Following a complaint by the parish officials that a litter of dogs was still alive in a waste bin, the military immediately moved to the location, where it was possible to verify that there were six newborn dogs, inside a closed plastic bag, one of the animals was already dead.

The dogs have been collected and are under the care of the Covilhã Animal Protection Association, which is looking for a temporary foster family to care for and feed them, and the Covilhã Environmental Protection Centre is carrying out investigative efforts to identify the perpetrator of the crime.

GNR warns that mistreatment and abandonment of pets is a crime, punishable by imprisonment.