Category: Stray Animals
Hi all; sorry we have been having problems, but hopefully now resolved. Things may start to return to normal. I feed all the pigeons who come into my garden – why not ?- they like fresh food just as we do; and ‘that flying rats’ thing ? – no, I don’t think so. Wild birds, beautiful coloured birds simply in need of something to eat.
I took this in the garden today; this is my good friend ‘wonkybeak’; (obviously an incident from his past)
but he is fine and eats like a horse; often down before I can get the lid off the food tub ! – you see the real beauty of all the feathers and the colours when you get close up, as I do here. He and many others are welcome and always will be.
Above – ‘my mate ‘Wonkybeak’
Regards Mark
I am an Englishman; and probably biassed ? – YES, but Led Zepp; live, you cannot beat. London O2 – Led Zeppelin perform ‘Kashmir’ live at the Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert at London’s O2 Arena from the concert film ‘Celebration Day’
About 30 years ago; maybe more; I was up around Northern Arizona (USA); it was around 2pm and I stopped in a parking lot to get a sandwich. There was big snow on the way, the sky was the coulour of dark pewter. I got my sarnie and went back to the car to eat it. Inside I turned the car radio on. …. and, Led Zepp ‘Kashmir’. A real moment for me which I still remember to this day; everything kind of came together for a few minutes there and then – ‘Kashmir’ – my favorite Zepp track ever !; Arizona; snow laden pewter sky; freedom.
Boy band ‘Seventeen’ donate millions to animal rights organisations for members birthday.
Read the story here:
Big thanks to them for doing the right thing !!
Mark
15 July 2024
Společnost pro zvířata
Society for Animals, recently co-organised a workshop in the Czech Parliament about the dangers associated with pyrotechnics and fireworks, and the harm they can cause to pets and wild animals. Progress on some national legislative proposals in this area is also due soon, hopefully leading to much stricter regulations on fireworks in the near future.
On March 6 2024, several specialists and Members of the Parliament, including Marek Výborný (the Czech Minister of Agriculture) and Petr Hladík (the Czech Minister of the Environment) discussed the issue of pyrotechnics and their effects on domestic and wild animals at the Czech Parliament.
A representative from Society for Animals, Judit Laura Krásná, gave a presentation on the serious problems fireworks and pyrotechnics can cause, including their negative consequences for people and animals, and their threats to safety.
90% of respondents to a survey commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment agreed fireworks should be better regulated, while several attendees at the workshop, including Society for Animals and air quality experts, agreed they should be banned entirely.
This discussion was complemented by a petition, produced by Society for Animals and handed over to the Czech MPs’ petition committee in April, to stop the sale of fireworks. Present MPs also agreed that pyrotechnics for entertainment should be regulated, and some categories banned.
Legislative proposals to regulate fireworks in the Czech Republic have been submitted
Since last year and in collaboration with lawyers, Society for Animals submitted some legislative proposals regarding the use of fireworks and pyrotechnics in the Czech Republic.
Supporting its goal, the NGO met several times with the Minister of the Environment, as well as relevant parties such as firemen, sanitation stations, and air pollution specialists, showing the broad range of impacts originating from this issue. It also commissioned a professional measurement of noise and vibration during a huge fireworks display during a summer event in Brno. Learn more here.
The legislative proposals include to:
End the sale and use of outdoor fireworks within categories F2 and F3 for the general public (only professionally-qualified people could continue to use them, under specific circumstances);
Significantly restrict the use of fireworks within the specific contexts in which they are still allowed, including by establishing protective distances of 1000-2000 metres and with a ban on using them near watercourses, lakes, dams, ponds, and wetlands.
Over 50 NGOs in the Czech Republic signed Society for Animals’ open letter to the Czech government supporting its legislative proposals – and such changes have been proven possible. In Ireland, for example, category F2 and F3 fireworks are fully forbidden to be used by the public, and those that do can face significant fines, or even be criminally charged.
The proposals are now ready to be negotiated in the Czech Parliament. Watch this space.
Pyrotechnics can cause great distress to animals
The effects of fireworks and pyrotechnics on animals can be severe.
Wild animals generally panic and try to escape the sounds, which often result in injuries or even death, either from exhaustion or from colliding into objects – including moving vehicles.
Due to the high stress levels fireworks can cause, pregnant animals can lose their unborn babies, and domestic animals can run away from their homes. There are even occasions where explosions can hit animals directly, especially birds, bats, and insects.
