Largest Animal Cruelty Bust in US History: 3

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed it is working with Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control on an animal cruelty investigation. These farms, authorities say, have been involved in selling horse meat, which is illegal.

Ryan said Animal Recovery Mission has helped shut down various sites since 2010, when the group began investigations into illegal practices at animal farms.

ARM’s president Richard Couto says the agency witnessed grisly acts of brutality against animals.

“Operation: Rancho Garcia” focused on a farm owned by Jorge Garcia who is reportedly linked to the black market horse meat trade in Miami where customers are traveling from to get their horse meat.

Operation: G.A Paso Fino has operated for decades, breeding and slaughtering horses for meat. The farm has also allegedly been cruel to animals, including what ARM officials call “barbaric and ruthless ways in which chickens, pigs, and goats are brutally tortured and slaughtered by the employees of the farm”.

Also located on the property were a puppy mill area, where puppies were kept in small excrement riddle cages with no water, and cock fighting roosters that employees breed and train for fights throughout Palm Beach County, according to ARM.

Arm also obtained evidence of extreme acts animal cruelty at Operation: Medina Farm. According to Animal Recovery Mission, the investigation began when the group started shooting undercover video at the three farms about six months ago.

Lee County said it is assisting with the transportation and recovery of multiple animals which were seized.

ARM aided in passing “The Good Horse Slaughter Act” which states that it is a 3rd-degree felony for any person to buy, sell, transport, kill a horse or possess horse meat for human consumption within the state of Florida.

This story is developing.