Month: October 2020

Farm Animals

Denmark wants to end the tethering of dairy cows

Denmark will prohibit the tethering of cattle from 2027 and is thus taking a forward-looking step towards the more animal-friendly keeping of cattle.
PROVIEH calls on the German government to take a role model from our neighboring country and also to ban as soon as possible the form of husbandry that is not compatible with the Animal Welfare Act.

Cows in chains, Germany

October 13, 2020: The Danish government has decided to phase out the tethering of cattle.
By 2027, the fixation of social and curious animals in Denmark will be a thing of the past.
Organic farms will have to get out of tethering as early as 2024, and the ban will even apply to new buildings in 2022.

PROVIEH welcomes this decision in favor of animals.

Denmark’s Agriculture Minister Mogens Jensen described the decision as a compromise solution through which animal welfare is actively promoted, but which also gives farmers sufficient time to adapt to the new rules thanks to the transition periods.

PROVIEH would like an equally energetic government that credibly implements the state goal of animal protection anchored in the Basic Law and also in Germany puts an end to the permanent restraint of animals.

Cows in chains, Germany

“Denmark is showing courage with the long-overdue abolition of tethering – I would like our government to show similar courage.
Tethering deprives the social, curious cattle of any opportunity to express their own behavior and is not compatible with the Animal Welfare Act. That is why Germany should urgently follow suit. “ (Anne Hamester, specialist for cattle at PROVIEH)

Background

In Germany, every fourth dairy cow is still fixed in a tethered post. This type of husbandry is still very present in southern Germany in particular.
First and foremost, tethering completely contradicts the species-specific needs of cattle and is therefore prohibited: The animals can neither move, clean, scrub nor interact with each other of their own species, for example by licking each other as a proof of friendship.
In addition, curious animals cannot explore their surroundings, cannot follow their natural reproductive behavior, and do not have any social behavior.

Thus, the scientific debate comes to the consensus that tethering is not an animal-friendly procedure, as it severely restricts the species-specific behavior of the animals.

PROVIEH has therefore been calling for an end to tethering for years. Even the Federal Council rated tethering as a violation of animal welfare in 2016, but the legislature is writhing around a ban on tethering all year round.

Dänemark beschließt Ausstieg aus der Anbindehaltung von Milchkühen – Deutschland sollte nachziehen

 

And I mean…The “tethering”: it is one of the most painful practices of the milk mafia!

That means for each of these cattle: to spend 275 days a year on a 2 m2 area, tied at the neck with a chain or between two metal rods. So getting up and lying down remains the only movement that is still possible.

They can’t walk around, turn around, or even lick areas of itchy skin.
Often the cows are tied so closely together that they cannot lie down at the same time.

It is a crime that is done to cattle when they have to eke out their lives in one place in small, dark stables with a chain around their necks.
Not even straw is required by law and so the animals lie on the hard concrete floor.

Their entire life the cows live in a dark barn that is dirty with feces. Lying in one’s own excrement causes protracted and painful udder diseases and skin wounds.

Although many sides are calling for a ban on this cruelty to animals, the lobbyist of the meat industry and German Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner speaks out against a ban on this attitude. It is a shame for Germany that this person is still in this post.

Denmark is so far the only EU country that expressly prohibits the incorporation of laws from 2022.

In the rest of the EU, the milk and meat mafia successfully prevented an explicit ban, because for them the cows are one thing above all else: milk machines and meat.

We will continue to oppose this painful bondage, no animal is born to live in chains.
We are sure that tethering will soon be a thing of the past.

We are working hard on it!

My best regards to all, Venus

General News, Hunting

World Lemur Day

You can see one lemur spin his head in psychological distress while trapped in a cramped cage 😔
Zoos deprive lemurs of their freedom and sometimes even their families.

Never visit them!!

 

And I mean…It is collective nonsense to believe that zoos help protect species.
It is only prisons with live animals that parents visit with their children so that they learn that innocent and completely defenseless animals have to live in loneliness, suffering, and deprivation of liberty for a lifetime.