It’s clear that the unregulated use of fireworks and pyrotechnics are not aligned with animal welfare. We applaud the work of our member, Society for Animals, for their work in this area, and hope legislative progress soon follows suit.
Mark
Under the shade of a leafy green apricot tree on a scorching summer afternoon, Gokcen Yildiz scoops up a squirming ball of light-brown fur.
It licks her all over the face and she breaks out in giggles.
But laughter gives way to a more serious tone as she points to the dog’s back legs, which are missing paws. A sign, she says, of the abuse some of Turkey’s street dogs are subjected to.
Ms Yildiz is a secondary school physics teacher by day, street-dog advocate by night. The canine she’s holding is one of 160 she’s collected on the property where she lives on the outskirts of Turkey’s capital city, Ankara.
Her dogs are a small fraction of the estimated four million that make up the country’s street-dog population.
It’s a problem that has fiercely divided public opinion: are stray dogs a neighbourhood fixture to be looked after and loved?
CoUnder the shade of a leafy green apricot tree on a scorching summer afternoon, Gokcen Yildiz scoops up a squirming ball of light-brown fur.
It licks her all over the face and she breaks out in giggles.
But laughter gives way to a more serious tone as she points to the dog’s back legs, which are missing paws. A sign, she says, of the abuse some of Turkey’s street dogs are subjected to.
Ms Yildiz is a secondary school physics teacher by day, street-dog advocate by night. The canine she’s holding is one of 160 she’s collected on the property where she lives on the outskirts of Turkey’s capital city, Ankara.
Her dogs are a small fraction of the estimated four million that make up the country’s street-dog population.
It’s a problem that has fiercely divided public opinion: are stray dogs a neighbourhood fixture to be looked after and loved?
Continue reading at Turkey’s stray dogs face euthanasia under possible government bill – BBC News
And more on this: Türkiye proposes new bill to control street dogs as UK issues travel warning of ‘aggressive’ packs (msn.com)
Regards Mark
Every 6 months a different nation takes on the Presidency of the EU. This is a rotational thing, ensuring each member state plays its part. Now Hungary – Hence:
10 July 2024
As Hungary presides over the council for the next six months, Eurogroup for Animals urges the presidency to prioritise the critical needs in animal welfare.
The Belgian presidency significantly advanced on the proposal for the welfare and traceability of cats and dogs, which was approved by Member States in the council. While this achievement is welcome, the Hungarian presidency must now address the remaining urgent issues.
Read our full memorandum to the Hungarian Presidency here.
Animal welfare legislation must be published
Foremost, the presidency must urge the Commission to publish the remaining animal welfare proposals early in the next political term, to address the severely outdated legislation that does not adequately protect animals throughout their lifetime, from farm to slaughter. In particular, the legislation should have a plan of action to transition to cage-free systems, as per the commitment to the End the Cage Age ECI.
Better protection of animals during transport
Eurogroup for Animals urges the Hungarian presidency to further the work on the revision of the Transport Regulation to support a ban on the transport of live animals outside EU borders, in parallel with a transition towards a trade in meat and carcasses, and stricter requirements to protect animals during intra-EU transport, particularly vulnerable animals.
Support coexistence with wildlife
With significant support for coexistence with wolves in rural communities across the EU and sufficient EU guidelines, practices and support initiatives to prevent loss of livestock, the Hungarian presidency is encouraged to to close the discussions on the proposal to downgrade the protection status of wolves and rather promote the uptake of coexistence measures currently underutilised.
Move towards non-animal science
The impact of EU legislation to protect animals used for scientific purposes has so far been limited. In 2020, over 7.9 million animals were used in research, testing, and education in the EU-27 and Norway, and a further 686,628 animals were used for creating and maintaining genetically altered lines. Eurogroup for Animals urges the Hungarian presidency to support efforts to advance negotiations on legislative initiatives to phase out the use of animals in science.
Read our full memorandum to the Hungarian Presidency here.
Hungary presidency: time to step up work in animal welfare | Eurogroup for Animals
Regards Mark
WordPress now appears to be stopping us putting the latest post to the top of the site; and it seems that what you now see on the screen is NOT the latest we have published – there are newer posts. But to see then you have to now use the ‘Archive’ on the left and select the current month – ie. Currently July 20204.
