Day: October 31, 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