Zoos are commercially operated entertainment establishments that breed for their own display needs.
The zoos bring the argument about conservation, research, and education for children only to justify their existence

But as soon as children see that orangutans and monkeys live in the tropical rainforest at all and that almost exclusively high up in the trees where they build their nests, then they understand it has nothing to do with the animal that is apathetic in the zoo crouching behind a pane of glass on a bare concrete floor and bored to death.

A zoo is and remains an amusement for the visiting people. Nothing else.

Never visit a zoo! Never take your kids to the zoo!

Every documentary film conveys more knowledge and arouses more empathy than a visit to the zoo could ever do.

My best regards to all, Venus

General News

Australia: NSW stud owned by Gerry Harvey among those accused in parliament of sending racehorses to slaughter.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/29/nsw-stud-owned-by-gerry-harvey-among-those-accused-in-parliament-of-sending-racehorses-to-slaughter?CMP=share_btn_tw

NSW stud owned by Gerry Harvey among those accused in parliament of sending racehorses to slaughter

Allegations in Victorian parliament suggest slaughter of racehorses continues in NSW despite rules introduced in 2017

Billionaire Gerry Harvey has apologised after one of his studs sent ex-racehorses to a pet food factory for slaughter, a practice banned in New South Wales, vowing “it will never happen again”.

Allegations aired in Victorian parliament just days before the Melbourne Cup suggest the slaughter of unwanted thoroughbreds is continuing in New South Wales, despite public revelations last year and the NSW racing industry introducing rules in 2017 to stop retired horses being sent to knackeries or abattoirs.

Parliament heard allegations that thoroughbreds from a range of studs had been sent to two pet food factories for slaughter: Kankool Pet Foods and Highland Petfood, both in New South Wales.

Victorian Animal Justice party MP Andy Meddick said that included “a number of racehorses” from the Broombee Stud, owned by Harvey, which had been sent to Highland.

Meddick said the allegations had been brought to his attention by activists with the Farm Transparency Project.

“If you support horse racing this spring carnival, you are also supporting the wholesale slaughter of these majestic animals, who deserve so much better,” Meddick said.

Harvey told the Guardian he had been in contact with his stud and confirmed that horses were sent to pet food factories.

He said the horses were to be euthanised and had vet certificates stating they needed euthanasia. Harvey said he has now seen those certificates.

But he said the stud was not aware that NSW rules – unlike in other states – forbid sending horses to knackeries even if they were about to be euthanised. Harvey said there was no malice or intent behind the stud’s actions and it was a mistake.

“You end up unwittingly in a situation like this, not of your own making,” he said.

Go to Page 2 to read more.

Continue reading “Australia: NSW stud owned by Gerry Harvey among those accused in parliament of sending racehorses to slaughter.” →
Farm Animals, General News, Stray Animals, Uncategorized

South Korea: Dog Meat Farms – “There is No Future in Dog Meat at All, it’s Already Dying and Will Fall Apart Completely,” Says Dog Farmer. Your Victory !

31/10/20  WAV Comment:

Well this is the best news ever to start the weekend.  As many of you will know, we have been very critical of the South Korean government for not taking action on this issue several years ago – it was one electoral issue that the government campaign was won on – read more:

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/10/26/south-korea-pre-election-promises-that-once-elected-become-non-reality/

Regardless, now people power is getting the changes; with or without the help of governments.  They should take note; especially with the issue in the USA on 3/11/20.

We at WAV have also tried to play our part and support our wonderful friends at ‘Korean Animal Rights’ (KARA)  https://m.facebook.com/karakoreaanimalrights/  – ‘Korean Dogs’  and the ‘Humane Society International’ (HIS) https://www.hsi.org/  in getting these hell holes closed down.  It now looks as if, with your support and actions; a much changing (pro animal welfare) stance by younger Koreans, and the fate of the suffering dogs being given world attention; South Korea is now on the way to closing down all of its dog meat farms – and that is the word from a dog farmer himself (Mr Kim), who declares that “There is no future in dog meat at all, it’s already dying and will fall apart completely,”.

