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A man has been arrested in Adeje after a dog was allegedly set on fire and killed in the El Puertito area of southern Tenerife.

 

The Spanish national, who lives in the municipality, is being investigated for suspected animal cruelty involving torture and death. The Guardia Civil has taken over the investigation, and the arrested man has been brought before a judge.

 

The incident came to light at around 3.30am on Thursday October 8, when a member of the public called the 112 emergency service to report a suspicious fire in the Casas Baratas area of El Puertito.

Adeje Policía Local officers were sent to the scene and found a small structure made from concrete blocks, together with a bonfire burning some distance away. A man and a woman, both residents of Adeje, were at the location.

 

After questioning them and carrying out initial enquiries, officers identified the man as the suspected person responsible for the dog’s death. He was arrested and taken to police headquarters. The Guardia Civil was then notified and assumed responsibility for the case.

 

The dog’s remains have been sent to a specialist institute for a necropsy. The examination should establish the precise cause of death and determine what suffering the animal may have endured. Its findings could later be used as evidence if the case reaches court.

 

The arrest follows more than a month of investigations into suspected animal abuse in the same area. Police and the Ayuntamiento’s Animal Welfare Department began monitoring the location while carrying out procedures to notify people living there without authorisation, and in conditions considered unsuitable for habitation, that they would have to leave.

 

During those operations, officers found dogs and cats showing signs of neglect or mistreatment, as well as a black Canarian pig. Six dogs with clear signs of abuse have since been rescued and taken to the Adeje Comprehensive Animal Shelter, where they are receiving veterinary treatment and care while they recover and prepare for adoption.

 

Animal welfare teams have also been helping several uncontrolled cat colonies. However, the Ayuntamiento says their work has been made difficult by hostility from some people living at the site, preventing staff and animal welfare organisations from carrying out their duties safely.

 

Investigators have not yet identified those responsible for all the suspected abuse cases. The Guardia Civil investigation into the dog’s death is continuing.

 

 

Image: wikicommons