More than 70 animals were saved Friday, after an illegal slaughterhouse, which had been operating for decades, was put them out of business after an undercover investigation, authorities said Friday.
"We're talking about a violent place,” said Richard Couto, founder of the animal rights group Animal Recovery Mission.
Members of the Miami-Dade Police, an agriculture patrol unit, the state attorney's office and the Animal Recovery Mission worked together on the investigation.
The animal mission captured video of what authorities say was inhumane and unsanitary practices taking place on the property.
“The purpose of this was basically for meat for human consumption," Couto said. “ So, you're looking at an extremely dirty environment with a great deal of meat being produced out of and going into the food chain."
The undercover video was graphic, but Couto said that the owners would inhumanly butcher the animals by stabbing, skinning and boiling them to death.
"Animals were also transported from this site, hog tied extremely inhumanly dragged , thrown and then thrown into hot automobile trunks and transported."
Investigators arrested Andre Pablo Martinez, Daniel Lombana and Juan Bazan. All three charged with cruelty to animals.
"Pretty violent people now arrested and off the streets and something we've been working towards for a very long time,” Couto said.
The surviving animals were transported by arm to animal sanctuaries where they will be nursed back to health.