Pig Farm
2004-02-02 | 6:37 p.m.

CRAZY MIAMI-DADE

SOUTH MIAMI-DADE

Police raid filthy farm, make arrest

Team Metro condemns a farm in a desolate area of South Miami-Dade, saying it is unsuitable for animals or humans, and police arrest its live-in caretaker.

BY EUNICE SIGLER

[email protected]

Miami-Dade police on Friday raided a pig farm, arresting the live-in caretaker and charging him with animal cruelty.

''There was animal feces everywhere, and there was trash and vehicles littering the area,'' said Miami-Dade police spokesman Detective Randall Rossman. ``They called the conditions deplorable.''

The farm lies in a desolate area and can only be reached by an unmarked dirt road off Southwest 136th Street and about 211th Avenue, near Krome Avenue.

Pigs and chickens roamed among abandoned cars, vans and campers, rusted cans, old tires, a broken stove, several old bathtubs and rotting fruit and vegetables stacked in boxes.

The Hammock District's Agricultural Patrol Unit discovered the property while on routine patrol. At 7 a.m. Friday, police and other government officials descended upon the lot.

Domitilo Gonzalez was charged with eight counts of animal cruelty, one count of sanitary nuisance because the place had no running water and dirty standing water, and 34 counts of confinement of animals where they do not have access to food or water.

Gonzalez told a Herald photographer that the place has so much debris because he doesn't have enough time to clean up.

He added: ''Besides, I can't do anything at night. When I come out at night my skin hurts because of the radiation from outer space.'' He also said he fears Agent Orange being dumped on him from an overhead plane.

About the pigs, Gonzalez said, ``they love it here and they are fine. They love me.''

Indeed, the pigs appeared to be quite happy Friday afternoon, portly and grunting and snorting among the muck.

There was no water or food around, except for a few boniatos, a Cuban version of the sweet potato that some piglets seemed to have produced out of nowhere.

Police got in touch with the owner of the property, Pascual Barrero, who lives in New Jersey. They told him he, too, would face charges because he's responsible for what goes on there.

Members of Team Metro -- composed of the county's zoning, health and other departments -- condemned the site, saying it was unsuitable for animals or humans. They asked Gonzalez to visit only to feed the animals, but not to stay.

Gonzalez signed a promise to appear and was released.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

back to top