The Guardia Civil, the local police and the Animal Health Service from the regional Department of Water, Agriculture, Stock and Fish are investigating a pig farmer who abandoned more than 100 pigs without food and water.
The owner of the farm appeared before magistrates in Caravaca on a charge of animal cruelty.
The authorities were alerted by neighbours in Calasparra when pigs were seen wandering around the area, however, by the time they arrived at the farm the majority of the animals were dead. Those animals that survived were reported to be in “ a terrible state without water or food.”
A Seprona patrol was called to the scene immediately and began to search for the owner of the farm.
According to the Guardia Civil the animals have been abandoned for a month when water to the property was cut off for non payment.
They calculate that at least 140 pigs died including an “unknown number of piglets.”
The Public Prosecutor of the Department of Environment has been notified of a “possible case of animal cruelty”.
Animal cruelty is punishable by between three months and a year in prison and suspension of a animal farming licence for a year.
The pig farm has been cleared and the surviving animals have been put into care.
