Big news out of the Empire State, yesterday, where police in Greenburgh, NY, nabbed a father-son duo they say mistreated animals with the intent of sacrificing them in Santeria rituals. From our friends at the Lower Hudson Journal-News:

“Authorities found a pen containing about 30 goats and sheep; a half-dozen crates full of chickens, pigeons and doves; four ducks, eight quail and four turtles.”

The quail and turtles seem a bit excessive-perhaps they were planning a opening a French restaurant? Or an Ark?

It’s also worth noting that animal sacrifice itself is legal, but police charged the two men with violating zoning restrictions (it was a residential neighborhood), unlawfully transporting the animals, and cruelty. And now you know.

For more on animal sacrifices, check out this interview with University of Chicago religion professor, Jonathan Zittell Smith, where he describes a colleague who sacrficied a lamb for his class.