You can see many of our actions; with links to the above campaign groups, by visiting:  https://worldanimalsvoice.com/?s=south+korea

So; people sometimes ask us the big question if signing a petition or sending the odd e mail; to authorities does really make a difference.  Here is your proof it does, that with constant tenacity by animal welfare organisations to continue the fight; un questionable evidence showing the cruelty involved; supported by realistic video footage; be in no doubt; your actions do make a huge difference, so keep it up.

The closure of Yuliin is the next big target on the dog meat issue.

Check out some of our campaign work on Yulin by clicking on the following:

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/?s=yulin

Before we go; please spare a thought for all the dogs of the meat trade who are not with us any more.  They were cold, they were fed the worst scraps ever; and their end was the most despicable ever.  All for the want of some human beings.  Now we move on and will turn corners to stop this obscene abuse.

Regards Mark

WAV.

From ‘The Independent’ (UK national newspaper) – London;

South Korea starts to close dog meat farms as attitudes change

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/south-korea-dog-meat-farms-animal-welfare-attitudes-humane-society-b1426120.html

‘There is no future in dog meat at all, it’s already dying and will fall apart completely,’ says former dog meat farmer

A charity has closed its 17th dog meat farm in South Korea as more people in the country support a ban on dog meat consumption.

Washington-based animal rights group, Humane Society International, announced it closed a farm that had nearly 200 dogs, which were bred and raised for slaughter in the dog meat trade.

The dogs, mainly Korean jinxes and mastiffs, were rescued and taken to the US to be adopted.

The farm was operated by a farmer named Kim Il-hwan, who had been in the industry for around 40 years. In exchange for closing the farm, he was given financial compensation and career assistance from HSI.

Mr Kim said the industry was shrinking and business had been difficult for the past decade.

“There is no future in dog meat at all, it’s already dying and will fall apart completely,” he said of the industry. “And dog farming is physically hard and I’m getting old, so I want to get out. 40 years ago it was different, but now it’s over for dog farming.”

An opinion poll commissioned by HSI suggests that Mr Kim is right – 84 per cent of those polled said they do not or will not eat dog and almost 60 per cent supported a legislative ban on the trade.

The poll, conducted by Neilsen, also found 57 per cent of South Koreans believe dog meat consumption reflects poorly on the country, an increase from 37 per cent in 2017.

Nara Kim, HSI’s dog meat campaigner in South Korea, said: “More people in South Korea are interested in animal welfare and the environment, and so when they see footage of our dog farm closures on the news showing the animals suffering and filthy conditions, or read about dog meat exposés by other Korean groups, they are really shocked and upset.

“The inevitable drop in sales is leading more dog farmers to help them start a new life. But we hope in time the Korean government will adopt this type of approach to phase out the dog meat industry for good.”

The dogs rescued from this farm will arrive in the US on Friday and will be housed in temporary shelters in Washington DC and Montreal, Canada.

According to Kitty Block, CEO of HSI, the dogs will then go to animal shelter partners in Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania after several weeks to be adopted out to the public.

“This is the 17th dog meat farm that HSI has helped close, part of a campaign to show dog meat farmers, the South Korean government and the South Korean people that there is a better path forward for us all, humans and animals, a path that celebrates the human-animal bond in the most special of ways,” she added.

Dog meat has long been a part of South Korean cuisine and around one million dogs are believed to be eaten every year. However, the popularity of the meat has declined and consuming dog meat has become taboo among the younger generation.

In 2018, a city court in Bucheon ruled the killing of dogs for meat is illegal. The ruling was hailed by activists who said it could pave the way for outlawing dog meat consumption entirely.

KEEP UP THE FIGHT

Hunting

Italy: the mafia methods of hunters

Mafia methods: After we had one success after another in Italy this autumn, our opponents are now reaching into the bottom drawer of the bag of tricks: One of our employees received a threatening letter to his private address yesterday:
“Now we know where you live. It’s just a matter of time. You better bring your daughter to the grandparents ”.

Not that we’re particularly scared – it just shows once more what poachers are made of.

Komitee gegen den Vogelmord e.V.

 

And I mean…Whoever massacres defenseless animals uninhibitedly loses all sensitivity to his fellow human beings too.
The hunt leads to dehumanization.

