More than 400 animals, mostly dogs, were seized on Wednesday from six breeding sites in Hauts-de-France suspected of animal abuse, as part of an operation that mobilized around a hundred agents from the State, gendarmes and veterinarians, the prosecution announced Thursday, March 9.
In total "
379 breeding dogs, three farm animals, around fifty birds and two exotic animals falling into the category of new pets were apprehended, subjected to veterinary control and entrusted to the SPA (society for the protection of animals )
”, said the prosecutor of Avesnes-sur-Helpe, Laurent Dumaine, in a press release.
"Severe abuse", "acts of cruelty"
The targeted farms, located within the jurisdiction of the court of Avesnes-sur-Helpe (North) and Amiens (Somme), are targeted by an investigation for "
serious abuse or acts of cruelty to domestic animals, tamed or captive
" , led by the national division for the fight against animal abuse, created on January 1, 2023, said the prosecutor.
After the first investigations, the investigation had been “
extended to offenses of evasion of the establishment or payment of tax
” and “
laundering
”, the suspects therefore incurring up to five years in prison and a fine of 500,000 euros. .
Several services were associated with the investigation, including the departmental directorate for the protection of the populations of the North, the Gendarmerie Company of Avesnes-sur-Helpe and the Gendarmerie Group of the Somme - including dog teams or specialists the processing of digital tools-- the National Brigade of Veterinary Investigations, or the Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA).
The Avesnes-sur-Helpe prosecutor's office "
has made the fight against environmental criminal law offenses, including animal abuse offenses, one of the priorities of its criminal policy for the year 2023
", adds Laurent Dumaine.
Investigations into this case are “
continuing
”.
