Target: Vanessa Wendhausen Cavallazzi, Prosecutor General of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil
Goal: Ensure the full criminal prosecution of all individuals allegedly responsible for the brutal torture and killing of Orelha, a beloved ten-year-old community dog.
A ten-year-old community dog named Orelha — beloved by residents of his Florianópolis neighborhood for a decade — was allegedly tortured by a group of teenagers in what investigators characterized as a contest to see who could inflict the most pain on an animal. What was allegedly done to this dog is almost unspeakable: a skull fracture with his brain exposed, nails driven into his head, and a wooden stick inserted through his body. Orelha made his way back toward the community he loved before collapsing, and was later euthanized. The case has sparked national protests across Brazil, more than 170,000 petition signatures, and international outrage — yet the suspects, who are minors from affluent families, purportedly traveled to Disney World in the United States shortly after the attack.
The investigation has reportedly been plagued by interference: three adults, including a figure linked to witness intimidation, are under separate investigation for allegedly attempting to coerce a witness. The lead detective who adopted a second dog seemingly targeted by the same group has since resigned amid his own investigation for alleged administrative misconduct. Public prosecutors returned the original police file, calling it full of holes and demanding better. The proposed “Lei Orelha” — legislation named for the dog that would increase penalties for animal cruelty in Santa Catarina — has received the minimum signatures required for a Parliamentary Inquiry Commission in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies.
What was allegedly done to Orelha represents an act of deliberate, sadistic cruelty of the highest order — and a failure to deliver swift and rigorous justice has compounded the harm. The Prosecutor General of Santa Catarina must ensure this investigation is completed thoroughly and that all responsible individuals. Sign this petition to demand justice for Orelha.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Prosecutor Wendhausen Cavallazzi,
We are writing on behalf of animal advocates around the world to urge your office to ensure the full, rigorous, and transparent prosecution of all individuals responsible for the torture and killing of Orelha, the ten-year-old community dog who was allegedly brutalized by a group of teenagers on January 4, 2026. According to investigators, Orelha suffered a skull fracture with his brain exposed, nails driven into his head, and a wooden implement inserted through his body — injuries so severe that euthanasia was the only option. The case has sparked national protests in cities across Brazil and international outrage, with over 170,000 signatures demanding justice.
We are deeply concerned by reports that the investigation has been compromised: the original police file was returned by public prosecutors as insufficient, three adults are allegedly under investigation for witness intimidation, and the lead detective has resigned amid his own probe. These reported failures demand the most rigorous possible oversight and renewed prosecutorial commitment.
We respectfully but firmly demand that your office pursue full prosecution of all alleged perpetrators under the maximum penalties available, and ensure that the three adults allegedly involved in witness intimidation face separate and serious criminal accountability. Orelha’s life was seemingly taken by extreme cruelty — it is the justice system’s responsibility to ensure that cruelty does not also claim justice itself.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Kevyn Costa
