Month: April 2020
I (Mark) have a monthly standing order with the Harmony Fund which provides animal rescue and food services around the world to those in need. I have a passion to help stray animals in Serbia; and I make the request that my donation goes to helping Serbian animals (an optional request).
As you can see below, it gives me great pleasure to know that many Serbian animals, and lots of others, are being helped to get food (from me) via the Harmony Fund membership scheme.
https://harmonyfund.org/harmony-fund
If you can become a Harmony member and give a donation to help feed animals in need then please click on the link to sign up, or give a one off donation.
In their own words:
The Harmony Fund
The Harmony Fund offers a lifeline to so called “underdog” animal rescue squads across the planet. Our partners are the small but incredibly courageous and effective animal rescue teams who operate in parts of the world where funding is very hard to come by. Our supporters are helping us to dramatically impact the capacity of these rescue teams to touch thousands upon thousands of animals who might otherwise be unreachable.
Gratitude and respect are at the cornerstone of our relationship with our supporters. We do not expose our supporters to graphic photos of animal suffering or distribute dire forecasts about animal suffering. Instead we focus on a spirit of joy and determination as we pursue essential operations to provide food, veterinary medicine, shelter and protection from cruelty for animals worldwide.
Home page – https://harmonyfund.org/
Here is a video which shows the amazing work done by Harmony to get food to animals in need. We are very pleased that our monthly standing order helps to put food into hungry little mouths. Stray animals don’t ask for anything; survival is their daily aim, and by helping them with the basics such as food you will be helping to make their daily lives just a little easier:
Harmony Fund Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFundAnimalRescue/
Watch some amazing videos by clicking on this link – https://harmonyfund.org/videos
Today we have so much to be grateful for and it’s all because of you. The last several weeks have been transformational as we locked arms with rescue squads internationally to provide food for thousands of animals in shelters and on the street.
The rescuers typically start before dawn to prepare meals for the animals who wait for them on the street, in warehouses, on the grounds of cemeteries and at the edge of the forest.
The folks we work with don’t have uniforms or nice vans with a logo painted on the side. They are running a bare bones mission using the most meager of resources, yet they are saving lives hand-over-fist. Over and over again, they tell us how astonished they are that people from far away are helping. https://youtu.be/DMwX0b2sya0
Our aid means the difference between them being able to feed the animals once a week and being able to feed them every day.
Today we send out special thanks to our monthly donors who truly move mountains.
We hope all of you will enjoy this small update on our work.
https://harmonyfund.org/harmony-fund
Regards Mark
Communication offensive at Müller-Meat-Company: Around three weeks after the start of the massive corona infection among employees with 300 people affected, the management responded to the “most serious crisis” in the company’s 50-year history by telephone conference.
Almost at the same time, the DGB (German trade union federation) also takes cell phones in hand and calls the family business in Birkenfeld the “cause of the catastrophe”.
According to the government in Bucharest, more than 200 Romanian workers have been infected with the corona virus. The Foreign Ministry said that they are not seasonal workers, but employees of subcontractors of the German meat company.
In addition to the Romanians, around 100 other local workers had also tested positive for the corona virus, the ministry also said, citing information from the German authorities. All infected people are in quarantine. According to the local authorities, about five infected people are being treated in hospital, and one is being ventilated with machines.
A total of 500 Romanians are employed in the slaughterhouse, but also from Poland and Hungary.
“No foreign employee is threatened existentially”, say the miller’s bosses against the rumors about the social situation. All are covered by health and social insurance – this is also part of the audit guidelines. The fact that there are so many foreign workers is due to the situation in Germany. Regionally there are hardly any butcher jobs.
The operation with a total of 1100 employees continues to run “somewhat reduced”, said a spokesman for the company. 50 new employees are coming.
At Müller-Company, the effects of the major infection are that “the meat products are fully marketable and can be consumed safely”.
The slaughtering capacities had been adjusted to the lower workforce, delivery obligations could be “fully” fulfilled.