Max Planck and Einstein thought hunters were psychopaths. When I read what methods they use to murder and intimidate, this opinion is confirmed.
Hunters have no task in nature, they do not belong to nature at all.

Hunters are pathetic monsters, who are allowed to continue to exist as such because our society tolerates them, covers them, or is indifferent to their crimes against the weaker.

 

Regards and good night, Venus

Environmental, Farm Animals, General News, Hunting, Live Transport

From the USA: Ethical Vegans Must Reject Donald Trump. Period.

With thanks to Stacey at ‘Our Compass’ for sending the following over.  Mark.

Ethical Vegans Must Reject Donald Trump. Period.

‘Our Compass’ Link as follows:

Ethical Vegans Must Reject Donald Trump. Period.

Note: Regarding Protect the Harvest’s ludicrous and deceptive claim of the nonexistence of factory farms, “family” has zero legal distinction regarding farm size; indeed, a “family” can refer to Kraft, Ford, Trump, Smithfield, and Walmart. The government defines size, and anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of Google can easily find this data. To suggest that the greater than 10 billion land animals killed annually in the US alone come from Uncle Ted’s backyard hinges on desperation to continue the animal holocaust unseen and socially accepted. SL

EPA:

USDA:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines AFOs as agricultural enterprises where animals are kept and raised in confined situations. AFOs congregate animals, feed, manure and urine, dead animals, and production operations on a small land area. Feed is brought to the animals rather than the animals grazing or otherwise seeking feed in pastures, fields, or on rangeland. There are approximately 450,000 AFOs in the United States.

A CAFO is another EPA term for a large concentrated AFO.  A CAFO is an AFO with more than 1000 animal units (an animal unit is defined as an animal equivalent of 1000 pounds live weight and equates to 1000 head of beef cattle, 700 dairy cows, 2500 swine weighing more than 55 lbs, 125 thousand broiler chickens, or 82 thousand laying hens or pullets) confined on site for more than 45 days during the year.  Any size AFO that discharges manure or wastewater into a natural or man-made ditch, stream or other waterway is defined as a CAFO, regardless of size.  CAFOs are regulated by EPA under the Clean Water Act in both the 2003 and 2008 versions of the “CAFO” rule.

Additional resources:

Large animal feeding operations on the rise

99% of U.S. Farmed Animals Live on Factory Farms

Ethical Vegans Must Reject Donald Trump. Period.

Source Free From Harm

By Rosemary Thompson

Veganism, at its essence, is the recognition that all animals have the right to bodily integrity. Humans do not own the bodies, families or lives of other animals – we can be guardians to animals in need of rescue, but animals are never our property or commodities.

Donald Trump has demonstrated, over and over again, that he sees animals only as obstacles to be cleared or resources to be used to serve corporate interests and generate maximum profits.

But his actions don’t reveal a detached view of other species as objects or commodities so much as a seething contempt – for the natural world, for animals and for anyone trying to protect them.

Putting animal haters in charge

At every turn, Trump has placed people who actively oppose animal welfare, wildlife and environmental protection in leadership roles at the agencies responsible for carrying out those protections. Not surprisingly, this fox-guarding-the-hen-house strategy has resulted in dire consequences for animals and their habitat.

In 2016 he selected Brian Klippenstein, executive director of a particularly vile organization called Protect the Harvest, to serve as senior advisor to the USDA – the agency charged with safeguarding animals used in commerce.

Protect the Harvest exists to “save the agricultural industry from the growing threat of the radical animal rights movement” by lobbying against animal welfare legislation, supporting ag-gag bills and promoting animal commoditization in all forms – including circuses, rodeos, dog and horse racing, horse carriages, puppy mills and horse slaughter.

One of the group’s campaigns aims to soothe consumers’ growing concern regarding confined animal feeding operations by assuring the public that factory farming is just a “fictional concept created by activists.”

