Farm Animals

Germany: the “production system” of pigs

 

 

At the beginning of February 2017, PETA was alerted by a whistleblower to the bad conditions in a pig breeding and fattening farm in Günthersdorf (Friedland) in the Lower Lusatia. On PETA leaked footage, which was taken at the beginning of the year, were extremely dirty with excrement pork bays and a number of seriously injured and dead piglets to see.

Schweinezucht-Guenthersdorf-Ferkel-Gitter

PETA thereupon immediately filed a complaint with the competent public prosecutor in Frankfurt on suspicion of violating the Animal Welfare Act as well as numerous serious violations of the provisions of the Animal Welfare Ordinance. In addition, the veterinary office  district was informed about the abuses.

But the catastrophic conditions were not turned off.

PETA was leaked more video material – taken in late June 2017 -. No improvements from improvements. The animals suffer and continue to die under desolate conditions. The closure of the plant or the pronouncement of a livestock ban were considered by Thomas Maczek (the veterinary officer of the competent office), as not necessary, although he himself had classified in an interview, the attitude as bad, animal welfare relevant and not species-appropriate. Resignation or disinterest? but in any case a behavior that is inappropriate for a medical profession.

These are shocking pictures: The pictures show once again weak, seriously injured, dying and already dead piglets.

Schweinezucht-Guenthersdorf-Hundesitz

Severely ill animals of different ages are simply left to themselves in Stable alley and thus to their sad fate. The lifeless bodies of the animals are not properly disposed of in so-called carcasses tons, but simply left outside  the stable.

Schweinezucht-Guenthersdorf-Schweine-tot

Extremely unhygienic conditions

In the stables, even months after the first criminal complaint, extremely unhygienic conditions prevail, which must be classified as seriously worrying. Centimeters high manure and heavily polluted bays and stables are the sad everyday life for the sensitive pigs.

Schweinezucht-Guenthersdorf-Faekalien

Mast bays were not only dirty, but in some cases too crowded. (Stocking density of 0.226 m2 per animal, although according to the Animal Welfare – Livestock Regulation at least twice as large area is required for runner pigs).

Schweinezucht-Guenthersdorf-Bein

The animals themselves are due to their disastrous environment often heavily polluted themselves and suffer. Also in June 2017, numerous animals are sitting in the so-called dog seat. This unusual and unnatural posture for pigs, irrespective of their age, should make breathing easier for the animals (relief posture). But also diseases of the musculoskeletal system come into consideration.

Schweinezucht-Guenthersdorf-tote-Sau

Cut off tails from cropping the animals were simply thrown into a slurry tank below the gangway. Many flies present in the barn, as potential carriers of diseases, promote the spread of diseases. In the stable alley are also many maggots.

Schweinezucht-Guenthersdorf-Ringelschwaenze

PETA has now sent this shocking video footage to the public prosecutor’s office in Frankfurt (Oder). The animal rights organization demands the immediate closure of the holding and a banning of animals for those responsible. In addition, PETA has now also the so far apparently inactive responsible persons of the responsible veterinary office indicated.

This case shows once again how even the minimum legal regulations are violated. Despite extensive notification by PETA was not used by the competent veterinary office.

Once again, the enforcement deficit in Germany shows – not even valid law is enforced, grievances are tolerated.

Despite official controls, operators have apparently been able to continue their catastrophic husbandry for months without any restrictions.

https://www.peta.de/schweinezucht-guenthersdorf

My comment: We must not get used to these pictures, it is not rare exceptions and black sheep at the animal owners, it is systemic conditions.
Here we witness a million times animal suffering, which has become normal in the existing “production system”, a normality that a civilized society with an ethical claim and an advanced animal welfare law should not take for granted.

Germany has established the largest, most disgusting and cruel mass animal farming in Europe.
Under the animal-contempting policies of the new Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner, the country is being pulled into the dirt.

“Klöckners Livestock Ordinance violates animal welfare law and constitution,” says Prof. Thomas Blaha of the Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare.
He`s right.

My best regards, Venus

Farm Animals, General News

UK: We Do NOT Produce Foie Gras In the UK, but we Still Import It. Now We Want a Completely FG Free UK – Please Sign and Support.

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Foie Gras basically means ‘fatty liver’ and involves the force feeding of duck and geese on a daily basis to produce.  A pipe is thrust down their throat, into which loads of grain is pumped. Over time this forced feeding causes their liver to swell to many times its normal size – and it is at this point that the animals are slaughtered and the liver made into foie gras.

