Day: February 10, 2022

Farm Animals

Pig farmers in Germany are planning to exit!

According to a survey by the State Farmers’ Association Baden-Wuerttemberg (state in southern Germany) wants to phase out around 50 percent of pig farming.

The precarious situation on the pig market continues.
Due to the corona crisis, pig and piglet prices are at a historic low and livestock farmers are in the deep red. The State Farmers Association (LBV) Baden-Wuerttemberg has therefore carried out a survey among pig farmers.

The result is sobering: more than 50 percent of those surveyed are planning a partial or complete exit from pig farming. In addition to legal requirements and inefficiency, the reasons for this are also a lack of prospects.

“In this situation, further development of the companies is impossible,” explain the LBV Vice Presidents Klaus Mugele and Hans-Benno Wichert.
“All market participants and politicians must finally act now, otherwise pork from Baden-Wuerttemberg will soon be history.”

Even today, the degree of self-sufficiency in the country is only around 45 percent.

Pig farmers in Baden-Wuerttemberg disappointed with politics and trade

According to the survey, the pig farmers in Baden-Wuerttemberg are disappointed and sobered by the empty promises and marketing campaigns of the food retail trade, which ultimately do not bring any improvement, but only cause more pressure on the producers.
The respondents have accordingly lost all expectations of the trade.

“The meat industry and the other links in the chain must now develop new, integrated concepts on an equal footing with the producers,” explains Vice President Mugele.

“We have to become less dependent on price fluctuations on the international markets. To do this, the regional programs with a purchase guarantee must be expanded in the country so that livestock farmers can count on stable prices,” demands Mugele.

Pig farmers in Germany have no prospects: they are planning to exit

The survey of the State Farmers Association (LBV) comes to a similar result as the interest group of pig farmers in Germany (ISN).
According to an ISN (interest group of pig farmers in Germany) survey last summer, around half of the pig farmers intend to give up their farms in the next ten years.

60 percent of farmers who keep sows want to get out, and 40 percent of those who keep fatten it.
In contrast, there are only 6 percent sow farmers and 8 percent fatteners who can imagine expanding their production.

https://www.agrarheute.com/tier/schwein/baden-wuerttemberg-50-prozent-schweinehalter-wollen-aufgeben-589973

And I mean…Well… about 40 years ago executioners in France had to say goodbye to their careers.

That’s the way it is with some professions…they have an expiry date, depending on how a society develops…

My best regards to all, Venus

General News, Uncategorized

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Which Nations Are the Most Bent (Corrupt) Of Them All ?
Slide 1 of 29: While the world's least corrupt countries should certainly be applauded for their levels of openness and transparency, even the most virtuous examples of good governance aren't immune to dishonest dealings. Read on to discover the corruption issues facing the best-scoring nations on Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks 180 countries and territories on a scale from zero (out-and-out corrupt) to 100 (squeaky-clean). All dollar amounts in US dollars.

How Bent (Corrupt) are different nations of the world ?

Is your government good or a specialist at dodgy deals?

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks of countries around the world, based on how corrupt their public sectors are perceived to be.

The results are given on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

This year’s CPI paints a grim picture of the state of corruption worldwide.

More than two-thirds of countries score below 50. And despite some progress, nearly half of all countries have been stagnant on the CPI for almost a decade. These countries have failed to move the needle in any significant way to improve their score and combat public sector corruption.

Check it out at a glance:

2020 Corruption Perceptions Index – Explore New… – Transparency.org

Drop me a Tenner and I will tell you more; No, No, I mean give it to my favourite charity !

Regards Mark

General News, Uncategorized, Vivisection

USA: ‘Envigo’ (Lab Supplier) Puppy Mill Investigated By USDA, and 13 Violations of the Federal Animal Welfare Act Cited In Report Regarding Over 5,000 Dogs / Puppies. Take Action – Link Below.

Deprivation, Despair, and Death at Envigo | PETA Investigates

Introduction:

In July 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cited Envigo for 26 violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Federal veterinarians found 15 dogs denied treatment for “severe dental disease,” wounds, yellow discharge around the eyes, and more; a “depressed” puppy covered with feces in a waste pan; dogs denied food for days while nursing puppies; and much more. To view the USDA’s inspection reports, click here.

Based on PETA’s evidence, a team of USDA officials conducted a multiday inspection of the puppy mill in October 2021. The USDA corroborated PETA’s findings and cited Envigo for 13 more violations, including 11 repeat violations.

