UPDATE Feb. 23rd, 2010: A Walmart representative has stated that Julio Diaz and Rodriquez are NOT involved in the project. Instead they named "Dr. Baez".

UPDATE March 2nd, 2010: After a meeting with Healthy Pets, Walmart has called off the clinics until further notice. Healthy Pets acknowledged the cancellations on its Facebook page. Walmart did not provide a specific reason for the cancellations.

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Hey Walmart PR - Did you forget the Barceloneta Animal Massacre? Yes, the one where dogs were forced from their owners and thrown over a bridge to their death.

Well, if reports from the Puerto Rico Forum for Animal Rights are correct, Julio Diaz (owner of Animal Control Solutions) may be back in business with none other than Walmart and Amigo stores in Puerto Rico.

They are sponsoring animal vaccination clinics at several of their locations on the island (see schedule below). The services are reportedly contracted to "Healthy Pets of Puerto Rico" an incorporation listed under the name of Yazmari Rodriguez (a Kellogg Employee, Sr. Assistant Brand Manager), listed on Facebook as being "In a Relationship with Julio Diaz", and described on the forums as possibly being his "fiancee".

For perspective, the incorporation date for "Healthy Pets" is listed as January 12th, 2008. Diaz was found innocent of the charges in September 2008. The incident occurred in October 2007. All evidence appears to indicate that Mr. Diaz is back in business.

In fact, Corporate Affairs Manager, Ronny Torres of Walmart's offices in Caguas confirmed to an animal supporter via telephone:

"We have been working with Julio".

Note: Despite the absolute shock and dismay of animal advocates and the community at large, Julio Diaz was found "Not Guilty" during his criminal trial. Puerto Rico’s Superior Court Judge Miguel Fabre ruled that prosecutors “did not show sufficient evidence to make a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt”, citing no witnesses. Although Diaz was under contract with the municipality and is quoted as referring to himself as the "man in charge", indicating he would fire the employees responsible, and offering to pay for equipment to create a mass grave... nobody (to date) has been found accountable for the violent deaths of the animals in Barceloneta (or other locations). A civil case against Mr. Diaz is still reportedly in progress and has a Facebook group asking for donations to help support the case.

Here are two resources everyone should review. One is a legal analysis of weak aspects of the defense during the criminal trial (by a prominent Puerto Rico based Criminal Defense Lawyer). The other is a comprehensive and shocking report by the associated press.

The AP reporters quote former employees of Julio Diaz who state that the Barceloneta Massacre was not an isolated instance, and that violent deaths and dumping of the bodies at various location has occurred before, as far back as 2005.

The AP reporters were also taken to some of the death sites, where evidence including the skeletal remains of animals were discovered. Quoting from the AP article:

"A former employee of one of Diaz's companies told the AP that the firms rounded up thousands of animals over the years, brutally killed many of them and discarded the corpses wherever it was convenient. One of the former employees led the AP to two different killing fields and he and another former employee described a third."

For many members of the public, there is certainly enough doubt (regarding Mr. Diaz's involvement in the massacre) remaining that seem to contradict to the result of the criminal proceedings (Not Guilty). The animals he was paid to collect were found brutally murdered. The prosecution somehow failed to connect the dots. Yet, even former employees seem to unveil a far darker path.

Now, by association, Walmart and Amigos have taken their place within one of the darkest stories of animal abuse in the history of Puerto Rico. In the corporate world Walmart operates in, one might think the PR (Public Relations) department might take such nightmares into consideration before (ironically) choosing the same person (through direct connections to "Healthy Pets") to try to "help" animals. In fact, it all seems very surreal...

If you have any information, please share it with us to continue the investigation and discussion. You can also contact Walmart directly to obtain more information, and voice your concern:

Contact: Bruni Torres, Community Affairs Manager (press #7 or ask the operator) Address: PMB 725, P.O. Box 889, Caguas, PR 00726-4960 Telephone: 787-653-7777

Hey Renzo Casillo (Walmart Puerto Rico, President): Did they clear this with you?

Here is the 2010 Calendar of the clinics at the Walmart and Amigo locations in Puerto Rico. If one occurs in your area, feel free to take photos and ask questions from the staff on site. Ask them specifically if they are affiliated with Julio Diaz, and how they feel about the massacre that occurred in Barcelonetta (in which Mr. Diaz was charged, but later found innocent).

Advisory: There have been complaints that no records of vaccination are being given at the clinics. If true, this prevents pet owners from having any record or evidence for their pet's health records. If you have an animal vaccinated in the clinics, please ask for some evidence as such. If you have already participated, please let us know what was provided and/or send us a scanned copy (if possible).

The Insider