, where they found more than 250 emaciated animals in pens.
Most of the animals were hounds and many showed signs of mange or other diseases.
Video of the police raid on the southern outskirts of Madrid shows a greyhound unable to get up, lying unattended and looking on the verge of death.
Animal rescue shelters have taken in the surviving animals, with several described as being in “critical” condition.
Investigators said the unnamed suspect, who was released on bail, had run what he called the Veterinary Transfusion Center since 2006, making more than a million euros from blood sales and killing about 500 animals, mostly dogs and cats in the process.
Among his clients are veterinary centers in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium and France.
“Well known in veterinary circles”
The case has raised questions about how the man, who has no veterinary qualifications, could have gone undetected for so long.
“He was well known in veterinary circles. It seems that the blood bags had all the right guarantees and the vets were working with the company without knowing how he got the blood,” said Cristina Fragio, head of the veterinary hospital at Complutense University of Madrid, admitting she had been a customer.
Investigators said that in April and May of this year, the suspect took 60 animals for incineration: 29 cats, 27 dogs, three rabbits and one ferret.
Analysis showed the animals had died from sudden blood loss, and investigators believe he drew blood directly from the heart.
“If this is true, it is disgraceful. “The usual practice is to use the jugular vein or the vessels of the legs and remove small amounts every two or three months,” Dr. Fragio told El País newspaper.
The suspect faces charges of aggravated animal cruelty and fraud.
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