Animal protector Yenney Caballero reported on Wednesday a new case of animal abuse in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, where horses used for pulling carts are forced to stand in the sun, burdened with heavy loads, while their owners rest in the shade.
Caballero stated on Facebook that he was able to witness with his own eyes the sad reality of these animals: while their caretakers shelter in the shade, chatting and laughing, the horses remain out in the sun, gaunt and dry, with their heads bowed, suffering like slaves.
The animal protector noted that there are many shaded areas in the municipality that could serve as resting spots for the horses that work hard and support entire families.
The gentleman requested information about the place or institution he should contact to discuss and find a solution to the issue facing the horses: “I just ask to be heard so that they can be moved to a shaded area.”
The passionate advocate concluded her statement with a thought that serves as a guiding principle for her activism: "Animals deserve respect; they are living beings, and I am their voice."
This is not the first time that activists have reported this kind of mistreatment on social media; however, it takes on different nuances in other places.
In July, Cuban animal rights advocates reported on social media that, at the order of the police in Varadero, Matanzas province, horse-drawn carriages used by tourists were made to wait under the sun until rented, in a location lacking trees or shelters for shade.
Miriam Romero Nasiff reported in the Facebook group "Animal Protection Society in Cuba" that the police instructed the carriage drivers to place the horses in an area under the intense sun, without any roof, trees, or awnings to provide shade.
"Why is this happening? Where is the animal protection? This measure is quite cruel," stated the activist, who clarified that the text of the complaint and the photos were sent by a friend.
The animal abuse incident sparked outrage among activists, who shared the report on social media.
In June, several Cubans on social media expressed their outrage over the mistreatment of a horse in Villa Clara, which resulted in the animal's death.
The activist Yenney Caballero, a strong advocate for animal rights in Cuba, reported the incident on Facebook and urged the government to take urgent action to hold those responsible accountable and amend the Animal Welfare Decree to impose stricter penalties.
Last year, the Cuban animal rights activist Betty Batista confronted the abusive owner of a pony, took the animal away, and sheltered it inside her home in Havana until the authorities arrived.
The woman, who is a rescuer, posted a video on her Facebook page in which she confronted the owners of the animal when they came to claim it. She told them she would only hand it over if one of them provided an official document so that they could be located by the police.
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