27 dead dogs found in a van in Palma

The Civil Guard has opened an investigation into the deaths of 27 hunting dogs found dead inside a van aboard a ship that arrived from Barcelona and docked Saturday morning in the port of Palma. The dogs belonged to a group of hunters from Mallorca who were returning from Lithuania, where they had been training the animals for the woodcock hunting season, the newspaper reported. Latest NewsAccording to sources within the Civil Guard, of the 36 dogs being transported inside the van, only nine survived. The Nature Protection Service (Seprona) has taken charge of the investigation to determine the causes of the incident, while agents await the results of the necropsies to be performed on the deceased animals. Upon discovering the situation upon their arrival in Palma, the hunters notified the shipping company, which alerted the Civil Guard, who are now investigating the cause. The Balearic Hunting Federation regrets the death of the dogs.

The Balearic Hunting Federation has expressed its sorrow over the deaths of 27 dogs and noted that other dogs in the group were also seriously injured. The president of the Balearic organization, Marta Lliteres, conveyed her support to the dog owners, who stated they are "deeply affected by the incident." In a statement, the organization emphasized that for any hunter, their dogs are not simply working animals, but "inseparable" companions, the result of years of dedication and affection. According to the federation, the hunters had hired a company specializing in animal transport to ensure the dogs' well-being and safety. The journey from Lithuania to Barcelona proceeded normally, and it was during the sea voyage to Palma that 27 of the 36 animals being transported on the ship died.

Nevertheless, the Balearic Hunting Federation has offered its full cooperation with the authorities and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, animal welfare, and ethical and responsible hunting.

PACMA demands greater protection

The animal rights party PACMA has called on the Balearic Government to include hunting dogs in the Animal Protection Law and the Decree on Zoological Facilities to prevent incidents like the one in which 27 hunting dogs died during a ferry crossing from Barcelona to Mallorca. The party believes this incident exemplifies the treatment of dogs used for hunting, which, it asserts, "are considered tools and not sentient beings with rights." The political group points out that they were excluded from the Animal Welfare Law due to pressure from hunting industry interest groups. PACMA also requests the inclusion of these animals in the Decree on Zoological Facilities, from which, it claims, they are currently being excluded, "to guarantee controls and minimum conditions for transport, rest, and safety." According to a 2023 study by the animal rights group, using data reported by a third of the animal shelters in Spain, more than 12,000 hunting dogs were abandoned in Spain that year alone. "As long as hunting dogs remain outside the legal framework for protection, they will continue to be victims of an industry that exploits them, puts them at risk, and discards them when they are no longer useful," the group concluded in a statement.