Foie Gras basically means ‘fatty liver’ and involves the force feeding of duck and geese on a daily basis to produce.

Foie Gras production does not exist in the UK, but some well known stores import the product for customers. Now we want the UK to go entirely foie gras free – including a ban on the import of the product into the UK.

Please sign the petition and give your support to the campaign which is headed by Rachel and Susie. Thank you.

 

Petition link –

 
 

https://animalequality.org.uk/foie-gras/

  

Dear Mark,

Countdown stars Rachel Riley and Susie Dent have joined Animal Equality’s call for a #FoieGrasFreeGB. The caring TV celebrities made impassioned speeches urging their fans to sign our petition demanding the Government enacts an import ban on foie gras.

Rachel and Susie’s support came as a new YouGov poll revealed that an overwhelming majority of Brits back a foie gras import ban too ⁠— 79% of those who expressed an opinion were in favour of a ban.

The poll also showed that the vast majority of people in the UK do not eat foie gras, with only 10% of people having eaten it in the past year.

“If you eat foie gras, I would really urge you to look at the practice that goes in to producing it. It is totally barbaric and involves force-feeding on the most horrific scale imaginable.

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Please, if you’re a lover of animals, add your name to the petition to ban foie gras from the UK.”
– Susie Dent

We’re closer than ever before to a foie gras-free Britain, but we need your support. Donate today and together, we will achieve this victory for animals.

Thank you,

Rachel Susie fg 1

Please sign the petition and give your support to the campaign which is headed by Rachel and Susie. Thank you.

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Farm Animals

Bavaria: death struggle as an everyday business

 

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One of the largest dairy farmers in Bavaria blatantly violates animal welfare. The dairy farm “Endres” im Allgäu, Bavaria, torments his animals, according to research by the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and the ARD ( Public TV) politics magazines REPORT MAINZ.

This emerges from a several weeks comprehensive video documentation from the stalls. The photographs were handed over to the ARD and the Süddeutsche Zeitung by the animal rights association Soko Animal protection” and show that the staff always cause great pain to the cows. The cows are kicked and beaten. Animals that can no longer walk are dragged through the barn with the help of hip clips and tractors. Sick cows are taken to a sick bay of the barn and are not  cared for there. About 1800 cows live there.

Tierquälerei auf Enders, in Bayern

Over a period of ten days, the footage documents that a particular animal has been given very little water and food and has not been properly killed. There are several so-called Need killings to see in which the animals were stunned with a stud shot, but then bled out properly. Minutes after the bolt shot, some cows are still showing reactions and are suffering longer than allowed. The farmer Franz Endres wants, despite multiple demand for the previous incidents, not comment.

This emerges from a several weeks comprehensive video documentation from the stables, which was handed over to the editorial by the animal rights organization “Soko animal protection” . In the opinion of Prof. Holger Martens, an expert on cattle farming, the documented conditions clearly violate existing laws.

“I have never seen such pictures, they are unacceptable, they are intolerable conditions, and this is clearly in violation of existing laws, it is depressing.” he said

For inspections at the beginning of June following an anonymous complaint, the official veterinarians from Mindelheim have also found animal rights violations. The farmer was told to remedy the identified deficiencies immediately, they say.

Meat from “Endres” sick animals has also entered the food chain. This was confirmed by the slaughterhouse Vion in Buchloe. The milk of the animals was delivered to the dairy Champignon.

The company’s statement states that,” for ethical and moral reasons, the cheese producer Champignon will no longer accept and process milk from this farm. “

Authors of the Public TV political magazines “Fakt and REPORT MAINZ” had shown recordings from the dairy farm to a spokeswoman for the cheese firm.

Tierquälerei auf Enderspg

Meanwhile, the responsible Bavarian consumer protection ministry has responded. A written statement on Monday stated that “animal cruelty is unacceptable” (!!!)

“ For the first time in my term of office, I am confronted with such serious allegations against a specific establishment, and the matter must be fully investigated immediately the local authorities have been involved, and I was particularly keen to have the prosecutor’s office react immediately, with criminal behavior in the area, and responsibility for the animals, and there is a strong suspicion that this responsibility has been grossly ignored” says  Consumer Protection  Minister Thorsten Glauber

In addition, several special inspections of the enterprise were ordered and one had requested a special report from the responsible government of Swabia.

Animal cruelty at Franz Endres probably not an isolated case

The documented animal cruelty in the Franz Endres dairy farm, in one of the largest dairy farms in Germany, shows once again what animal rights activists have been denouncing for many decades: that farmers in Germany systematically violate existing laws – and are too rarely stopped by the responsible authorities.

