Thousands of people gathered on Sunday to demand justice for dog Orelha, who died after being attacked in Florianópolis, in southern Brazil.
Animal lovers and activists held signs and shouted for justice on Paulista Avenue, one of the most famous streets in São Paulo. They were calling for stronger punishment for those responsible for Orelha’s death and for better protection for all animals in Brazil.
Orelha was a familiar street dog in the Praia Brava neighborhood. Locals said he was calm and friendly. On January 4th, he was badly injured and later had to be put down because of his wounds.
Teenagers under investigation
Police say four teenagers are suspected of attacking the dog. Two of them had left the country for a trip to the United States, but returned to Brazil last week. Police have collected their phones and started questioning them.
The suspects are believed to have beaten Orelha with a blunt object.
Police are reviewing almost 1,000 hours of security camera footage from the Praia Brava area, taken during the time of the attacks. Over 20 people have already been interviewed.
One difficulty in the case is that there are no clear images of the moment when the dog was hurt.
Adults accused of coercion
Three adults, two parents and an uncle of the teenagers, are also being investigated. Police say they may have threatened a security guard who had a photo that could help in the case. This is considered a serious crime in Brazil called coercion during a legal process.
On January 26th, police searched the homes of the suspects and collected more evidence.
The case has received national and international attention. Images and videos about Orelha have gone viral, and celebrities, politicians, and animal organizations have spoken out. Many Brazilians are now asking for stronger animal protection laws.
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