The director of the animal shelter L’arche de Noël, in Béziers (Hérault), aged 71, was placed in police custody, said Raphaël Balland, the Béziers prosecutor, this Thursday. He is accused of mistreatment and abandonment of domestic animals, illegal dumping of waste, and concealed work, due to undeclared dog sales activity.
This shelter was the subject of a search, “on the basis of a preliminary investigation opened several months ago, following reports of possible mistreatment of domestic animals, in particular dogs,” indicates the prosecutor. .
Dogs “visibly malnourished or poorly cared for”
Investigators found 86 dogs, adults and puppies, “visibly malnourished or poorly cared for, kept in dirty spaces or unsuitable for their size and number”, but also nine tortoises and eight Florida tortoises, two snakes and many birds. The prosecution specifies that a dead snake was also discovered.
The animals were taken care of by associations. “The Béziers public prosecutor’s office will decide on legal action at the end of the investigations,” indicates the prosecutor.