Personnel from the Miami-Dade County Police Department’s Agricultural Patrol and the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) have removed 10 horses from an illegal slaughterhouse in Southwest Miami-Dade, Florida.

In a written statement, South Florida SPCA director of ranch operations Laurie Waggoner said she accompanied Miami-Dade County Police personnel to a location in the East Everglades district of Southwest Miami-Dade County on Oct. 6. Investigators found 10 live horses at the illegal slaughter farm, Waggoner's statement said. The horses, along with a live steer, were removed from the property, Waggoner's statement said.

Among the horses were three off-the-track Thoroughbreds, Waggoner said in her statement. A pair of Quarter Horse mares, two Paso Finos (a mare and a gelding), and a Paint gelding were also removed from the farm., Waggoner said in her statement. Two Miniature Horses kept in cages were also removed, Waggoner's statement said, and at least two of the mares were pregnant at the time of the rescue, her statement said. 

Detective Alvaro Zabaleta, public information officer for the Miami-Dade Police Department, said that Osmany Gomez was charged with animal cruelty in connection with the removal