Companies and the health department see no risk to consumers.
https://bnn.de/lokales/pforzheim/noch-mehr-corona-infizierte-bei-mueller-fleisch-in-birkenfeld
I have no comment, but…The German animal rights organization (“Animal Peace”) has written a humorous and very enlightening comment on this incident:
Animal-Peace 
curious:
Commissioned by animals, we have the following questions for the corona experts:
1. Can viruses be transmitted to the body parts of the murder victims?
2. How long does the virus survive on corpses?
3. Up to what temperature can corpses be heated so that the virus remains active when consumed?
4. Can the human get infected through virus consumption?
In anticipation of positive news, we remain with kind regards,
ANIMAL PEACE
My best regards to all, Venus
In the corona quarantine, a dog or a cat as a playmate? Sounds like fun, but the bizarre trend is causing trouble in the shelter.
Ban on contact, keeping distance and little prospect of loosening in times of the corona crisis. Sitting at home is often particularly difficult to bear, especially for single people. But also families with children often hardly know how to keep the little ones busy.
How good that there are dogs and cats, many think. A bizarre trend has developed in Hessen, Germany.
Coronavirus is the trigger: A dog or a cat forbidding contact – the phone does not stand still in the shelter!!
Shortly after the Corona ban on contact was also introduced in Hesse, the telephone of the “Animal Protection Association Frankfurt am Main” suddenly does not stand still in the shelter!!
And the staff at the shelter were amazed when the first request reached them: Whether it is possible to rent dogs and cats. Temporary – because of the corona crisis.
The pet, dog or cat would then be returned when the corona measures were relaxed again.
And it was far from the case of individual inquiries, explains Sabine Urbainsky from the Frankfurt animal shelter: “It was really a lot, it was actually so bad at the beginning that the phone rang almost only because of that. The most popular loan pet was the dog, and cats were only asked occasionally”.
Corona crisis: temporary pets – and if the corona measures are relaxed, the animal can be given back.
With sentences like “I would have a lot of time for a dog in the home office right now,” and “with me the pet is better off than in the kennel”, people of all stripes justified their request.
Even a father called, says the animal shelter manager from Frankfurt.
Because his son is in front of his computer all the time, a dog would be great (!!!). Then the son would finally go out again.
But if the school started again after the corona measures were relaxed, the family would want to give the dog back because there was no time for a pet.
Of course no dog and cat or other pets will be arranged on a temporary basis, says the shelter manager Sabine Urbainsky.
“The pet doesn’t understand the whole thing. It thinks it has a new home and then suddenly ends up in the shelter again. There are pets that break down mentally, ” explains the shelter manager.“Dogs or cats that suddenly lose their homes often develop lethargic behavior and refuse to eat. The animal shelter staff then have their hands full to pep up the animal again”.
https://www.fnp.de/frankfurt/hund-katze-corona-tierheim-frankfurt-ausleihen-trend-haustiere-coronavirus-kontaktverbot-zr-13714548.html
And I mean..We can see what the current moral of this society is: use and throw away.
There is nothing worse for an animal than losing its home.
The joy, the conviviality, the security that is built up while living together is gone in one day.
This is man’s betrayal of the animal!
If some feel lonely and underemployed, have to go to animal shelters themselves and lead the – also lonely – dogs to a walk. Or help with the amount of work that the stressed employees do for the animals.
The loneliness in Corona times is temporary.
The loneliness of the animals in the animal shelters is lifelong.
Be a responsible adopter and give an animal love and partnership for life!
FOR LIFE!
My best regards to all, Venus
1. rainforest
2. clearing
3. soy for animal fattening
4. dead landscapes
Live vegan
Protect your children’s future
Protect nature and animals
Regards and good night from Venus
The Baltic wolf population is scientifically estimated at 3,600 individuals, of which 600 live in Latvia.
There was a premium for wolf shootings until 1999, and wolf hunting was fully open until 2003. That means there were no requirements in terms of a shooting plan. Over 200 wolves were killed annually in the 1990s, and nearly 400 in 1996.
On average, half of the gray dogs killed in the Baltic States fall in Latvia.
Latvia has it all: lynx, wolf, elk, deer, sow, deer – and everything can be hunted in Latvia.
Latvia is a member of the EU but has not signed the species protection directives.
