Shocking dog cruelty case in Spain as 14 arrested over illegal amputations

Anyone buying a dog would expect to receive an animal that has been properly cared for and legally treated. But a Guardia Civil investigation has uncovered an alleged network in which dogs were sold after undergoing illegal cosmetic amputations to their ears and tails, with buyers even able to agree how the cuts should look.

The operation, named Goscan, has resulted in 14 people being arrested and another six being investigated for alleged offences against animals, unlawful practice of professional activities and falsification of documents. The network operated in several parts of Spain and also sold and exported dogs to Mexico, according to the Guardia Civil.  The investigation began with one dog arriving at a veterinary hospital in Cáceres.

One injured dog exposed the network

The animal, an Italian mastiff, had been taken to the hospital because of a medical condition. During the examination, veterinarians noticed that its ears and tail had recently been amputated. The discovery was reported to SEPRONA, the Guardia Civil’s environmental protection unit. Investigators identified the owner, who produced a certificate claiming that the procedures had been carried out legally in Russia, where cosmetic ear and tail alterations are permitted. 

The document raised further questions. After contacting Russian authorities, investigators established that the certificate was false and had allegedly been created to make the operations appear lawful and avoid Spanish regulations. The trail led officers to the dog’s breeder in Alicante, where the investigation began to reveal a much larger operation.

Buyers could choose how the dogs were cut

According to the Guardia Civil, the organisation did not simply sell dogs that had already been altered. Buyers could allegedly agree with the sellers on the type of ear and tail cuts they wanted for aesthetic reasons. The investigation found that some purchasers first acquired dogs with their ears and tails intact before later arranging the procedures themselves. Nine arrests were made in connection with these cases.  The operation also provided buyers with material intended to help them deal with the consequences of the procedures.

Investigators say the breeders supplied videos explaining how to care for the wounds and carry out the subsequent treatment following the amputations. They also provided falsified documentation designed to give the impression that the operations had been performed legally.  That meant the scheme involved more than the sale of dogs with altered appearances. Investigators say it helped customers obtain animals, arrange cosmetic procedures and then create paperwork intended to conceal what had happened.

Veterinarian supplied official documents

The investigation also uncovered the involvement of a qualified veterinarian. According to the Guardia Civil, the veterinarian supplied the breeder with blank official passports and documents already bearing the professional’s signature and stamp. The breeder allegedly completed the paperwork herself.

Investigators also discovered that the breeder had implanted microchips in puppies despite allegedly lacking the veterinary qualification required to carry out that work.  The use of veterinary documentation was significant because it could make animals subjected to illegal procedures appear to have received legitimate veterinary treatment. The Guardia Civil says both sellers and some buyers knew that the amputations were illegal and that the documentation used to justify them was false. Six people are being investigated in relation to these offences. 

Network operated across Spain and abroad

The investigation did not remain confined to the Alicante breeding operation. According to the Guardia Civil, the network operated in different parts of Spain and also had an international business, including the sale and export of dogs to Mexico. 

The initial investigation resulted in three arrests involving the owner of the mastiff and two people responsible for the breeding facility. Further enquiries then identified the wider structure led by the breeder, her partner and a friend. The operation eventually resulted in 20 people being placed at the disposal of the judicial authorities: 14 arrested and six investigated. 

Investigation now before the courts

The case has been sent to the judicial authority in Novelda, Alicante, where the alleged offences will now proceed through the legal system.  The investigation began because a veterinary team noticed something unusual while treating a sick dog. What initially appeared to be an isolated case of recent ear and tail surgery instead led investigators to an alleged commercial network operating across Spain.

For the animals involved, the investigation has also exposed the human decisions behind the procedures. According to investigators, some buyers were not simply accepting dogs that had already undergone cosmetic surgery. They were choosing the appearance they wanted and arranging amputations for aesthetic reasons. The Guardia Civil’s findings now place 14 people under arrest and another six under investigation, while the network’s use of falsified veterinary documentation and instructions for treating surgical wounds forms part of the case being examined by the courts.