The gruesome discovery of the carcasses of over 500 animals by SPCA enforcement officials began as a complaint about two emaciated and neglected dogs. The SPCA officers executed a warrant on December 30, according to CNN, and found the remains of chickens, goats, sheep,
Santeria Ritual May Be Responsible for 500 Animal Deaths in Philadelphia Home and possibly two monkeys. Bones were scattered throughout almost every room of the house. Also found were the remains of an altar, leading officials to suspect that the animals were sacrificed in a Santeria ritual.
Most people's familiarity with Santeria ends with the 1996 Sublime song by the same name. Santeria, or Lukumi, is a religion forged in the Americas. African slaves from Nigeria, Senegal, and surrounding areas imported to the Caribbean and the United States brought their Yoruba religion with them and merged it with Native American and Catholic traditions over time. Santeria developed mainly in Cuba and has spread to the United States with Cuban immigrants and refugees. There are over 22,000 reported Santeria practitioners in the United States but it is believed that the actual number is much higher.
Santeria is often practiced in tandem with Catholicism, especially in Cuba. Although the religion is practiced differently in different parts of the Americas, Santeria most often incorporates trance-like states for communicating with spirits and departed loved ones and animal sacrifice. Animals, especially chickens, are sacrificed for their blood which is offered up to the Santerian deities to bring good fortune, blessings and the forgiveness of past sins.
Santeria is protected by U.S. law and its animal sacrifices have had little legal challenge since they have been found to be protected under the Constitution. However, if animal sacrifices are being done in an inhumane manner, law enforcement and the SPCA has the right to step in and bring charges against practitioners.
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