Pet massacre claim

Oct 22 2007

Puerto Rican pet owners whose dogs and cats were thrown to their deaths from a bridge filed a multimillion pound claim against the company that took the animals away and others they say were involved in the killings.

The £11.25 million claim was filed against Puerto Rico's public housing director, the municipality of Barceloneta, its mayor, the owner of a private animal control company and others.

Animal controllers seized dozens of dogs and cats from 45 homes in three housing projects in north-western Puerto Rico on October 8 and 10, beating, drugging, and then launching at least 50 of the animals to their deaths off a bridge, the lawsuit said.