Next, Trump chose to appease animal agriculture and fossil fuel industry elites by putting climate change denier Scott Pruitt in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency – a move that led to the rollback of several critical climate and pollution regulations, along with the U.S. decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

Pruitt, once honored with an award for his contribution to the success of the beef cattle industry, has described himself as a “leading advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda” and “a big fan of beef.”

Though he resigned in 2018 under the weight of numerous legal and ethics investigations, EPA leadership continues to prioritize industry demands over keeping the country’s air and water clean. In March the agency used the COVID-19 chaos as a cover to release polluting industries from monitoring and reporting requirements.

Perhaps the most stunning hire Trump made was William Perry Pendley, a former oil and gas attorney he installed to wreak havoc on the Bureau of Land Management. That’s the agency charged with conserving public lands – such as national parks – in 11 Western states and Alaska.

Pendley, who spent the bulk of his career lobbying for oil companies’ rights to drill in pristine wilderness, does not believe public lands should exist at all.

He has joked on video about illegally killing and burying endangered animals, and tweeted that climate change is like a unicorn because “neither exists.” He also has a grotesque obsession with eradicating wild horses and burros – insisting that they (rather than cattle grazing or resource extraction) represent an “existential threat” to public lands.

A judge recently ruled that Pendley’s service violates the Constitution because he was never confirmed by the Senate, but so far he has refused to leave his post.

Please click on the above link to continue reading the full article.

Hunting

Hunters aren’t just professional killers. They’re professional liars too

Our topic today: traps and hunters

Below are some of the hollow, de facto false arguments hunters make about traps when the public asks about it

1. Hunter’s statement: Traps are no longer allowed or used in Germany!
That’s not true!

Trapping is a completely common and widespread hunting method in Germany. However, it is hidden from the public by the hunters.

The trap is used in particular to track foxes, marten, and domestic cats. Many dogs also suffer cruel deaths in traps year after year.

2. Hunters’ statement: Only live traps are allowed in Germany.
That’s not true!

In Germany, manslaughter traps, which are supposed to kill immediately, and live traps in which the animal is caught, are allowed.

Homicide traps are supposed to kill immediately, but often don’t. Many animals die a slow and agonizing death in these traps.

Live traps: Live traps are mostly boxes made of wood or wire, into which an animal is lured using bait or fragrances, lures made by industry. According to studies, the animal panics when the trap closes – and is often seriously injured from desperate attempts to escape. Due to the panic fear of death, the animals are under high stress and often die of heart failure.

Others, severely injured, often lie hungry and thirsty for hours or days, tormented by cruel pain, and wait for death.

Although the law requires the traps to be checked once a day, it is reasonable to assume that this will not happen. If the traps e.g. are only checked every 2 – 3 days, this means that the animals caught in the so-called live traps slowly and painfully perish from injuries or stress.

3. Hunter’s statement: After being caught with a live trap, the animals are released back into the wild.
That’s not true!

Most of the animals are killed. The old wives’ tale of the release into the wild is told to the unsuspecting citizen in order to conceal the harsh reality in our forests. Animals caught in live traps by hunters are mostly killed. E.g. Foxes and cats.

“A powerful blow with the narrow side in the neck or over the muzzle does no less than a small-bore pistol – and works silently.” (quoted from K. Hutter, A loud word against the silent hunt)

4. Hunter statement: Traps are only somewhere in the deep, deep forest.
That’s not true!

Traps can be anywhere. They are often set up near high seats or even completely normal paths, from where they can be more easily controlled.
Gardens, allotment gardens, log piles, field trees, concrete pipes in the forest (e.g. under paths), field barns, piles of straw, piles of brushwood, and fences are popular trapping sites.

The trap is covered with brushwood, litter, etc. and thus hidden from the view of the walker.
From the magazine “Hunter” (quoted from Dag Frommhold): “The pulpit (raised stand) is ideal as a distraction. The hikers’ eyes are sure to wander up to her. The nest box that hangs on the tree nearby makes the visitor friendly. So we are happy when the eyes wander upwards – because our traps are below. “

5. Hunter’s statement: Traps only selectively catch a certain species of a wild animal.
That’s not true

Katze Totschlagfalle

Animals are lured into traps with attractants! Fox attractants often work on dogs as well. Of course, animals that are similar in size to e.g. have a fox go into the trap. Foxes have no closed season in Germany. It is just not allowed to shoot suckling birds (which is all too often disregarded). Exception: adult foxes have a closed season in Berlin (but not young foxes).