Do you wonder? Nobody in the country does that. The wolves are hunted as usual, like in four other EU countries, namely in Lithuania, Finland, Greece and parts of Spain.
In 1997, Latvia acceded to the Bern Convention, an agreement to conserve European wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats, provided that no special protection was granted to the wolf.
In the accession negotiations with the EU, the Baltic States achieved a so-called geographical exception, namely: Wolf was recognized as a population with a favorable conservation status.
Wolf hunting is legal under the following conditions:
1. application of the hunting methods permitted in the directive,
2. continuous population surveillance,
3. Implementation of more suitable protective measures
There are psychopaths who dream of killing a lion in the African steppe, a polar bear in the eternal ice or a magnificent lynx in Latvia!
For many serial offenders, it is a great feeling when the trophy is stuffed over the fireplace at home or used as a bed mat.
In fact, there are a number of organizers worldwide who handle such requests – for a lot of money. Hunting a polar bear in Canada costs up to 40,000 euros, elephants and lions in Africa up to 60,000 euros and black rhino even up to 280,000 euros. A shot at the wolf in Macedonia costs 3,000 euros.
Nevertheless, there is great interest.
In Bulgaria and Romania, this primitive pleasure of killing the wolf for pleasure is far cheaper. There the hunt for the wild animal costs 400 to 500 euros. And if one of these hunting tourists shot a wolf in an EU member state, he is also allowed to import it into Germany, according to customs officials.
Quote from the story of a German hunter who took part in a hunting tour against wolf: “Latvia is not only the cheaper alternative, no, in Latvia you can legally hunt wolves. Captured wolf trophies can be prepared and taken to Germany with CITES- approval *! It was clear to all of us: we will be back “!
* (CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
P.S: We got a call for help from blog readers.
They asked us to write a separate article about the brutality and unscrupulousness of the lynx and wolf hunters in Latvia.
Hunting is legal in this country and psychopaths make shameless use of it.
We therefore only see the possibility of petitioning:
(a) to the Government of Latvia and
(b) to the EU Commission.
Of course, we have to say in advance that the results of a petition are not always positive, even if they are widely accepted.
However, a petition brings up unknown crimes that most countries want to avoid.
In any case, we must not give up, we have to keep fighting, we owe it to the animals.
Best regards to all, Venus
WAV Comment – when it comes to the enforcement of EU animal welfare regulations, the EU is basically a chocolate fireman, melting away with do nothings, but putting out press statements which, if you are not involved with EU ‘ways’, would lead the normal person to think that they are on top of the situation. Believe us, when it comes to live animal transport, the EU never has, is currently not, and never will be able to enforce its own slapdash Regulation 1/2005, on the ‘protection of animals during transport’. The regulation is a simple, formal EU smokescreen which all its officials and Commissioners can hide within whilst the reality is that the abuse and suffering of animals in transport continues within the EU (and globally) on a daily basis.
‘After the serious violations of the EU Regulation 1/2005 (Transport Regulation) by Romania in sending nearly 70,000 sheep to the Persian Gulf last summer, an audit by DG Sante has found that the country’s central competent authority did not provide the necessary information, instructions or access to suitably qualified staff to support official veterinarians in checking the technical requirements of livestock vessels’.
So what is actually new here ? – DG Sante investigations now finding out what EU animal welfare organisations have been telling, and showing (with undercover investigations) for the last 25 years or more.
The real question now is ‘what are the EU going to do about it all ?’. We think the response from the EU will be a fairly simple one – ‘nothing really’.
And now at a time when the Coronavirus can be used as an excuse, not a reason, for not taking action. Actions; if there ever were any, by the EU have probably been put back at least another year or more regarding live animal transport (fortunately for the EU) due to a virus called ‘Coronavirus’. And yes, Cornavirus appears to have originated in animal wet markets in China due to the non enforcement of regulations by the Chinese authorities. Spot the link ? – we can.
So now are we going to witness Bernard Van Goethem (pictured above) – DG Sante section ‘G’ – ‘Crisis management in food, animals and plants’ actually step up to the plate and do something; or is he going to do his usual, of waving his arms in the air whilst making statements about not being able to do anything !