The case of brutal animal cruelty in one of the largest dairy farms in Germany is highly explosive! For it shows once again that even large companies in Germany apparently continue to systematically torture and kill animals in the most brutal way. Because they know: Serious consequences have almost never in Germany!

Without research such as the “Soko animal welfare” remain even the most serious animal protection violations without consequences. Investigations are – often against a rather symbolic payment – set. Consistent livestock bans are extremely rare!

https://www.swr.de/report/tiere-im-todeskampf-massive-tierschutzverstoesse-in-der-milchproduktion/08-tierquaelereien-in-einem-der-groessten-deutschen-milchviehbetriebe/-/id=233454/did=24151650/mpdid=24399394/nid=233454/f6b0ew/index.html

 

My comment: The German industrial peasants have lobby organizations that are as powerful as those of the German automotive industry. In such a climate, where apparently and intentionally insufficient control or animal cruelty is concealed, crime flourishes.

While pet owners torture animals in Germany, they also advertise with allegedly high animal welfare standards in Germany.

What many consumers do not know: Germany is only mediocre in terms of animal welfare internationally. There is always talk of “isolated cases”, but in reality concern the majority of companies. And the farmers’ lobby – which, incidentally, mainly represents the big farmers – is doing everything to ensure that this does not change.

My best regards, Venus

 

Farm Animals, General News

England: Citizens ‘Trust the Tractor’ – Because They Are Buying the Best In Animal Welfare. Oh Yeah, Investigation Shows Otherwise !

England

 

WAV Comment:

Ever since its conception; we have had our doubts and concerns about the Red Tractor ‘quality’ mark. This investigation proves that animal welfare comes way down the list of ethics; yet animal welfare is supposed to be one of the core values when the public buy Red Tractor produce – they are supposed to be getting the best in all areas – one has to ask if the Red Tractor label is really a veil for abuse on farms whilst misleading the British public into thinking it is buying the best welfare practices for animals that are available.

Image result for red tractor assurance

Assured Food Standards is an organisation that promotes and regulates food quality in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. It licenses the Red Tractor quality mark, a product certification programme that comprises a number of farm assurance schemes for food products, animal feed and fertilizer.

All stages of food production are independently certified (inspected) to the Red Tractor standards before food can be labelled with the Red Tractor logo.

The Red Tractor Farm Assurance scheme is divided in different sectors:

 

Investigation pictures – Animal Equality.

Investigation Exposes “Extreme Animal Suffering” at Red Tractor Chicken Farms

Investigation Exposes “Extreme Animal Suffering” at Red Tractor Chicken Farms

 

Shocking footage from an undercover investigation by the animal protection charity Animal Equality has revealed horrific animal abuse at three Red Tractor-certified chicken farms in Lincolnshire, UK.

The “horrifying conditions and extreme animal suffering” shown in the video include 63,000 chickens all cramped together in double-decker sheds, and chickens living among the dead carcasses of their fellow creatures who had been just left to decompose on the ground.

The investigators, who visited each of the farms several times between February and April this year to carry out covert filming, found workers kicking and abusing chickens and breaking their necks before dumping them to die slowly on piles of other dying birds.

The chickens were forced to live on the ground in their own filth, as none of the sheds had perches, causing many of the birds to have sore, red skin. In addition, some chickens had leg injuries so terrible they were unable to walk or even stand up; and tiny, two-day-old chicks were found panting and straining to breathe — or already dead.

Image result for red tractor assurance

“As our appetite for chicken meat has grown, so has the size of Britain’s chicken farms. Images of distressed birds in giant double-decker sheds will be a shock to many consumers who buy British, Red Tractor-certified meat thinking they can trust its animal welfare standards,” says Dr. Toni Vernelli, Executive Director of Animal Equality UK. “Yet the truth is, the unnatural conditions chickens are forced to endure in these vast sheds are utterly dismal. One meal for us equals a lifetime of misery for them.”

The three farms — Saltbox, Ladywath and Mount — provide chickens for Moy Park, a chicken company that supplies major supermarkets including Tesco, Co-op, Sainsbury’s and Ocado. The farms are all certified by the Red Tractor farm assurance scheme which claims to provide “an easy signpost for consumers looking for British food and drink that they can trust” that is “farmed with care”.

