12 Horses Are Crammed Into a 40-Foot Steel Shipping Container, That Has Been “Modified” for Horses by Having Windows Cut Out of the Sides, Metal Hay Racks Welded Inside, Small Wooden Dividers Installed To Separate the Animals, and (1) Fan Affixed
Jacksonville, Florida Jun 22, 2021 (Issuewire.com) - 12 horses are crammed into a 40-foot steel shipping container, that has been "modified" for horses by having windows cut out of the sides, metal hay racks welded inside, small wooden dividers installed to separate the animals, and (1) fan affixed to a small window on one end to circulate air. The horses have three feet of space and cannot turn around. The horses are in this box for more than three days. The container is operated by Lagos Trabsport, LLC out of Puerto Rico, and the cargo ship is operated by Tote Marine.
As a comparison, when shipping horses by tractor-trailer from Kentucky to California (a straight 44-hour trip), the horses are free to move around in 8-foot by 6-foot box stalls. Hay and water are continually available, and an attendant is present for the entire trip.
Horses shipped via cargo ship often arrive severely dehydrated, many lose 50-75 lbs during the voyage, are traumatized, sleep-deprived, with several arriving severe respiratory infections, such as pleural pneumonia. Here is a video of a horse that developed pleural pneumonia after being sent via cargo ship
There is a more humane method to transport horses
A 2.5-hour plane flight, also operated by a Saltchuk company that specializes in equine aviation transport, is a much faster, safer, and humane method to transporting on and off the island of Puerto Rico.
Horses have already died!
On April 30, 2019, employees with the shipping agent Hermanos Ruiz loaded 12 Thoroughbred racehorses, ranging in age from 2 to 5, into a 40-foot steel shipping container at the Port of Jacksonville.
Upon its arrival, in San Juan Puerto Rico, 3 days later, dock workers discovered a shocking scene when they unloaded the container; 7 horses had trampled each other to death at some point during the journey. A Hermanos Ruiz employee decided to euthanize (1) a severely injured horse and had all the carcasses transported to a farm and buried. Read the full story here.
Currently, there is a change.org petition circulating that has over 12,000 signatures, including many racing industry leaders and stakeholders, from podcast hosts to famous breeders, jockeys, and owners. In addition to the petition, PETA has also issued an action alert, urging members to speak out. As of the release date, there are more than 56,000 people who have taken action.
Media Contact
Equine Welfare Advocates of PR
Source :Tote Marine
This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.