Inspectors found that a puppy and some dogs were deprived of veterinary care for an eye infection, crusted and oozing sores on their paws, and other eye and foot ailments; that puppies died after falling into a drain or getting their head trapped in a cage door; and that puppies’ legs and feet fell through the cage floors. According to the report, workers medicated dogs without consulting the facility’s sole full-time veterinarian; took no steps to prevent fights among dogs, resulting in a puppy found eviscerated in an enclosure with nine littermates and staff unaware that another dog was biting and wounding another; and, in just two months, put down nine dogs who were injured when their leg or tail was pulled through a kennel wall by other dogs. The USDA found moldy feces in dog enclosures, up to 6 inches of feces piled in a gutter, and an “overpowering fecal odor” and “strong sewage odor” in the facility. To view this inspection report, click here.

PETA’s undercover investigation found 5,000 beagle dogs and puppies confined to small, barren kennels and cages 24/7 at a massive factory farm in Virginia, operated by Envigo.

Based on PETA’s evidence, a team of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials conducted a multiday inspection of the puppy mill.

The USDA just released its report. Inspectors corroborated PETA’s findings and cited Envigo for 13 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Inspectors found that a puppy and some dogs were deprived of veterinary care for an eye infection, crusted and oozing sores on their paws, and other eye and foot ailments; that puppies died after falling into a drain or getting their head trapped in a cage door; and that puppies’ legs and feet fell through the cage floors.

According to the report, workers medicated dogs without consulting the facility’s sole full-time veterinarian; took no steps to prevent fights among dogs, resulting in a puppy found eviscerated in an enclosure with nine littermates and staff unaware that another dog was biting and wounding another; and put down nine dogs who were injured when their leg or tail was pulled through a kennel wall by other dogs. The USDA found moldy feces in dog enclosures, up to 6 inches of feces piled in a gutter, and an “overpowering fecal odor” and “strong sewage odor” in the facility.

Last July, the USDA cited Envigo for 26 violations of the AWA, after finding dogs denied treatment for “severe dental disease,” wounds, yellow discharge around the eyes, and more; a “depressed” puppy covered with feces in a waste pan; mother dogs denied food for days while nursing puppies; and more.

The USDA is authorized by law to suspend Envigo’s license for 21 days and any confiscate animals who are suffering as a result of violations of the AWA. Yet the agency has taken no action in this case to render aid to these animals or stop the violations.

TAKE ACTION:

Deprivation, Despair, and Death at Envigo | PETA Investigates

Regards Mark

General News, Uncategorized

Who Was In The Wrong Place ? – Iditarod Musher Kills Moose In Its Natural Environment, As She ‘Feared For Her Life’; Just Like The Iditarod Race Dogs Do.

Check out our recent post on Iditarod; and see the video of the ‘race’ where dogs are forced to run 100 miles each day.

Link:

USA: (Alaska) Iditarod, The Worlds Cruelest Dog Race, Starts 5/3/22. It Must Be Stopped. Take Action Here.

A sled dog musher in Alaska has said she prayed “not to be killed” when a moose attacked her dog team, leaving four of them seriously injured.

The bull moose charged Bridgett Watkins’ dogs and trampled on them for more than an hour before it was shot dead on the Salcha River trail system near Fairbanks on Thursday.

Ms Watkins, who was training for a race, said she “emptied her gun into” the animal, but it continued to attack before a friend arrived and killed it with one round from their rifle.

“I ran for my life,” she wrote on Facebook, “and prayed I was fast enough to not be killed in that moment. He trampled the team and then turned for us.

“As he charged me I emptied my gun into him and he never stopped. This has been the most horrific past 24 hours of my life.”

Ms Watkins called friends and one of them shot the animal with a rifle. Pic: Bridgett Watkins/Facebook
© Associated Press Ms Watkins called friends and one of them shot the animal with a rifle. Pic: Bridgett Watkins/Facebook

The moose stopped less than a metre from the snowmobile and she managed to cut free six dogs that were tied to it, she said.

But the moose went back to her sled and began stamping on the dogs still tethered to it, standing over them and trampling them repeatedly for more than an hour.

“I have never felt so helpless in my life,” Ms Watkins wrote. “He would not leave us alone and he even stood over the team refusing to retreat.”

She and a friend who was trailing her on a snowmobile took cover next to the vehicle before calling friends who arrived with a rifle.

The four injured dogs were taken to a nearby vet and are on the mend.

She is back training with the others in preparation for the nearly 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage next month.

Ms Watkins said: “These are freaking amazing athletes that just survived probably the most traumatic experience of any dog team ever in history, and they’re survivors and they’re still pushing through.”

The experience has shaken her, she said, but it is no different from what other people face.

“People have these situations in their life all the time. They’re just different obstacles that they have to overcome, and this is mine, and this is my story, and I just hope that I can be inspiring.”

Meat from the moose was donated to charity.

‘I prayed not to be killed’: sled driver recalls hour-long attack as moose trampled dogs (msn.com)

Regards Mark

Further News:

Breaking news: Following years of pressure from PETA, including protests all around the world, shocking ad campaigns, and phone calls and emails from nearly 500,000 supporters, Millennium Hotels and Resorts is dropping its sponsorship of Alaska’s deadly Iditarod dogsled race!

