Illegal Slaughterhouse Operator Named "Freaky" Arrested for Sledgehammering Animals

Thanks to a five-month undercover investigation by animal rights activists, a man named Raul "Freaky" Fernandez is facing seven counts of animal cruelty. The group Animal Recover Mission went undercover and filmed Fernandez doing horrifying things to animals at his unlicensed slaughterhouse in Miami-Dade's C-9 Basin. The Miami-Dade State Attorney's...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

March 26, 2014

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Thanks to a five-month undercover investigation by animal rights activists, a man named Raul "Freaky" Fernandez is facing seven counts of animal cruelty. The group Animal Recover Mission went undercover and filmed Fernandez doing horrifying things to animals at his unlicensed slaughterhouse in Miami-Dade's C-9 Basin. The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office and Miami-Dade Police Department became involved and arrested Fernandez this week.

ARM posted video from its undercover investigation today in conjunction with Fernandez's arrest. Be warned: The following footage is very graphic.

Fernandez and his workers can be seen shooting a caged pig and then ramming a hook through the animal's mouth. They then drag the pig, still alive, by the hook. Other animals are beaten and mistreated in the video. One is beaten to death with a sledgehammer.

The videos were taken just this past holiday season on December 24 and 30.

"When the Florida Legislature created the animal cruelty statute, they intended to end such brutal activities as were occurring at this illegal slaughterhouse," Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement. "No legitimate slaughterhouse operator or any self-respecting farmer would treat his livestock in such a ghastly manner."

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