As I write this the latest post is photos of a fox living in London.
So remember now; all the latest to be found under the relevant month in ‘Archive’.
Sorry, but beyond our control !
Images sent to me tonight by Pauline – London fox, or ‘vulpine’.
No mange; for a wild London streetwise, it looks in very good condition; love the ears !
Regards Pauline and Mark
What “euthanasia” means in a country like Turkey we can all imagine. Seen it numerous times. So this plan must not be put into action.
Please sign the Petition on the page of OIPA below, thank you.
https://www.oipa.org/international/turkey-allow-euthanasia-to-stray
Posted by oipainternational | May 23, 2024
Take Action! Urge the Government of Turkey to reject the amendment allowing euthanasia for stray animals throughout the country. Send your protest email now.
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Turkey drafted a bill that would amend the Animal Rights Law revised in 2021, after the issue of country’s stray dog population recently resurfaced alarming President Erdoğan to take urgent action.
Parliament will vote a law on Friday, May 24, which allows the capture and euthanasia of stray animals throughout the country.
The proposed draft law will require each municipality to collect strays and post photographs of dogs in their shelters on an adoption website. Dogs who are not adopted within 30 days will undergo euthanasia by lethal injection.
The incorrect and unproved idea that spaying and neutering method is ineffective, this proposal will justify a massacre of innocent beings.
The reality is that municipalities did not invest and do not want to allocate financial resources to sucessfully implement this sustainable and humane approach. An alternative that can save animals’ lives, while reducing stray dog population over time.
In addition, a considerable number of municipalities failed to meet the requirement to create a shelter, as outlined in the Animal Rights Law, which was revised in 2021.
The Animal Rights Law required municipalities to allocate 0.5% of their finalized budgets over three years for animal shelters and rehabilitation. They set this rate at 0.3% for metropolitan municipalities.
Humans should not take animals’ lives away due to their inability to properly manage a problem.
Read OIPA letter to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye: Open Letter – OIPA Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi – Reject the amendment that will allow euthanasia for stray animals Throughout The Country
(Petition link on Page)
16 May 2024
Press Release
More than 500 candidate MEPs have pledged to do more to protect animals at EU level should they be elected to the European Parliament in three weeks.
The Vote for Animals campaign, run by Eurogroup for Animals and its members, asks candidates to take a pledge committing to do more for better protection of all animals at EU level.
The pledge addresses live animal transport, non-animal science, welfare of aquatic species, the conservation of wild animals, imports of animal-based products, and welfare of companion animals. It also addresses a future fur farming ban, the importance of sustainable food production and an ask for an EU commissioner for animal welfare.
Candidates spanning the entire political spectrum across 26 Member States have made the commitment. So far, Finland, Italy and France have the largest number of candidates supporting the pledge.
EU citizens have the opportunity to ask their candidates to sign the pledge, by sending a message through a dedicated platform, which is available in all EU languages. So far, over 9,000 citizens have sent a message to their candidates.
An estimated 400 million EU citizens are eligible to vote in the European elections set to take place between 6-9 June. The demand for improved EU legislation on animal welfare has been resoundingly voiced: 91% of Europeans believe that safeguarding the welfare of farmed animals is crucial, while 84% feel that current protection measures are not enough.
Taking the pledge for the animals is a commitment that in the next legislature, should I be elected, I will continue to push for better EU legislation to protect all animals across their lifespan. There is a critical need for action to phase out animals in cages, as per citizens’ demands, and a push for more ambitious legislation for animals during transport. The promised revision of the animal welfare legislation should be a top priority for the next Commission.
Niels Fuglsang, candidate MEP (Socialdemokraterne, Denmark) and Vice-President of the Intergroup for Animal Welfare.
The majority of EU citizens want animals to be better protected in Europe. To achieve this, we need more MEPs who want the EU to do more. Voting for candidates who have signed the Vote For Animals pledge is the best way to advance animal welfare in the EU. If I am re-elected, I pledge to continue to be the voice of animals and their defender in the European Parliament.
Caroline Roose, candidate MEP (Europe Écologie, France) and Vice-President of the Intergroup for Animal Welfare.
It is great to see so many candidates take a pledge for the animals. It is important that the next European Parliament represents citizens’ demands for better protection of all animal species, and MEPs can help to ensure that this topic stays on top of the agenda for the next term.
Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals.
Good stuff !
Regards Mark
World Animals Voice 