The death of a horse last Saturday in Zapote’s bullring caused outrage among the population and animal defense organizations. However, the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) assures that this was the procedure that had to be followed, due to the type of wound the horse suffered. The animal was injured in the stomach by a bull, so they had to put it down.
A few hours before, the organization Save Movement Costa Rica demonstrated against animal abuse outside the arena.
According to Bernardo Jaén, director of SENASA, they have a team of experts not only in Zapote, but in all the places where this type of activity is carried out. They are the ones that determine what are the measures that should be taken, according to the situation of each animal.
At the time of the event we were present. The veterinarians of SENASA, the Legal Department, and the veterinarian hired by the Commission of Celebrations assessed the clinical picture and made the decision to put it down due to the characteristics of the wound, exposure and contamination of internal organs. They applies a medication to reduce pain and cause death without pain,”
said Jaén.
Many of the comments on social networks question both the decision to participate and perform this type of entertainment activities. However, the director of SENASA assured that there was no abuse, because it was unintentional.
This is not animal abuse because there was no intention, this was an accident of the event and therefore it does not qualify as animal abuse. The decision to cause death without pain is made by professionals who conduct a clinical assessment of the situation,”
said Jaén.
He commented that due to the loss of blood and the characteristics of the skin, it was not possible to perform surgery for the recovery of the animal.
According to Marilú Arroyo, president of the Animal Welfare Network, this was a situation that could have been prevented if SENASA worked with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in this type of events.
If this brutal Roman circus did not exist, this would not happen […]But here is too much money and power behind the bullfights, that’s why they continue to prescribe them,”
said Arroyo.