Santa Catarina Civil Police analyzed over 1,000 hours of footage to identify the perpetrator of the aggression that killed community dog Orelha at Praia Brava in Florianópolis. The investigation, concluded on Tuesday (Feb. 3), led to a request for one adolescent's internment and the indictment of three adults for witness coercion. The case proceeds under secrecy of justice due to minors' involvement.
Community dog Orelha, a stray cared for by residents and merchants at Praia Brava for at least ten years, was attacked in the early morning of January 4 around 5:30 a.m. According to Police Scientific reports, the animal suffered a blunt force trauma to the head, possibly from a kick or rigid object like wood or a bottle. Found agonizing under a car with head and left eye injuries, plus dehydration and lack of reflexes, Orelha was rescued the next day and taken to a veterinary clinic but did not survive the wounds.
The investigation, led by the Specialized Department for Adolescents in Conflict with the Law (DEACLE) and the Animal Protection Department (DPA), followed the Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA) guidelines. Twenty-four witnesses were interviewed, and eight teenagers were probed. Footage from 14 regional cameras, totaling over 1,000 hours, was reviewed, aided by French software to track the perpetrator's location during the attack.
The main suspect, a teenager, left a Praia Brava condominium at 5:25 a.m. and returned at 5:58 a.m. with a friend, contradicting his statement of staying on-site. He traveled abroad the day he was identified and returned only on January 29, intercepted at the airport. A family member tried to hide a pink cap and sweatshirt used in the crime, but the teen admitted wearing them. Civil Police requested his internment and indicted three adults for witness coercion.
On January 26, search and seizure warrants targeted two teenagers and one adult. That day, a lawyer and two businessmen were indicted for obstruction. On January 28, two other teenagers' phones were seized at Florianópolis International Airport. The probe also wrapped up assaults on another dog, Caramelo, representing four teenagers.
Orelha was a local fixture, roaming the neighborhood, joining fishing trips and events, and appearing in photos with residents and tourists. The case sparked outrage, with the #CãoOrelha hashtag trending on social media.
