Hundreds of tightly packed zinc-roofed shacks dot a hillside slum, one of thousands of “favelas” that are home to samba stars, drug lords and millions of poor Brazilians. But this slum in the southern city of Caxias do Sul is a home for dogs, not humans.

Without enough money to build a proper shelter for 1,600 abandoned pooches, the humane organization So Ama, or “Just Love,” keeps the animals chained to an array of about 1,000 small dog houses that look like the Brazilian slums made famous by movies such as “City of God.”

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Police in the northern Brazilian state of Rondonia are being investigated for excessive use of force in dealing with two soccer players who refused to leave the pitch after being sent off.

reuters.com

“The military police of the state of Rondonia has already initiated an internal investigation into possible irregularities committed in that incident,” police spokesman Lenilson Guedes told Reuters on Friday.

“We have already asked for local TV footage so we can analyse the images.”

During the second half of a Rondoniense (state) championship match at the Aluizio Ferreira stadium in Porto Velho last weekend, officers resorted to pepper spray to try to get the dismissed players off the pitch, sparking a free-for-all.

The dismissals occurred in the 64th minute when Genus, who played in last year’s Brazilian championship fourth-tier Serie D, were losing 3-0 to Moto Esporte Clube in one of the country’s minor state championships.

“The players refused to go off (and) insulted the referee so he called the police who were on duty in the stadium to guarantee security (for the match officials),” Guedes said.

Continue reading the Reuters news article

Image Credit : readnrock.com

An officer opens fire on a bull in the roadway. Photo: Cristiano Couto

treehugger.com

Lawyers for the International Union for the Protection of Animals (UIPA) are hoping that charges will be sought against an officer of the Brazilian Federal Highway Police for breaking animal protection laws when he shot and killed a bull on a highway road in the country last week. The questionable incident and shocking photograph above have propelled the story throughout South American news sources–leading some to wonder if the officer’s actions were justified.

It all began with an accident between a motorcycle and a truck carrying bulls on a highway outside of Belo Horizonte, northwest of Rio de Janeiro. Many bulls were released onto the road after the incident, according to a report from Globo.

When police arrived to the scene, they soon found the “situation with the roaming cattle had became uncontrollable,” and opted to use their firearms on at least one unlucky bull. A spokesman for the Federal Highway Police claims the use of lethal force was justified, believing that “the animals loose on the road would cause more accidents.”

Prior to opening fire, the officer received permission to shoot from the owner of the livestock.

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CNN

The death toll on Brazil’s southeast coast rose to 60 on Saturday as rescuers combed through mounds of debris after three days of pounding rain unleashed deadly mudslides, state officials said.

CNN affiliate Record TV broadcast the rescuers’ attempt to find the family’s toddler, Mariana. After sifting through rubble, the rescuers heard her cries emanating from beneath the rubble, dug her out and carried her to safety amid cheers. But hours later, the television station reported that the girl had died.

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Earth covers homes in Ilha Grande, an island off the city of Angra dos Reis near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Jan. 1, 2010. A rain-soaked hillside collapsed on three houses and an upscale lodge after New Year celebrations, killing at least 15 people, according to Brazilian authorities. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Pictures (boston.com/telegraph.co.uk)

Early Balloon boy was a hot topic. Now it’s Needle Boy from Brazil going to dominate the headlines.

The boy may have to face future operations

X-rays showed more than 30 sewing needles inside the boy

Doctors in Brazil say a two-year-old boy who was pierced with at least 31 sewing needles is out of danger following a third successful operation.

The boy’s stepfather Roberto Carlos Magalhaes, 30, has confessed to inserting the needles into the boy’s body as part of a black magic ritual.

He said he did it as a means of taking revenge on his wife.

Mr Magalhaes told Brazil’s Globo TV that he inserted the needles one at a time, up to three times in a month.

He said he got the boy drunk before driving the needles in.

Mr Magalhaes, 30, and his lover Angelina Ribeiro dos Santos have been formally charged with attempted murder.

Police said Mr Magalhaes, a bricklayer, told them his mistress had urged him to ritually kill the child to take revenge on his wife.

The boy’s mother had taken him to hospital in the north-eastern state of Bahia, suffering from stomach pains and vomiting.

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via bbc