27 Hunting Dogs Found Dead In Van – Seprona Investigates

In a heartbreaking incident, 27 hunting dogs were recovered dormant wrong a van aboard a ferry travelling from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca complete nan weekend. 

The animals, portion of a group of 36 returning from a training travel successful Lithuania, showed clear signs of asphyxiation, pinch only 9 surviving successful a semi-conscious state. Spain’s Seprona (Nature Protection Service of nan Civil Guard) has launched an investigation into nan causes, and are presently interviewing those responsible arsenic good arsenic examining nan van’s conditions successful nan ship’s clasp during nan Saturday greeting voyage.

The dogs belonged to Mallorcan hunters who had travelled to Lithuania for becada (woodcock) hunting and training. They contracted a Catalan-based animal carrier company, WeTravelHome, to grip nan return journey. According to sources adjacent to nan hunters, nan travel from Lithuania to Barcelona proceeded normally, but calamity struck connected nan last maritime leg. The company’s proprietor reportedly handed oversight to his boy successful Barcelona, who allegedly grounded to activate nan van’s ventilation strategy earlier leaving nan dogs unattended successful nan ferry’s cargo area. Autopsies connected immoderate of nan deceased animals are pending to corroborate nan nonstop origin of death.

The Balearic Hunting Federation expressed “profound sorrow” successful a Sunday statement, extending support to nan “deeply affected” owners. President Marta Lliteres expressed that for hunters, these dogs are “inseparable companions” built connected years of dedication, respect, trust, and affection, and not specified activity tools. The federation insisted hunters carnivore “no responsibility,” praising nan prime of a specialised patient to guarantee “optimal information and welfare.” It pledged afloat practice pinch authorities, committedness to transparency, and acceptance of immoderate judicial rulings if negligence is proven.

Conversely, nan animal authorities statement Pacma condemned nan arena arsenic further grounds of nan “treatment” hunting dogs receive, and who likened them to disposable “tools” alternatively than sentient beings pinch rights. In a communiqué, Pacma demanded accountability and urged nan PSOE-Sumar authorities of Mallorca amend nan Animal Welfare Law, passed excluding hunting dogs owed to lobbying from nan hunting sector, to see them and forestall early incidents. “As agelong arsenic hunting dogs stay extracurricular ineligible protection, they will proceed arsenic victims of an manufacture that exploits and discards them,” nan group warned. Pacma cited its study, based connected information from one-third of Spain’s animal shelters, revealing complete 12,000 hunting dogs abandoned successful 2023 alone.

The lawsuit shows nan heavy divisions successful Spain’s statement complete animal use and hunting practices. While hunters represent a enslaved of care, activists reason systemic exploitation still continues.

Seprona’s probe is ongoing, pinch imaginable negligence charges looming against nan carrier firm. The surviving dogs person been recovered, but nan incident reveals a greater request for stricter regulations successful animal carrier and hunting.