We know a little about his ineffectiveness; and have had personal interactions with him in the past:
https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2016/06/29/mr-van-goethem-resign-now/
We don’t ask for your money, never have done and never will. We don’t ask for your cash to undertake yet more investigations to gather evidence which as a result, is continually ignored by the EU ‘chocolate brigade’ under the smokescreen of Reg 1/2005.
We don’t need yet more supporter funds to keep on gathering information which forever results in nothing from the EU; we have had experience of this filthy trade for over 30 years; and we know how it works. If legislators cannot enforce the legislation; then possibly it needs a virus to shut the entire system down and make them think what they are going to do next.
A ban on live animal transport throughout the EU by the EU regulators would be more than welcome; but then we have the national financial implications, the meat mafia and the meat lobbyists to contend with. Then again, the huge downturn in milk consumption, combined with the massive decline in meat eating – one could say that the industry is doing a pretty good job in killing itself, without the need for presenting further evidence to the ‘do nothing’ officials at the EU.
Lets now await what action the EU takes with regard to EU member state Romania and the non enforcement of EU Regulation 1/2005 for the ‘protection of’ animals during transport.
Sadly, I think I will be holding my breath for a long time !
But, we keep on fighting;
Regards Mark.
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https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/news/dg-sante-audit-reveals-major-problems-live-export-romania
DG SANTE audit reveals major problems with live export from Romania
27 April 2020
EurogroupforAnimals
After the serious violations of the EU Regulation 1/2005 (Transport Regulation) by Romania in sending nearly 70,000 sheep to the Persian Gulf last summer, an audit by DG Sante has found that the country’s central competent authority did not provide the necessary information, instructions or access to suitably qualified staff to support official veterinarians in checking the technical requirements of livestock vessels. Eurogroup for Animals urges the EU Commission to start infringement proceedings against Romania.
The lack of proper checks translated into animals transported alive with inadequate equipment to ensure their welfare during transport, and on a vessel with serious structural problems. Worryingly, this is likely to have affected many more animals: as highlighted in the report, the authority in one port inspected by DG SANTE is responsible for the approval of 43 of the 79 (56%) livestock vessels approved by the Member States, so “there is a distinct possibility that animal welfare issues arise during sea transport on board these vessels”.
Indeed, past investigations have shown that during such voyages, heat and humidity combinations reach levels that cause heat stroke, resulting in animals literally cooking alive in the holds of vessels. Eurogroup for Animals’ member organisation Animals International, who were following this particular 2019 Romanian shipment’s progress last summer, found the vessel stopping at Gulf ports in temperatures of 47°C.
Auditors tasked with assessing the level of enforcement of the Transport Regulation at the Romanian port also found that there is a general lack of records in the system of controls to ensure animal welfare during transport by sea to non-EU countries. There is no evidence of checks confirming that the animals are fit to continue the journey, or of the adequacy of vessels’ drainage systems. Given the absence of documented procedures, records and support to official veterinarians in checking vessels, auditors concluded that “there is little assurance of the effectiveness of most controls carried out”.
“We welcome the decision of the European Commission to carry out an audit after the tragedy of last summer, and given the results, Romania should stay under strict scrutiny,” says Reineke Hameleers, CEO at Eurogroup for Animals. “Now we call on the Commission to start infringement proceedings against Romania and to start the process of a revision of the Transport Regulation to limit the duration of journeys and end these horrific sea transports for good”.
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We (WAV) covered this shipment of sheep from Romania to the Middle East every day; providing updates of ship positions, temperatures and ports used if applicable. Here are a few links to just a few of our posts so that you can see what we undertook.
https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/07/31/romanian-sheep-transporter-ship-update-31-7-19/
Regards to all – Mark.
The governing board of the Brotherhood of Almonte (Huelva) has decided to suspend the pilgrimage of El Rocío, scheduled between May 29 and June 1, 2020, due to the situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
As reported by the brotherhood in a statement, “due to responsibility” and due to the evolution of the scenario caused by the covid-19, the government board has decided to also suspend all previous acts scheduled in Almonte such as the procession of the Virgen del Rocío through its streets on the 17th or the return to the village of El Rocío on the 24th of the same month.
