A man accused of running an illegal slaughterhouse appeared in bond court Monday morning. 

During Rudesindo "Rudy" Acosta's bond hearing, an attorney for Acosta requested that the bond be lowered, saying that $500,000 is "excessive" and "unreasonable."

"My client has extensive ties to the community. Sitting here in court, a part of his family -- they're all women. They're all here today to pledge their support for him," the attorney said. "After he was arrested, he was taken to Ward D. He suffered from high blood pressure. His blood pressure went up to 240 over 180. He also is, he had rectal colon cancer four years ago. He was operated and part of his rectum and colon was removed, your honor."

The judge refused, setting Acosta's bond at $500,000. 

Acosta is charged with three counts of animal cruelty, one count of using a firearm during the commission of a felony, 40 counts of animal confinement and three counts of conspiracy. 

Also arrested were Acosta's godson, Luis Cardova, 24, and Javier Estevanez, 43. Two 14-year-olds, also Acosta's godsons, were taken into custody. Officials said the four worked as butchers in Acosta's operation. 

In an affidavit, graphics images showed Acosta slaughtering two pigs and a cow. 

"They've got poles where they can hang the animals and everything. It's pretty bad," said Steve Rubin, who volunteered to rescue the animals. 

Police said Richard Couto with the Animal Recovery Mission photographed Acosta killing the animals.

"They were killing all the animals with sledgehammers, axes, flame throwers," said Couto. 

"They have all sorts of things in there, like blowtorches and chainsaws and stun guns. Half the time they don't even kill them; they just cut them up while they're alive," said Andrew Malek with Animal Recovery Mission. 

"He could have easily shot these animals with a bullet and put them out of their misery. He didn't do that because it's cheaper to sledgehammer them, saving basically money on ammunition," Couto said.

A total of 600 other animals were rescued on Saturday. Five had to be euthanized on site and several died overnight. Rescue workers are not sure why the animals died, but think it may be from disease. Many of the animals are heading to farms in Ocala and Okeechobee.

Acosta's attorney spoke to reporters after the bond hearing Monday.

"We'll address all the counts and all the charges, and we'll fight them one by one," Acosta's attorney said after the hearing. "I assure you that Mr. Acosta's a hardworking man."

Animal activists are celebrating the $500,000 bond and said slaughterhouses in Miami-Dade County are commonplace and unregulated. 

"I've been waiting for Rudy to go into prison for a long, long time. A bond of that nature shows that the state is starting to take action and cares about the animals in the state of Florida. It's about time," Couto said.

Animal activists said there are nearly 100 illegal slaughterhouses operating in Miami-Dade County. 

Acosta had not posted bond as of noon Monday.
City officials will be inspecting the area's drinking water as blood from many of the live kills could have seeped into the water supply.