Day: February 2, 2024

Environmental, Farm Animals, Fur and Fur Farming, General News, Hunting, Live Transport

Vote for Animals: placing animal welfare at the heart of the EU Elections.

1 February 2024

Press Release

The Vote for Animals campaign, launched by Eurogroup for Animals, aims to place animal welfare at the core of the upcoming EU Elections. The campaign encourages candidate MEPs to take a pledge for the animals, while informing citizens about the importance of these elections for progress on animal welfare in the EU, helping them to choose candidates that share their values and encouraging them to vote.

Candidate MEPs are being encouraged to sign a pledge stating a clear commitment to work to improve animal welfare if they are elected to the European Parliament (EP). The pledge, composed of ten asks, addresses live animal transport, imports of animal-based products, welfare of aquatic species, non-animal science and the conservation of wild animals, among others.

By taking the pledge, candidates commit to represent EU citizens’ demands for better animal welfare legislation. European citizens have been very vocal in demanding the EU to do better for animals. Six of ten successful European Citizens Initiatives are related to animal welfare, of which 1.5 million citizens have asked for a Fur Free Europe, and 1.4 million asked for a transition to cage-free systems. The last Eurobarometer, showed that over nine in ten Europeans believe that it is important to protect the welfare of farmed animals, while an overwhelming majority expressed the importance of better protection of kept animals during their entire lifetime.

Elected MEPs have the competence to drive animal welfare issues forward, by working to ensure it remains a priority on the EU agenda, being vocal on issues that need addressing, and voting in the interest of animals. During the current term, a significant number of MEPs have brought to light critical issues including the delay in the publication of the animal welfare legislation, the horrific nature of live animal transport and fur farming.

Elected representatives also have the opportunity to join the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals, which provides a cross-party platform for MEPs to discuss and exchange views on animal welfare issues and to initiate and promote related  initiatives  in the EP. 

The Vote for Animals campaign page is translated in all official EU languages, and citizens are encouraged to send a message to their representatives, asking them to sign the pledge. 

MEPs can serve as catalysts to push for better animal welfare legislation. The Vote for Animals pledge is our commitment to do our utmost to make sure the European Commission comes forward with ambitious legislation on critical issues that need much attention. If I am given the trust by the public, I promise to continue to place these issues at the core of my work, representing the demands of citizens to do more in this aspect. I encourage other candidate MEPs to take the pledge.

Niels Fuglsang, MEP (S&D, DK)

With so many EU citizens asking for more action on animal welfare, the European Parliament must be representative of these interests, to drive forward much-needed progress. This campaign provides both citizens and MEPs the opportunity to shape an institution that keeps animals at the core of their work.

  • Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals

Elections

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

EU / Morocco: Nearly three weeks of suffering for bulls trapped on trucks at the Moroccan border.

 

31 January 2024

Two live animal transport vessels containing bulls from Portugal were detained for 19 days in the Moroccan port of Tangier-Med.

The bulls were confined in extremely unhygienic conditions, which only worsened over time. Forced to stand ankle-deep in their own excrement, many of them developed respiratory problems and inflamed eyes. It was reported that one bull died onboard, his corpse left to decompose inside the vessel where it was trampled on by the other animals. 

The root of this suffering was bureaucratic, with the bulls apparently having been detained due to current import duties and high customs tariffs. Their clearance was said to be contingent on the adoption of new customs regulations. In the meantime, no thought was given to their welfare, with the Moroccan authorities appearing unconcerned with their rapidly-degrading state, and unmotivated to act in the best interest of these sentient beings (for instance, by unloading and quarantining them at their destination or in another stable).

Trade routes should not be entertained with third countries, as it is extremely difficult to influence how transported animals are treated once they leave the EU’s borders.

This incident further highlights the need for a robust revision to the Transport Regulation, as it is a reminder that transported animals are very vulnerable. Measures must be taken swiftly to ensure they experience the least amount of stress possible directly before, during, and after their journeys.

With a recent data leak showing the scale of suffering in the live animal transport industry is much vaster than is recognised by official records, the European Commission must not delay on making these critical sector changes happen.

This week, Eurogroup for Animals, together with four other animal protection organisations, sent a joint letter to the veterinary organisations highlighting the poor welfare experienced by animals during these long journeys, as well as the risk of inhumane slaughter on arrival. 

Veterinary officials are tasked with inspecting the health of animals for export, but are often put in a difficult position as they have a contractual obligation to their employer, which might conflict with their ethical one to safeguard the wellbeing of animals. 

The letter calls on the veterinary community to use their influence to ban the export of live animals to non-EU countries.

Regards Mark

General News, Uncategorized

USA: Iditarod – 30 Days To Go.

30 Days to go until start

The 2024 Iditarod dog death race is just around the corner. The winner of last year’s race dragged exhausted dogs along the trail.

What a loser.

Thanks to PETA supporters like you, the 2023 Iditarod sponsors and organizers were overwhelmed with compassionate pleas to help dogs! Let’s make sponsors think twice about supporting the 2024 race. Please visit our Iditarod Action Center to contact them:

Take Action

https://www.peta.org/action/the-iditarod-is-killing-dogs/?utm_source=peta::e-mail&utm_medium=alert&utm_campaign=0224::ent::peta::e-mail::289800::watch-last-years-iditarod-winner-drag-dogs-along-trail::::aa-em

The Iditarod Is Killing Dogs

Regards Mark

Photo – © CCI Entertainment

Our past Iditarod posts – https://worldanimalsvoice.com/?s=iditarod

China Cat Torture, General News

China: Break Its Legs, Electrocute; Then Strangle To Death. Be Sure To Get A Close Up Of The Face.

“Is anyone taking this order?”

Somebody posted a request from a “client” – a person who offered to pay to have cats custom-abused – in a public telegram channel. The client asked for the making of a video where the cat should die in a specific way. What a twisted world!!

When will this cat torture ring be put to an end?

How can this be allowed to go on for such a long time?

Cats are dying from the most excruciating methods everyday!

We’d like to ask media groups to cover this horrible event happening in China, on Telegram, now.

Please DM us if you can help.

TAKE ACTION LINK IN BIO @feline_guardians