GRAPHIC VIDEO: New undercover investigation reveals cruelty inside rabbit farms linked to the UK. PETITION

“The condition these poor rabbits have to endure before slaughter is heartbreaking & just sickening! No animal should suffer disease, pain, infection & total a lack of care; when the ultimate end is for human enjoyment!. This despicable industry must be stopped, please help by signing the petition & spreading it far & wide, thanks!”

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION HERE OR AT THE LINK BELOW; THIS SUFFERING MUST BE STOPPED:–http://www.animalequality.net/news/623/new-undercover-investigation-reveals-cruelty-inside-rabbit-farms-linked-uk

For over 2 years, Animal Equality investigators have infiltrated the rabbit meat industry in Spain. Two of the farms investigated are directly linked with restaurants in the UK.

Today, Animal Equality has been featured in The Sunday Times where it reveals the shocking findings of its latest investigation. Two of the farms investigated are linked to and English distributor, and restaurants such as the Terrace at the National Theatre in London.

For over a period of 2 years, Animal Equality investigators infiltrated the Spanish rabbit meat industry. A total of 72 farms, and 4 slaughterhouses have been investigated.

Findings of this investigation:

• Animals killed by blunt force trauma. Furthermore, our investigators have been able to report that this is a common practice within rabbit industry.

• Workers throwing live rabbits into the waste containers, due to over-production.

• Animals with open wounds or infections were left in the cages and had no veterinary treatment.

• Cannibalism amongst certain animals provoked by over-crowded conditions.

• Farms selling rabbits to restaurants without them first meeting health and safety requirements.

• A vet smashing a rabbit against the ground whilst acknowledging, to the camera, that this constitutes animal abuse.

• Farms which had never received health and bio-security inspections

• Dead animals left to rot in cages next to live animals.

WARNING: THE VIDEO YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE CONTAINS GRAPHIC FOOTAGE.

 Published on 25 May 2014

Help animals now! Take action at http://Rabbit-Farms.org 

For over 2 years, Animal Equality investigators have infiltrated the rabbit meat industry in Spain. Two of the farms investigated are directly linked with restaurants in the UK.

Support now our work for the defence of animals athttp://AnimalEquality.net/donation

Animal Equality has already taken legal action against the farms and slaughterhouses investigated. Administrative sanctions on those responsible, may vary from 60,001 to 1,200,000 euros in the case of very serious offences, and fines from 600 to 3,000 euros for minor offences.

Findings of this investigation:

• Animals killed by blunt force trauma. Furthermore, our investigators have been able to report that this is a common practice within rabbit industry.

• Workers throwing live rabbits into the waste containers, due to over-production.

• Animals with open wounds or infections were left in the cages and had no veterinary treatment.

• Cannibalism amongst certain animals due to over-crowded conditions.

• Farms selling rabbits to restaurants without them first meeting health and safety requirements.

• A vet smashing a rabbit against the ground whilst acknowledging, to the camera, that it was animal abuse.

• Farms which had never received health and bio-security inspections

• Dead animals left to rot in cages next to live animals.

Animal Equality has already taken legal action against the farms and slaughterhouses investigated. Administrative sanctions on those responsible, may vary from 60,001 to 1,200,000 euros in the case of very serious offences and fines from 600 to 3,000 euros for minor offences.

News Link & Petition:- http://www.animalequality.net/news/623/new-undercover-investigation-reveals-cruelty-inside-rabbit-farms-linked-uk

 “Thanks to my daughter for writing this…not been well…sorry for lack of posts but will be back ASAP XXX”

Shocking Footage Video: Italian Pigs Investigation; Petition To Sign Please

Compassion in World Farming’s Investigation Unit recently undertook an undercover investigation into pig farming in Italy. What they found were pigs crowded together in inhumane conditions suffering routine cruelty.

We have produced a short video containing some of the footage that our investigators uncovered. We must warn you that it is upsetting viewing. You can take action on this issue without watching the film, but if you do choose to view it, please be warned that it contains images of animal suffering.

Viewer Discretion – Shocking Footage – Italian Pig Investigation

Published on 31 May 2013

A recent investigation by Compassion in World Farming into intensive pig farming in Italy has uncovered shocking maltreatment.

Following our recent investigation into Spanish pig farms, Compassion visited 11 farms in Italy. On every single one, we found the EU Pigs Directive (designed to protect the welfare of pigs) being blatantly flouted.

Widespread maltreatment uncovered

Every single one of the 11 farms visited by our investigators was blatantly flouting the EU Pigs Directive – a piece of legislation designed to protect the welfare of all the EU’s 255 million pigs.

Our investigation exposed:

• Pigs living in completely barren environments, being housed on bare concrete with nothing to satisfy their inquisitive minds
• Pigs with tails routinely docked – a painful mutilation used to prevent tail-biting, which can occur when pigs are forced to live in barren conditions
• Pigs left sick or injured. On one farm, a pig was so severely wounded from fighting that it had died.

We believe these farms to be representative of the massive Italian pig industry – which means up to 13 million Italian pigs could be enduring these terrible conditions every year.

We must tell the world what is happening behind the closed doors of Italian pig farms so please share the film with as many friends as possible. Use this link: www.ciwf.org/italianpigs

Compassion in World Farming is calling for:

• Enrichment materials (such as straw) to be provided to all pigs
• Tail docking to only be used as a last resort, never routinely
• Sows to be kept in groups, in large pens, with plenty of bedding
• Limited stocking densities, to avoid over-crowding
• All sick or injured animals to be treated and cared for immediately.

