SAN ANTONIO, TX (KSAT/CNN) - A Texas couple is charged with cruelty to animals, after neighbors saw them sacrificing animals and called police.
But Robert Talamantez said he is a priest of the African religion of Santeria, and it's all a misunderstanding.
Robert and Irma Talamantez have both practiced Santeria for nearly three decades. They said they aren't cruel and they aren't criminals, they're just believers in a misunderstood religion.
"We had animals inside the cages and inside the bags, but they weren't being abused," Robert Talamantez said.
The Talamantezes said they were among about 30 people who were part of a ceremony for a new member.
That involves blood sacrifices to Santos - or saints - represented by rocks kept in containers. They cut the animal's jugulars and let them bleed out.
"We're not beating animals to death," Robert Talamantez said. "We're not chopping off legs while they're still alive… You know the only one that can complain about cruelty to animals is a vegan because we're killing animals."
The group sacrificed a goat, three roosters, a pigeon and some chickens and had other animals ready.
After ceremonies like this, the Talamantezes said they'd cut the sacrificed animals up to cook up and eat in a ceremonial meal.
They say some of that was already happening.
The mistake in their eyes wasn't the sacrifices, it was leaving the garage door open for the neighborhood to see.
"If you're a nudist, you don't go nuding in your front yard, right? You keep it within your home," Robert Talamantez said.
The Talamantezes said they plan to fight the charges in court.
They were only part of the way through the ceremony when deputies arrived and plan to complete it. Robert Talamantez said everything will be done the same, except for one thing.
"I won't have the garage door open," he said.
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