Tarragona, Spain - February 25, 2025 The Guardia Civil is delving into a string of appalling animal abuse and mutilation cases across the province, driven by the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) throughout January and February 2025. With crucial help from the public, 10 animals have been saved from neglect, severe malnutrition, and outright cruelty, though one lost its fight for life. Five individuals now face investigation in various towns for their alleged roles in these grim incidents, with one case dramatically exposed through a shocking video. In Bellvei, a quiet town in Baix Penedès, a heart-wrenching scene unfolded at a local equestrian facility. A widely circulated video revealed SEPRONA agents rescuing six Andalusian Bodeguero puppies, their small bodies trembling as they were freed from neglect. The footage starkly showed their tails, illegally amputated in a crude, homemade procedure driven by aesthetic whims, with no regard for sanitary or welfare standards. Experts warn that such tail docking can cripple a dog’s ability to communicate and maintain balance. Spanish law forbids these cosmetic mutilations, allowing them only for therapeutic reasons backed by a registered vet’s report. After the video helped pinpoint the owner, authorities filed charges for suspected animal cruelty, delivering the case to El Vendrell’s duty court. The haunting images of the puppies’ suffering have fueled public fury, amplifying calls for justice. In El Catllar, Tarragonès, municipal wardens joined SEPRONA to liberate two Boxer dogs, their ribs protruding from starvation. A vet confirmed extreme malnutrition, noting the animals had begun eating anything they could find. Their owners were identified, and charges for alleged mistreatment were lodged with Tarragona’s duty court. In Alforja, Baix Camp, agents discovered a mixed-breed adult dog languishing amid junk and scrap on an urban plot. Rescued swiftly, a vet diagnosed leishmaniasis and severe malnutrition. The responsible individual was tracked down, and proceedings for suspected animal cruelty were sent to Reus’ duty court. The bleakest moment came in L’Aldea, Baix Ebre, where a mixed-breed dog was found in a rural shed, its body ravaged and fading. Rushed to a clinic, it couldn’t be saved despite desperate efforts. After identifying the perpetrator, charges for alleged abuse were filed with Tortosa’s duty court. Local councils and Tarragona’s animal welfare groups have stepped up, aiding the animals’ recovery and adoption into caring homes. Spain’s Penal Code promises tough penalties, including prison and bans on animal-related work, for such offenses.