More than 150 dogs have died during this race, not even counting those who were killed during the off-season because they weren’t fast or fit enough to make the grade. Up to half of the dogs who start the race don’t finish it because of exhaustion, illness, injury, or other causes, leaving the remaining ones to work even harder.

Millennium Hotels joins over a dozen other companies—including Alaska Airlines, Coca-Cola, ExxonMobil, Jack Daniel’s, and Wells Fargo—in cutting ties with the Iditarod’s cruelty to dogs following PETA campaigns.



With the Iditarod slated to begin in less than a month, we need your help to keep the pressure going to urge other companies to drop their sponsorships, too.

Urge Companies to Stop Sponsoring The Deadly Iditarod | Take Action Today
General News, Uncategorized

London, England: Puppies Rescued By Met (London) Police From ‘Dog Fighting’ Property In Northeast London.
Dogfighting0902.jpg
© Met Police handout Dogfighting0902.jpg

Puppies rescued from ‘dog fighting’ property in northeast London (msn.com)

Met Police officers have rescued dogs from an alleged “dog fighting” property in northeast London.

Police officers executed a warrant at a property on Sewardstone Rd, Chingford last Thursday and found adult dogs and puppies from prohibited breeds.

Officers also discovered a firearm, combat knives, and stolen plant machinery.

Three men aged between 28-35, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of dangerous dog offences, handling stolen goods, possession of a firearm and possession of offensive weapons in a private place.

PC Tom Landels of the Met’s North East Command said: “There was a significant amount of property and a number of dogs seized during this operation.

“The plant machinery will be returned to the lawful owners and the dogs will undergo assessment while they are cared for at a police kennel facility.

“Dog fighting is brutal, fundamentally cruel and is an organised crime that operates secretly with no regard for animal welfare.”

The three men in question have been released under investigation, while enquiries remain ongoing.

If you know about dog fighting in your area call 101 or Tweet @MetCC. To remain 100% anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Regards Mark

General News, Uncategorized

England: The Cat Abuse Issue With West Ham Player Zouma Deepens – ‘Cat Lives Matter’ Is The New Slogan.
The outcry over Kurt Zouma’s mistreatment of his pet cat has continued to grow in the wake of a video showing him dropping, kicking and slapping the animal. Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA
The outcry over Kurt Zouma’s mistreatment of his pet cat has continued to grow in the wake of a video showing him dropping, kicking and slapping the animal. Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA

Yesterday, 9/2/22, I wrote a post about the French footballer who plays for a London team being filmed by his brother abusing one of his own cats.  You can read about it here:

England: French Footballer Kurt Zouma Loses Boot Deal and (English Team) West Ham United Sponsor Suspends Partnership Over Vile Cat Abuse. – World Animals Voice

Well this story is getting more coverage all the time and has been debated here in England on national breakfast tv this morning.  Overnight there have been further actions with ‘Experience Kissimmee’, who are based in Florida USA announcing that because of this issue it has ended its sponsorship of West Ham United Football Club.

Actions are being taken in the way of sponsorships (or not), and the message is a clear and simple one; don’t abuse animals – you are people in positions that young children should look up to; and by NOT showing or personally becoming involved with any animal abuse is setting a very good example. You are not gods; even if you consider you are, you are just footballers – act your age to get respect and do the right things.

In the UK there was the ‘black lives matter’ issue where footballers knelt before the start of a match to show their support for players.  This has now been dubbed as ‘CAT LIVES MATTER’ in support of the cat abused by Zouma.

Kurt Zouma cat abuse video: Second West Ham sponsor withdraws support (irishtimes.com)

 

Kurt Zouma cat abuse video: Second West Ham sponsor withdraws support

The player, who has apologised, has also lost his Adidas footwear sponsorship

A second West Ham sponsor has withdrawn its support for the club as the backlash continued over a video showing the defender Kurt Zouma dropping, kicking and slapping one of his cats.

Experience Kissimmee, the tourism authority for Osceola County, Florida, had been evaluating its relationship with West Ham since Zouma was selected to start Tuesday’s game against Watford after the footage went viral.

“Experience Kissimmee announced today that it has ended its sponsorship of West Ham United Football Club,” the club’s destination partner said in a tweet.

Its move comes after Vitality, West Ham’s wellness partner, suspended its sponsorship “with immediate effect”, saying it was “hugely disappointed” with the judgment shown by the club in response to the video.

West Ham said on Wednesday that they had fined Zouma “the maximum amount possible” – understood to be two weeks’ wages, amounting to £250,000 – and have condemned his behaviour.

The RSPCA has taken Zouma’s two cats into care and is conducting an investigation. The player, who has apologised for his actions, has lost his Adidas footwear sponsorship. – Guardian

Further reading 10/2:

To be completed

Regards Mark