A tragedy occurred on board a ferry travelling from Barcelona to Mallorca, shocking not only Spain but the whole of Europe. In the ship’s cargo hold, a van was found containing 36 hunting dogs. When the ferry arrived at the port of Palma, 27 of the animals were already dead.
According to the Guardia Civil, the investigation is being led by its environmental unit, Seprona. The preliminary version suggests a failure or shutdown of the van’s ventilation system, which caused the dogs to suffocate during the overnight ferry crossing. The transport was carried out by We Travel Home, a company specialising in the transportation of animals, which had already accompanied the same dogs on the road journey from Lithuania to Barcelona. According to the owners, the dogs arrived in Spain in good condition, and the tragedy occurred specifically during the overnight ferry passage.
The Balearic Hunting Federation expressed deep regret over what happened, calling the dogs “not tools, but loyal companions, bonded through years of respect and trust.” Representatives of the organisation stressed that the hunters had hired a specialised firm to ensure the safety of the animals and called for a full investigation of the circumstances.
The reaction from PACMA, the animal rights party, was very different. Activists described the incident as “another example of hunting dogs being treated as disposable,” and demanded an amendment to the Balearic Animal Welfare Law, which excludes hunting dogs from legal protection. According to PACMA, more than 12,000 hunting dogs were abandoned in Spain last year alone.
The reaction from PACMA, the animal rights party, was very different. Activists described the incident as “another example of hunting dogs being treated as disposable,” and demanded an amendment to the Balearic Animal Welfare Law, which excludes hunting dogs from legal protection. According to PACMA, more than 12,000 hunting dogs were abandoned in Spain last year alone.
The investigation is ongoing. If it is proven that the transport company violated safety regulations or acted negligently, it could face criminal liability and the loss of its licence. However, regardless of the legal outcome, the deaths of 27 dogs serve as a reminder that transporting living beings requires not just formal compliance with rules, but a true understanding of responsibility. Every living creature on the road depends entirely on the people in charge.
Anilogistic’s Opinion
We believe that tragedies like this cannot be dismissed as “accidents.” Transporting animals is not just logistics — it is a responsibility for living beings who depend entirely on humans.
No rule or licence can replace basic empathy: leaving animals locked inside a car or van during a sea crossing is unacceptable, especially on overnight routes where temperature and air cannot be monitored.
This incident should serve as a wake-up call not only for transport companies, but also for owners, hunting associations, and lawmakers. Animals are not cargo or equipment — they breathe, feel, and rely on us for safety.
We hope that the ongoing investigation in Spain will lead not only to accountability, but to stronger regulations that prevent such tragedies in the future.
We believe that tragedies like this cannot be dismissed as “accidents.” Transporting animals is not just logistics — it is a responsibility for living beings who depend entirely on humans.
No rule or licence can replace basic empathy: leaving animals locked inside a car or van during a sea crossing is unacceptable, especially on overnight routes where temperature and air cannot be monitored.
This incident should serve as a wake-up call not only for transport companies, but also for owners, hunting associations, and lawmakers. Animals are not cargo or equipment — they breathe, feel, and rely on us for safety.
We hope that the ongoing investigation in Spain will lead not only to accountability, but to stronger regulations that prevent such tragedies in the future.