Commenting on the investigation, a spokesperson for Red Tractor told the BBC: “Our own routine auditing of these farms had identified some breaches to our high standards, and we have been working with them to ensure they put the necessary processes in place for them to remain Red Tractor-certified.”

However, Vernelli says that labels and certificates can’t protect animals in the meat industry; only consumers can do this. “It’s easy to make the compassionate choice of leaving chickens off your plate and opting for delicious meat-free alternatives, which are now widely available in supermarkets and restaurants across the world,” he concludes.

 

The only way to do this is as Mr Vernelli says – leave dead animals off your plate and go for delicious meat free alternatives.  As is shown, the high welfare standards supposedly of Red Tractor are in fact, quite the contrary.

Best regards

Mark.

 

 

General News

Indonesia: Cruel locals take turns to RIDE a leatherback turtle as the distressed animal (which landed to lay eggs) tries to move on Indonesian beach.

Indonesia

Image result for leatherback turtleArchive photo

WAV Comment:

I am always amazed by the utter stupidity of some people when it comes to animal abuse. Here we see a Leatherback which has come ashore to lay eggs, then being abused by the very locals who should be respecting and protecting the animals.

What does it say about them and their education / mentality ? – as we have shown in posts many times recently, probably just another excuse for man to get that much needed selfie; regardless of the suffering and abuse that is given to the animal(s) involved.

Regards Mark

 

 

Cruel locals take turns to RIDE a leatherback turtle as the distressed animal tries to move on Indonesian beach

  • Locals captured the endangered giant sea turtle as it was laying eggs on a beach
  • The Video shows men taking turns to ride the animal as it crawls towards the sea
  • One man even stands on the reptile’s hind flippers as it staggers the final yards 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7228033/Cruel-locals-turns-RIDE-leatherback-turtle-animal-tries-Indonesian-beach.html?ito=social-facebook

This shocking video shows locals on an Indonesian beach cruelly riding on the back of an endangered giant sea turtle.

The video was filmed on Friday after the turtle was captured by residents while it was laying its egg on the beach. 

Local authorities have yet to make any statement about the incident.

 

General News

USA: UPDATE – Convicted serial dog killer now sentenced to 10–45 years behind bars.

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UPDATE – Convicted serial dog killer now sentenced to 10–45years behind bars.

 

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With help from Stacey we covered this post in April:

https://worldanimalsvoice.com/2019/04/15/big-time-animal-torturer-nally-comes-up-for-parole-in-april-of-2021-please-take-action-to-stop-this-read-on/

 

Here is an update which has been supplied on Stacey’s post:

https://our-compass.org/2012/04/11/free-to-a-good-home-craigslist-dog-killer-sentenced-in-west-virginia/

 

April 7, 2019: Please see update HERE

Source: Pet Pardons News

Convicted serial dog killer, Jeffrey Nally, of New Cumberland West Virginia was sentenced by Judge Fred Fox II on Wednesday to 10-45 years behind bars. While animal advocates would rather have seen him spend life in prison, the truth is that this sentence is substantial considering that animal abuse cases seldom carry this kind of weight.  From that standpoint, the outcome is a victory.

It is true, though, that this was no run-of-the mill animal abuse case. This was a brutal series of intentional mutilations, torture, and execution of innocent puppies. Nally was accused of mutilating and killing 29 puppies (who) he received through classified ads, and Craigslist “free to good home” ads.

 

Continue reading a lot more about this via the our-compass link given above.

 

Farm Animals, General News

Switzerland says: “No factory farming”

 

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The popular initiative against mass animal husbandry is likely to come about.
Animal welfare and environmental organizations have collected 120,000 signatures within a year, Campaign leader Meret Schneider said in an interview with the newspaper “Blick”.
The initiators want to submit the signatures to the Federal Chancellery in September.

The collected signatures would now be certified by the communities, said campaign manager Meret Schneider of the animal rights organization Sentience Politics.
Necessary for the realization of the initiative are 100’000 valid signatures. The collection period lasts until 12th December.

The popular initiative “No factory farming in Switzerland (factory farming initiative)” requires a constitutional amendment to agricultural livestock farming. The federal government should protect the dignity of the animal in agricultural animal husbandry. Specifically, according to the initiative text, animal dignity includes the claim “not to live in mass animal husbandry”.

kuh im Stall angekettet

Similar animal husbandry guidelines are to be adopted as those that apply to Bio Suisse, which means that the animals should above all receive more space and outdoor spouts.

