Day: January 23, 2024
23 January 2024
Under no circumstances can the welfare of animals in fur farms be protected, and a full ban is the only way forward, Eurogroup for Animals argued in the first stakeholder meeting of the European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) to evaluate current practices on fur farms.
EFSA hosted the first stakeholder meeting to evaluate the current practices on fur farms, after it was asked by the European Commission (EC) to put forward a scientific opinion in reply to the Fur Free Europe European Citizens Initiative (ECI), in which 1.5 million citizens asked for a ban on fur farms and placement of fur products in Europe.
In its official reply to the ECI in December, the EC mentioned a possible prohibition of fur farming and placement of farmed fur products on the European market, following EFSA’s opinion, which is to be put forward by March 2025. The technical meeting involved participation of representatives of animal protection NGOs, academics and the fur industry.
Scientists representing the fur industry openly admitted that the ‘Welfur’ certification system has evident shortcomings and questioned the fact that it has failed to identify inadequate conditions on fur farms in Europe.
While the EC asked EFSA to “assess whether these welfare consequences can be prevented or substantially mitigated under current farming conditions”, animal protection NGOs stressed, once again, that EFSA’s opinion should start from the animals’ specific needs, as opposed to the infrastructure of the system, as scientific studies have consistently concluded that no level of cage enrichment can maintain animal welfare.
It is difficult to assess positive welfare in a system which removes the agency of animals to act on their natural behavioural urges, such as foraging, seeking shelter or other natural motivations.
If we genuinely intend to discuss animal welfare, the species-specific needs of animals should be the only starting point to determine if and how we should continue keeping and killing sentient beings for commercial purposes.
Nicholas Clark, Wildlife Programme Leader, Eurogroup for Animals
There are inherent problems in fur farming that simply cannot be resolved. The fur industry’s so called ‘certification schemes’ mislead consumers, and are designed to reward the status quo. There are no changes that can be made – the welfare of wild animals on fur farms is severely compromised across all five domains, resulting in a life not worth living.
Mark Glover, Director, Respect for Animals
Around 7.7 million animals are currently kept and killed for fur production in the European Union. 20 Member States have already totally or partially banned fur farming, or implemented stricter measures on grounds of animal welfare, environment and public health.
While the fur industry has made an open invite to the European Commission to visit fur farms, Eurogroup for Animals stresses that any visits must be unannounced and randomly selected.
Regards Mark
Keep Fur Where It Belongs !!
Above – Photo of a dog chained up at a facility run by Joe Redington Jr., the son of Iditarod’s founder Joe Redington.
Check out all of our past Iditarod posts:
Search Results for “iditarod” – World Animals Voice
Dear Mark,
In 39 days, the cruel Iditarod will begin again, forcing hundreds of dogs to run approximately 1,000 miles in less than two weeks. Last year, around 175 dogs were pulled off the trail due to exhaustion, illness, or injury. The “winner” of last year’s race caused nationwide controversy when he was caught on video dragging his visibly exhausted dogs in and out of a race checkpoint.
Consider the 2022 race: By the time it ended on March 19, nearly 250 dogs had been pulled off the trail because of exhaustion, illness, injury, and other causes, forcing the rest to work even harder. Two dogs went missing—one of whom has still not been found—a musher was apparently forced to drop out after dogs he was using were found in poor condition, and outrage ensued when the Iditarod fined mushers who had brought dogs inside to protect them during a dangerous storm. Before the race even began, multiple dogs were attacked and one was killed during training, and after it ended, Iditarod musher Jessie Holmes reportedly let several dogs loose in a hotel parking lot and they attacked and killed a woman’s companion dog.
Numerous companies have cut ties with the race after reviewing PETA’s documentation of cruelty and hearing from our supporters, and the Iditarod’s days are numbered. We’re fighting hard to help the dogs forced to run in this absurd race, and with your help, we can win more victories for them.
Please take 10 actions in under two minutes:
Take Action for dogs:
The Deadly Iditarod Race Should Be Terminated: Here’s Why (peta.org)
Photo of a dog at a kennel operated by former Iditarod champion Lance Mackey. In 2015, Mackey was given the Sportsmanship Award by his fellow mushers, despite two of his dogs dying from probable heart attacks during the race.
Above and Below – Dogs residing at a kennel run by 2017 Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey. These dogs are chained up with only a plastic barrel for shelter.
Regards Mark
Dear Mark,
BIG NEWS: Miami-Dade County officials have announced their intent to shut down the hellish Miami Seaquarium! This announcement comes after weekly protests by local activists as well as a massive campaign by PETA that has included lawsuits, celebrity ads, letters to county officials, and lively rallies. Please help bring about a swift closure to the facility by contacting Miami-Dade County’s mayor.
The Miami Seaquarium was issued a Notice of Intent to Confiscate four of the animals there by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)—the first time in 30 years that the agency has taken measures to confiscate marine mammals. Every day the abusive facility remains open is another day that the animals’ lives are in danger, and we need your help to make sure it finally shuts down.
Please send a polite e-mail to Mayor Daniella Levine Cava at mayor@miamidade.gov to thank her for taking this important step and ask her to make sure the Miami Seaquarium is shut down immediately.
Here are some talking points:
The Miami Seaquarium has proved time and again that it’s either unwilling or unable to comply with even the minimum standards of the federal Animal Welfare Act through chronic and repeat violations documented by USDA reports over the last three years.
The animals at the Miami Seaquarium have suffered through multiple owners, renovations, and promised improvements for more than half a century. It’s clear that no management team can provide these complex and intelligent individuals with the care they require at this wholly inadequate facility.
As owner and lessor of the land, Miami-Dade County has a responsibility to help these animals. Please, ensure that the Miami Seaquarium’s lease is terminated and that the facility is shut down.
Thank you for speaking up for the animals suffering at the Miami Seaquarium. This massive step wouldn’t have been possible without your help and support.
We appreciate your compassion for animals.
Regards Mark / PETA
Ritualistic sacrifice of roosters prevented in Kerala following animal rights organisation complaint People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India had lodged a complaint with Kozhikode Rural police and the Revenue Divisional Office, Vadaka…
Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/kerala/ritualistic-sacrifice-of-roosters-prevented-in-kerala-following-animal-rights-organisation-complaint-2858146
Regards Mark
SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — An animal rights organization’s investigation has revealed that approximately 91.3% of cattle euthanized last year due to lumpy skin disease died in pain while conscious.
The Korean Animal Welfare Association conducted a study of the euthanasia records from October 20 to November 20 of last year, the period following the first outbreak of lumpy skin disease in South Korea.
The study encompassed 34 local governments nationwide and found that out of 6,416 Korean beef and dairy cattle euthanized at 108 farms, about 5,859 (approximately 91.3%) were put down in a manner causing them suffering.
Continue reading at Animal Rights Group Reveals High Suffering Rates in Cattle Euthanized Due to Lumpy Skin Disease | Be Korea-savvy (koreabizwire.com)
Regards Mark
World Animals Voice 