Cuban animal protectors have reported on social media this Thursday that, by order of the police in Varadero, Matanzas province, horse-drawn carriages used by tourists have to wait under the sun until they are rented, in an area that lacks trees or shelters for shade.
Miriam Romero Nasiff reported in the Facebook group "Society for the Protection of Animals in Cuba" that the police ordered the carriage drivers to place the horses in an area exposed to intense sunlight, without any roofs, trees, or awnings to provide shade.
"Why is this happening? Where is the animal protection? This measure is quite cruel," said the activist, who clarified that the text of the complaint and the photos were sent by a friend.
The publication clarifies that the horses must remain in that location "until they are rented by a domestic or foreign tourist," the text stated.
The recent incident of animal abuse has sparked outrage among activists, who have shared the report on social media.
One of the most passionate animal rights advocates in Cuba is Yenney Caballero, who took to Facebook to highlight this new offense against horses.
"I want a law that protects the rights of animals in my country, a law with severe penalties and fines that will put a stop to so much abuse," Caballero stated, implying that horse owners should ignore the police's orders.
“Horses are the hardest-working animals in this country; they support entire families, meet various needs, and just look at how they are treated,” the activist pointed out, emphasizing that this animal is one of the most abused and mistreated in Cuba.
This is not the first time that social media has echoed reports of mistreatment against horses.
An incident of animal abuse occurred in the municipality of Artemisa, where a horse was forced to pull a car with people inside, according to reports on social media.
A young man struck the horse during a two-block ride to make it move forward, despite its evident exhaustion, according to a complaint on Facebook by the user identified as Stlanscloe Yudeimy, who filmed the incident and confronted the individual for mistreating the animal.
In the Luyanó neighborhood of the Diez de Octubre municipality in Havana, another incident of abuse occurred: a horse used to pull a carriage for children collapsed in the middle of the street, as reported by a witness to CiberCuba.
Images sent to the newsroom show the animal lying half on the ground, making futile attempts to get up, while dozens of people watch the distressing scene.
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