A dog owner is under investigation after allegedly throwing a litter of newborn puppies into a rubbish container in a shocking case of animal cruelty in Huelva.
The grim discovery was made on February 27, when a member of the public alerted the Guardia Civil to the presence of seven puppies abandoned in a bin in a rural area of Almonte.
By the time officers arrived, five of the animals were already dead while two others were found alive.
The case was taken up by Seprona, the Guardia Civil’s environmental protection unit, which launched an immediate investigation to identify those responsible.
Nearby, officers located a female dog showing clear signs of having recently given birth.
DNA samples were taken from the animal and later analysed with the support of Almonte Town Hall and a specialist laboratory in Xativa, Valencia.
The results confirmed the puppies found in the bin were her offspring.
The dog’s owner has now been formally placed under investigation for an alleged offence of animal abuse.
The case will be handed over to the relevant judicial authority.
Given the multiple deaths, they likely face serious punishment under Spain’s new animal welfare laws, including up to 18 months in jail.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
