Social Media Pics Of Mutilated Puppies Leads To Conviction

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- An investigation involving pictures of mutilated puppies led to the arrest and conviction of a Miami-Dade man.

Miami-Dade County Animal Services launched an investigation based on social media postings they say showed "horribly mutilated puppies and an adult dog butchered."

It appeared it was an attempt at a home caesarean section (c-section).

The department was able to put a name to the faceless person seen in the photos based on tattoos in the postings.

Lazaro Ruiz was arrested back in 2014. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to charges of animal cruelty.

Animal Services officials confiscated four dogs back in 2014 and were able to rehab them. Those dogs were later adopted into loving homes.

This was an important case. Animal cruelty is always a sad and heartless crime," said Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. "It can represent some of the worst aspects of the human character.