Former secretary and two veterinarians are arrested on suspicion of unprovoked euthanasia One of the discoveries made by the Civil Police in the second phase of Operation Carrasco is that a dog called Pedrita had been used on social media as an image for a fundraising campaign for veterinary treatment when she was about to die. While the Instituto Paula Lopes was raising money for the treatment of a rescued dog, messages attributed to the former Secretary of Animal Welfare of Canoas indicate that she had already ordered the animal's euthanasia, according to the Civil Police. 📲 Access the g1 RS channel on WhatsApp The information was extracted from the cell phone of Paula Lopes, arrested this Monday (15), and cross-referenced with publications made by the institute maintained by her on social media. g1 sought Paula Lopes' defense, but received no response until the last update of this report. According to the police, on August 31, 2025, the Instituto Paula Lopes published a photo of Pedrita asking for contributions to pay for a veterinary consultation and possible hospitalization of the rescued animal. On the same day, messages exchanged between Paula and a veterinarian indicated that the dog should be put "to rest" — an expression that, for investigators, was a reference to euthanasia. In the conversations analyzed, the veterinarian reports the suspicion of distemper, a disease considered serious, but which can be treated. The police also claim that she instructed the professional not to perform tests on Pedrita before the procedure. "Straight meuta? If it's not, we have to do a distemper test", wrote the professional. In one of the messages analyzed, Paula wrote: "You can do it straight away." According to investigators, Paula asked the veterinarian not to discuss the case with another protector involved in rescuing the animal. While the messages were exchanged, the institute published a request for financial help on social media. "For love, DON'T STOP CONTRIBUTING. Only the consultation on Sunday, R$ 250, other than that you will have to be hospitalized", said the publication. Former Canoas Animal Welfare Secretary Paula Lopes was arrested this Monday morning (15) Reproduction/RBS TV and Instagram Cat with sporotrichosis In another case highlighted by the investigation, Paula allegedly ordered the euthanasia of a cat found in the Partenon neighborhood, in Porto Alegre, which had sporotrichosis. The disease causes skin lesions, but can also be treated. In the messages, Paula would have written to the veterinarian: "Do what has to be done, if you know what I mean." For the Civil Police, the phrase would be a reference to yet another euthanasia. Second phase of Operation Carrasco Two veterinarians were also arrested this Monday during the second phase of Operation Carrasco. In addition to the arrests, the Civil Police carried out 12 search and seizure warrants, three at veterinary clinics and one at an animal crematorium. A civil police officer also had her cell phone seized. The suspicion is that she leaked information from the first phase of the investigation to Paula Lopes. EXTRACTS OF THE MESSAGES CITED BY THE POLICE Veterinarian: "It's probably distemper." Veterinarian: "Female, big baby." Paula Lopes: "Don't say anything to (name withheld due to not being investigated), but you can put it to rest." Veterinarian: "Straight me? If it's not, we have to do a distemper test." Paula Lopes: "You can do it straight away." Publication from Instituto Paula Lopes: "For love, DON'T STOP CONTRIBUTING. Only the consultation on Sunday, R$ 250, other than that you will have to stay in hospital." Case of the cat with sporotrichosis Veterinarian: "I can treat it, we treat several cases here." Paula Lopes: "Do what has to be done, if you know what I mean." According to the Civil Police, the sentence would be a determination to carry out euthanasia. Former Canoas Animal Welfare Secretary Paula Lopes was arrested this Monday morning (15) Reproduction/RBS TV VIDEOS: Everything about RS