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Do you want to put some horses in a steel container and then transport them on a cargo ship in the summer heat? Most people will compassionately understand that this is unethical and dangerous for animals, but TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico is currently transporting purebreds by cargo ship from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Juan.
It is a grueling journey of several days, and some horses cannot take it. Long journeys, lack of space and often limited air circulation can result in a sharp rise in temperature inside shipping containers, which can quickly become dangerous for horses. High temperatures put horses at risk for heatstroke, brain damage, and death. This mode of transport is unethical even in colder temperatures, as confined spaces can cause serious health problems such as edema or laminitis. Transporting horses by cargo ship is so dangerous that in 2019 eight horses died aboard the TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico container ship while transporting from Jacksonville to San Juan – a brutal practice that has not yet been stopped by the company.
People in the racing industry continue to transport horses on cargo ships because the cost is often lower than the cost of air travel. The owners save at the expense of horses. TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico has refused to ban this outdated practice, although there are humane modes of transportation. With temperatures expected to skyrocket in the coming summer months, it is likely that more horses will die unless immediate action is taken.
Please ask TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico to put an end to this.