The short version
- Metro Puerto Rico reported that agents from the Ponce Oeste precinct responded to an alert and found 27 bags containing decomposing dogs
- El Nuevo Día reported that a resident of the urbanization discovered the bags around 10:10 a.m. and notified authorities
- Police animal welfare coordinator Joel Vidot told El Nuevo Día that investigators will examine whether the dogs were poisoned or intentionally killed and will seek security camera footage
- Personnel from the Ruth Berner animal shelter and Ponce Municipal Emergency Management Office took custody of the remains according to all reports
Discovery on PR-132
Police in Ponce are investigating the discovery of 27 dogs found dead inside transparent plastic bags on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The bags were located on the shoulder of highway PR-132 in front of the entrance to Urbanización La Providencia. El Nuevo Día reported that a female resident found the bags at approximately 10:10 a.m. while leaving her home and initially thought they were trash to be taken to the dump.
According to Primera Hora, the woman realized the bags contained decomposing dogs of various breeds and colors. Officers from the Ponce Oeste precinct responded to the scene. NotiCel reported the same location and number of bags.
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Investigation underway
El Nuevo Día reported that animal welfare coordinator Joel Vidot said the case should focus on whether the animals were poisoned or killed intentionally. "Nobody has 27 dogs that die simultaneously," Vidot stated. He added that investigators must look for security cameras, identify who dumped the bags, interview residents and conduct a standard criminal investigation. Agent Michael Díaz is the lead investigator.
Vidot told the newspaper that tissue samples will be taken for necropsies to determine the cause of death. He noted that poisoning is a serious offense punishable by up to eight years in prison but is difficult to prove. Metro Puerto Rico and Primera Hora confirmed that Díaz of the animal welfare unit was notified and responded to the scene. A technical services agent documented the scene with 52 photographs.
Remains removed
Staff from the Ruth Berner animal shelter and the Ponce Municipal Office of Emergency Management took charge of the remains for proper disposal, all four outlets reported. Police asked anyone with information to call 787-343-2020 or contact them via X at @PRPDNOTICIAS or their Facebook page.
Where the sources differ
All sources agree that 27 transparent plastic bags containing dead dogs in a state of decomposition were found on PR-132 in front of Urbanización La Providencia in Ponce on Tuesday morning and that agent Michael Díaz was assigned to the case. Metro Puerto Rico, NotiCel, El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora all report the same location, the involvement of the Ruth Berner shelter and Ponce emergency management personnel. El Nuevo Día adds statements from Joel Vidot about possible poisoning, the need for necropsies, security camera review and that poisoning carries up to eight years in prison. Primera Hora provides the precise time of 10:10 a.m. and the fact that a female resident discovered the bags while intending to dispose of them as trash, plus the detail that technical agent Aileen Rodríguez Oquendo took 52 photos. NotiCel refers to "more than 20" in its headline but states 27 in the body.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state the breeds or approximate ages of the dogs, the exact time the bags were dumped, whether any identifying collars or microchips were present, or the preliminary results of any necropsies. They also do not indicate whether security camera footage has been obtained or if any suspects have been identified. No information is given on the planned disposal method of the remains beyond "proper disposition."
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Horrendo hallazgo de 27 perros muertos dentro de bolsas en Ponce
- Reporting Investigan en Ponce el hallazgo de más de 20 perros muertos
- Reporting Hallan al menos 27 bolsas con perros muertos frente a urbanización en Ponce
- Reporting Macabro hallazgo: encuentran 27 bolsas con perros muertos en Ponce
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico, NotiCel, El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora all covered the discovery of 27 dead dogs in Ponce. Details about the discoverer, the precise time, Joel Vidot's comments on poisoning and the number of photographs come exclusively from El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora. The police call for tips appears only in Metro Puerto Rico.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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