The Civil Guard has carried out an operation in Málaga that has resulted in the arrest of 14 people in connection with the sale of dogs that had undergone illegal aesthetic amputations of their ears and tails. The operation, known as Goscan, has led to the judicialisation of a total of 20 individuals, with investigations also extending to six other people.
The network operated in different parts of Spanish territory and had international reach, even exporting canine specimens to Mexico. During the investigation, agents identified that those involved in the scheme used false documentation to make it appear that the surgeries had been carried out legally and sent videos to new owners explaining how to care for the wounds after the amputations.
Start of the investigation
The case came to light when an Italian mastiff was admitted to a veterinary hospital in Cáceres with recent amputations to its ears and tail. After verifying the situation, veterinarians identified a document claiming that the procedures had been carried out in Russia, where such amputations are legal. However, inquiries with Russian authorities revealed that the certificate was false.
The investigations led agents to a breeding facility in Alicante, where the owner of the mastiff and two individuals responsible for the breeding facility were arrested. Over time, a wider network was uncovered, led by a woman who operated the breeding facility, along with her partner and a friend.
Methodology of the network
The organisation was dedicated not only to the sale of dogs but also to performing amputations according to the aesthetic preferences of buyers. Additionally, they provided documentation that attempted to simulate the legality of the procedures, while also offering instructional videos on wound care.
Investigators found that both sellers and buyers were aware of the illegality of the interventions. In certain cases, some buyers acquired dogs with intact ears and tails and then decided to carry out the amputations themselves. At this stage, another nine people were arrested.
Among those arrested was also a licensed veterinarian, who allegedly collaborated with the network by providing blank official documents that were later filled in by the owner of the breeding facility. Furthermore, it was discovered that she herself implanted microchips in the puppies despite lacking the necessary qualifications.
The operation has been a significant blow against the illegal trade of animals and the use of falsified documents to justify illegal practices in animal welfare. The proceedings carried out have been forwarded to the competent judicial authority in Novelda, Alicante.
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