Furthermore, the federal government should set criteria for animal-friendly housing and care, access to the outdoors, slaughter and the maximum group size per stall. 
It should also provide for rules on the importation of animals and animal products for nutritional purposes. The implementation of the initiative has a maximum transitional period of 25 years.

kühe in schweiz

Behind the referendum are people from 15 organizations.

Among them is Vera Weber of the Fondation Franz Weber or representatives of Greenpeace and the Greens.

The farmers’ association sees it very differently (!!) About mass livestock could not speak in Switzerland, according to the position of President Markus Ritter.
“Animal welfare laws in Switzerland are already among the strictest worldwide” so Ritter. The farmers also warn against hefty surcharges if the initiative should come through. The initiators are preparing for a tough vote. Schneider is aware:

“The work is just starting right now.”

https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/schutz-der-tierwuerde-massentierhaltungsinitiative-wohl-zustande-gekommen

My comment:  At some point, humans will understand that an equitable livestock farming no longer means that we are allowed to kill and eat animals.
But until this day, for which we all fight and hope, is a very long road and so we have to settle for smaller and modest successes.

We support this campaign and we wish our fellow campaigners, much success and strength for the future. And thus also a better life of the farm animals.

My best regards to all, Venus

General News, Hunting

South Africa: Trophy hunters shoot drugged, farm-raised lions – from their parked cars!

SAfrica

Another victim of canned lion hunting

In South Africa, majestic creatures are bred in captivity and then drugged and paraded for ‘trophy hunters’ to shoot from parked vehicles.
It’s sickening cruelty – the dazed lions are shot for FUN!
There are about 200 places in South Africa that breed lions in captivity for canned lion hunting. As many as 6,000 lions are ‘stockpiled’ for hunters. When a lioness gives birth, her cubs are taken from her and used for tourists to pet and pose with them in photographs.
When a lion gets bigger and harder to handle, it is moved to an enclosed area and there it stays until someone pays to shoot it.
They call it canned lion hunting because poor lions are literally served up on a plate for hunters. The lions can’t run, hide or defend themselves in any way.

 

Canned Lion Hunting

The lions are frequently drugged to make it easier for hunters, who often shoot the poor creature, while they sit inside a nearby vehicle. Often it takes several shots before the animal dies.
In neighboring Zimbabwe, a lion called Cecil was shot with a bow and arrow and suffered for 12 hours before dying!
it’s that horrible, that stark, that cruel. We need your help to stop it.
We want your help to fight this cruelty and have it outlawed. It’s an uphill battle because the canned lion industry is wealthy and so far, the South African government is ignoring the cruelty. We have to lobby government; we have to raise public awareness and we have to support other groups.
Every day this horror is allowed to continue means more dead lions at a time when the population is dropping throughout Africa. There used to be 200,000 lions in Africa, now there are around 25,000. Please, please help us fight the evil business that destroys their dignity and then them.
General News

USA: Petition – Justice for Helpless Puppies Thrown into Boiling Water.

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Justice for Helpless Puppies Thrown into Boiling Water

Posted by Carly Day

 

12555 Signatures Collected

 

Petition link: https://ladyfreethinker.org/sign-justice-for-helpless-puppies-thrown-into-boiling-water/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email

 

PETITION TARGET: 11th Judicial DA Rick Tedrow

A woman is accused of dropping live newborn puppies into a pot of boiling water and forcing her children to watch as the tiny animals died in agony.

In this house of horrors, 53-year-old Martha Crouch of San Juan, New Mexico allegedly tortured and abused numerous animals — as well as her children — over a period of decades.

Crouch’s 17-year-old daughter claims that her mother locked a beloved family dog in a cage and had it shot dead as a form of punishment.

Along with boiling multiple litters of puppies alive, Crouch often gave prescription medicine to kittens and watched them die slowly and painfully.

An older daughter says she saw her mother killing six kittens by beating them in the heads with a hammer or rock.

Police from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office arrested Crouch and her husband on June 24th after arresting one of the couple’s 15 children on an assault charge and learning of the abuse in the household.

Martha remains in jail charged with child abuse and extreme animal cruelty; her bail is set at $50,000. Her husband Timothy Crouch is out on bail, charged with obstructing an investigation.

The couple has been evading authorities for over 20 years and has reportedly amassed a vast array of criminal claims throughout various states.

Clearly, Martha Crouch is a danger to both humans and animals and needs to be removed from society.

Sign this petition urging Rick Tedrow, DA for the 11th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, to prosecute Martha Crouch to the fullest extent of the law, and push for the maximum penalties possible for the atrocious acts of cruelty she inflicted on both animals and her children.