A Houston family headed to court Wednesday to defend their religious rights to sacrifice animals in a ceremony.
The family told investigators that they practice Santeria, which is an African-based religion similar to voodoo, originating in Cuba and Brazil, which combines the worship of traditional Yoruban deities with the worship of Roman Catholic saints.
During part of the religious ceremony, the animals are killed and their blood is offered as a sacrifice, authorities said, sometimes to ask for forgiveness or purification.
Ritual participant, Rafael Zamora Diaz, 44, who was visiting the family from Brazil, told the judge Wednesday through a translator that the family was not breaking any laws and that the only evidence (authorities) have right now is that the animals were at the home.
Zamora Diaz said that they solely work within (the guidelines) of their religion to do better and that they do not mistreat the animals.
The animals were purchased shortly before the ceremony were participants were praying for a relative in a coma, Zamora Diaz said.
Last Wednesday, Houston police officers removed 12 goats, 11 chickens and two pigeons from the family's home, located in the 300 block of Coach Road in north Houston.
Police said that they were called to the house after neighbors complained the animals were being killed, which the family admits but said that it was part of a religious sacrifice.
The animals remain in the custody of the Houston SPCA.
"We will review their health (and) treat them for any conditions that exist" Houston SPCA spokeswoman Kim Hogstrom said. "At least one of them has some sort of eye problem and several of them are very thin. And we will see what the courts decide."
SPCA officials said they are also investigating whether the family broke or violated any city codes, such as having so many animals at their home.