It is a decision that the governing board of the Matriz de Almonte brotherhood has taken “with pain but with strength” and above all “out of responsibility”, taking into account the recommendations of all the authorities and considering “the highest priority in these Moments should be the only reason for everyone’s attention and concern: health. ”
https://cadenaser.com/emisora/2020/03/23/radio_huelva/1584964080_198844.html
And I mean…More than 20,000 animals are used each year in the Romería del Rocío among horses, oxen and donkeys.
More than 20,000 animals know exhaustion, mistreatment, lack of water and rest, injuries, and also death every year.
This year, and thanks to Corona they won’t have to go through that.
Go, Corona, Go!
My best regards to all, Venus
Virginia Bans Public Contact with Captive Big Cats, Monkeys and Other Exotic Animals
Posted by Jane Wolfe | April 22, 2020
Image Credit: PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay
In a victory for animal welfare, the General Assembly of Virginia has passed a new law banning public contact with captive wild animals, including lions, tigers, bears and monkeys.
Signed into law on April 2 by Gov. Ralph Northam, Senate Bill 1030 makes it illegal for any animal “keeper” to provide or offer direct contact with a “dangerous captive animal” to any member of the public, whether in exchange for payment or not.
In effect, the new legislation will prevent people in Virginia from “petting” these captive animals or posing for photos at cruel roadside zoos and tourist attractions, helping to bring an end to the suffering of innocent animals carelessly used for human amusement.
The bill was passed before the airing of Netflix documentary Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, which offers a glimpse into the big cat industry’s greed and exploitation. It will come into effect on July 1, 2021. Anyone violating the law will be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and subject to a fine of up to $500.
The Commonwealth already has a ban on the private ownership of big cats, but shockingly, there are thousands still being kept as “pets” in the United States. To help save these lions, tigers and other wild felines from unnecessary suffering, please sign LFT’s petition urging House and Senate leaders to pass The Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA).
SIGN: Save Tigers and Lions from Miserable Captivity As ‘Pets’
Posted by Carly Day
Petition Link –
PETITION TARGET: United States House and Senate Leaders
Thousands of big cats are wasting away as “pets” in the United States. These majestic animals are torn from their mothers while only babies and may spend their lives pacing miserably in tiny, cramped cages with no hope of a natural life.
Not only do these animals suffer mentally and physically, but they are also a threat to people, with hundreds of dangerous incidents involving big cats and humans occurring over the last 30 years.
The Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA) seeks to ban private individuals from owning any big cat species and restrict direct contact between these animals and the general public.
“Big cats are powerful predators, not pets, and pose a particular threat to public safety,” said the bill’s sponsor, Senator Richard Blumenthal.
Only licensed facilities would be allowed to house big cats, effectively removing these animals from roadside zoos.
The BCPSA is currently moving through the Senate (S. 2561) and House of Representatives (H.R. 1380) and needs your support!
Sign this petition urging House and Senate leaders to pass this bill, saving thousands of big cats from suffering.
Following Shenzhen’s historic ban in April, Zhuhai has now become the second city in China to introduce a law banning the consumption of cats and dogs.
This welcome legislation, originally reported by China News, comes shortly after a public statement from China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs recognizing dogs as companion animals and not “livestock.”
After May 1 — the date the law goes into effect — anyone selling or consuming dog or cat meat could face financial penalties of up to 20 times the value of that meat, according to a report from Xinhua.
“As the second city in China to ban dog and cat meat, Zhuhai is helping pave the way to a more compassionate future,” said Lady Freethinker founder Nina Jackel. “Activists in China and across the globe have fought so hard to end this cruel and needless industry, and it’s exciting to see true progress happening.”
Shenzhen was the first Chinese city to prohibit its residents from eating cat and dog meat, and this could be the beginning of a domino effect that will lead to a nationwide ban.
As encouraging as this ban is, there are still millions of dogs and cats slaughtered in China’s cruel dog and cat meat trade, which continues throughout other Chinese cities. Lady Freethinker (LFT) is doing everything possible to end this barbaric practice.
If you haven’t yet added your voice, please sign LFT’s petition to save these innocent animals.
World Animals Voice 