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    Graphic video: Brooksville farm accused by activits of brutally killing animals, including racehorse

    By Chloe Sparks,

    2024-07-24

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4b7Y14_0ucFAWmG00

    *Warning: Some images and details may be disturbing for viewers*

    BROOKSVILLE, Fla. (WFLA) — A nonprofit group that conducts animal abuse investigations all over the country said they believe the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office isn’t taking a Brooksville animal abuse case seriously enough.

    The Ortiz Slaughterhouse has been accused of brutally killing animals, including a racehorse, and selling the meat.

    Richard “Kudo” Couto, the founder of Animal Rescue Mission, sent 8 On Your Side a video he said shows several instances of animal cruelty.

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    “Killing and beating animals with 2x4s and bats, choking animals, boiling animals alive, stabbing animals,” Couto said.

    He said the Brooksville slaughterhouse has a history of mistreating animals and he was able to capture it on video by going undercover.

    Couto said he was there when a racehorse named “Funny Biz” was killed.

    “They took that horse to a kill area in the back of the property and shot it. The horse did not die. They started stabbing it,” Couto said.

    The nonprofit’s leaders said they turned over their findings to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office in December.

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    Only one of the slaughterhouse’s employees has been arrested so far. They were arrested on a misdemeanor after they allegedly killed a pig in an inhumane way.

    But Couto wants more to be done.

    “We’re asking for felony arrest to be made on the footage that was given to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office,” Couto said. “We’re demanding that arrests be made on the murder and butchering and selling of the meat of Funny Biz.”

    The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office told WFLA they are working with the State Attorney’s Office on some aspects of this case, but declined to provide further details.

    Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.

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