Our first investigation of the new year takes us to Spain. At a slaughterhouse in the south of the country, we meet Mateo and Ricardo. The truck, which is transporting around 45 heavy bull calves, is worryingly overloaded and completely filthy. Mateo is lying in the middle of the compartment. In the cramped space of the transporter, it is almost impossible to tell which body part belongs to which animal. The animals' fur is covered in old, encrusted manure. Their bodies are soaked in feces and urine from the vehicle. Ricardo is also lying on the floor. His head, with its normally white blaze, is wedged between other animals standing above him.
The transport of Mateo and Ricardo illustrates in a shocking way how animals are degraded to mere cargo and how little consideration is given to them and their welfare. In order to make transport as cost-effective and profit-optimizing as possible, more animals than permitted are loaded and no bedding is used. In addition, judging by the transport conditions, the animals were kept on the truck much longer than necessary.
Animal welfare violations are unfortunately not an exception in national animal transport – not only in Spain – but far too common a reality. Inspections by the competent authorities are rare. In many places, there is a lack of time and personnel to check compliance with animal welfare regulations, and priorities lie elsewhere.
That is why we are glad to be on site. We document the injustice inflicted on animals out of indifference or profit-seeking, ensure that the suffering of animals comes to light, and repeatedly call on those responsible to act.