6. Hunters’ statement: Traps are only set by poachers!
That’s not true!

Trapping is a common hunting method used by hunters in Germany. Any hunter who has completed an approx. 15-hour trapping course and can then present a certificate of trapping qualifications is allowed to hunt with the trap.

Continue reading “Hunters aren’t just professional killers. They’re professional liars too” →

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

EU: No, No, It Cannot Be True – EU Struggles to Hold Member States to Account Over Animal Transport Breaches. We Say, Close Down the EU – Simple.

EU plans to strip UK of bank regulation powers

EU struggles to hold Member States to account over animal transport breaches

WAV Comment: 

Wow! – that’s breaking news – the wonderful EU struggles to hold member states to account for animal transport breaches.  What with all the evidence we have presented to them; the very them; regarding breaches of transport rules over the last 25+ years; what is changing ?

As we have always said, they are utterly useless’ and as Claire Bury says; they (EU) are not able to ban the trade.  Why not we ask ? – could it be the big money made from live exports into EU coffers ? – ie putting finance before animal welfare ? – certainly seems that way.

And now we hear MEPs ‘voice concern’ about the injury and suffering caused to animals during transport across Europe.

We say; put them all into one livestock transporter and haul them from Scotland to Southern Italy.  We bet the rules would be changed pretty quickly after that.  As the EU can do nothing; probably better to shut it (the EU) all down and go back to individual member states and regulations. 

Anything would be better than this ‘we can do nothing’ yukspeak put out by EU ‘importants’ (or so they think they are !).

EU struggles to hold Member States to account over animal transport breaches

30 October 2020

MEPs voice concern about the injury and suffering caused to animals during transport across Europe.

A senior commission official has admitted it is currently “impossible” to ban the controversial trade in live animals.

Speaking to parliament’s newly created special animal welfare committee, Claire Bury, Deputy Director-General of Health and Food Safety at the Commission, sympathised with MEPs who voiced concern about the injury and suffering caused to animals during transport across Europe.

She said everything was being done to ensure hauliers comply with current regulations but conceded, “We are not able to ban this at present.”

But, in response to growing calls for a ban on exports of live animals, she revealed that the Commission plans to revise existing legislation on animal transportation.

Read more at source

The Parliament Magazine

Farm Animals, General News

South Korea: Dog Meat Actions – October 2020.

Important Note – we have a ‘Translator box on the left side of the page.

If you wish to translate all the text of this site to another / your language, then please use it.

Simply go to ‘TRANSLATE’ and then select the language you need from the drop down.

All the site text should then immediately convert to the selected language – Simple as that !

South Korea –  Dog Meat Farms

LATEST – Please click on the following link in order to take many (October) actions against the dog meat business in South Korea.  There are many regional petitions and letters to authorities which you can sign or send.

https://r.newsletter.koreandogs.org/ah8xr8odtht7e.html?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=Your_voice_matters_and_you_are_saving_lives!__Updates_from_the_Lotte_Gyeyang_Mountain_Dog_Farm_&utm_medium=email

Here are just a few of our most recent posts relating to the South Korean issue:

Presidential election promises that mean nothing – read more at 

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/10/26/south-korea-pre-election-promises-that-once-elected-become-non-reality/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/10/19/south-korea-a-call-to-action-to-ask-you-to-join-forces-with-korean-activists-to-close-the-dog-meat-farms-and-businesses/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/09/30/south-korea-seven-dogs-have-been-rescued-from-a-dog-farm-in-paju-and-the-dog-farm-is-now-shut-down/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/07/29/south-korea-korean-dogs-latest-actions/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/07/23/south-korea-korean-dogs-july-newsletter-please-click-on-link-for-actions/

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2020/07/07/south-korea-you-can-help-save-the-korean-dogs-from-slaughter-by-taking-5-minute-actions/

Regards WAV