A well-known bullfighter in Portugal was arrested on Wednesday by the gendarmerie. He is suspected of ill-treatment on dogs suffering from malnutrition. Joao Moura, a 59-year-old professional rider, himself admitted to local media that he had been arrested.
Gendarmes from an animal protection unit arrested him at home and seized 18 "malnourished" greyhounds. The dogs lived in "unsanitary" conditions, according to a press release from the gendarmerie.
"I did not mistreat my dogs"
The case was turned over to the courts. The bullfighter could be tried for cruel treatment of animals, an offense punishable by two years in prison. "I had slightly leaner dogs and someone denounced it, that's all," said the bullfighter at the bullfighting site Farpas. “I didn't kill anyone, I didn't steal anyone, and I didn't mistreat my dogs. According to a Portuguese chain, one of his dogs died on Thursday.
Fotos dos galgos subnutridos, porém continuam outras raças de cães e cavalos com sinais de maus tratos na quinta de monstro João Moura. pic.twitter.com/WsNkLMp5Ug
- Vegetarinando (@vegetarinando) February 20, 2020During his long career, Joao Moura has performed in arenas in Portugal, Spain and Latin America. In 2013, his son caused an uproar by posting on Facebook images of a group of pit bulls attacking a cow on his rural property.
In Portugal, the killing of the bull in the arena has been prohibited since the 18th century. The last act of bullfighting is played by "forcados", whose role is to immobilize the beast with bare hands in a symbolic death. Before their entry, a bullfighter on horseback plants banners on the animal's back. The practice, contested by certain animal protection movements, is generally tolerated by the rest of Portuguese society.
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