Compassion in World Farming has launched an EU-wide petition, calling on the Agriculture Ministers from all 27 EU Member States to ensure that the Pigs Directive is fully enforced in every EU nation.

Please take action by signing the petition now and call for an end to this unacceptable treatment of pigs in Italy and throughout the EU.

News & Petition Link:-http://action.ciwf.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=119&ea.campaign.id=20836&ea.tracking.id=f2e73a6a

Calf Found Burned Alive on Lisbon Farm

“WTF…whoever did this is either trying to settle an old score with the owner of the calf by using premeditated fear, causing harm to his livestock via killing one in such a horrific way; to let the owner know, he means business. OR, he is the SADISTIC OPPRESSOR, WHO ENJOYS INFLICTING HARM & CAUSING HIDEOUS INJURIES, to ANY SENTIENT BEING.”

“These lowlife’s are SICK & EVIL, they enjoy what they do! When the poor animal, they have abused is eventually found & the media picks up the story;  they are thrilled at the reaction, their heinous misery has caused.  And as we know from past experiences, the animal abuser, doesn’t always stop at animal abuse…he can move on to children & adults…Just keep an eye out for any unusual behaviour, especially between older siblings & the younger one’s…bully’s are clever…but not clever enough to not get caught!”

Vodpod videos no longer available.

A calf was burned alive on a Lisbon farm sometime on Friday.The owner of the farm did not discover the 220 lbs. baby female cow until Sunday. The cow walked around the farm in agony for a day and a half.  Farm owner Edward Sabol discovered the tortured animalafter taking a head count of his cattle.”I found the calf in the field and it didn’t look the right colour,” Sabol said.Sabol drove the calf to a local veterinarian, who confirmed that someone poured accelerant on the animal and set it on fire.“He said it was either lighter fluid, gasoline, some kind of flammable liquid,” said Sabol.Sabol said he can’t imagine who would do such a thing, but said he’s had problems in the neighbourhood.

“I always seem to have problems with the kids with the baseball field across the street,” said Sabol.

This isn’t the first time he’s lost a cow from a vicious act of violence. Two years ago someone shot one of his other cows.

Friends who have known the family for years can’t believe they’re experiencing a similar tragedy.

“I know there’s nobody around that takes better care of their animals than what they do. I can’t imagine why somebody would do this unbelievably cruel thing,” said neighbour Jim Fraser.

After the calf was put down Sunday, Sabol reported the incident to the Columbiana Sheriff’s Office.

“I would like to see the people   , or that they could actually see what they have done to a living animal,” said Sabol.

News Link:–http://www.wytv.com/content/news/local/story/Calf-Found-Burned-Alive-on-Lisbon-Farm/PBkUQRVDuEeO5jkqd49PlA.cspx

RSPCA – Live transport – Take Action

 

Almost all farm animals will be transported at some point in their lives. Some animals are transported to different areas of the country or to different farms or buildings to fit in with the changing seasons or their stages of growth. Some farm animals are also transported to livestock markets to be sold, and most are eventually transported to an abattoir (slaughterhouse) to be slaughtered/killed.

If animal welfare is not a priority during live transport, there can be a high risk of animal suffering. The handling during loading onto and unloading from vehicles can be stressful, and during transport animals may be faced with strange sights, movements, noises, smells and unfamiliar animals.

Heat stress, lack of good ventilation and long periods without food, water or rest can add to the welfare problems.

Zero tolerance to welfare breaches at the ports

We believe that live transportation must be kept to a minimum. Animals should be slaughtered close to the farms where they were reared and long-distance transportation of livestock for slaughter should be replaced with a ‘meat carcass-only’ trade.

During transport, higher welfare standards should be used and the animals looked after by competent and caring staff.

We are working in a number of different ways to improve the conditions in which all animals are transported.

The Campaign

Every year millions of animals including calves, sheep, dogs and horses are transported all over the EU.

Since the live export trade from Ramsgate re-opened in 2011 many thousands of animals including calves, sheep and horses have suffered being shipped overseas through its port. We’re monitoring the trade from Ramsgate and have concerns on the boat being used. We’re urging the government not to issue licenses if there are concerns that transport times laid down in law will be broken. We want to see:

• An end to long-distance transport of live animals in favour of a ‘carcass-only’ trade
• A maximum eight-hour journey time for all animals travelling for slaughter or ‘further fattening’
• Better enforcement of the current rules on live transport across the EU – including more frequent and thorough checks.

How can I help?

We’re outraged that the European Commission has rejected the ‘8 hours’ petition with over 1 million signatures against long distance live transport. Take action now and urge the Commission to accept the signatures and act on this urgent issue!

Petition Link:-http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/farm/livetransport/takeaction

News Link:–http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/farm/livetransport/-/article/CAM_livetransportation

 

 

240 starving cows killed on farm, New Zealand

 

Animal welfare officers have euthanised 180 cows and calves found starving and near death on a West Coast farm.

The Ministry of Primary Industries is considering laying charges under the Animal Welfare Act over alleged neglect at a leasehold farm in the Lake Brunnerarea.

Not related. Ref. only

An investigator who inspected the farm on August 28 found several cows dead and the rest of the 940-strong herd in “various stages of starvation”.

Local veterinarians, a farm consultant and additional animal welfare officers assessed the cows.

They were found to be in such an emaciated state that they were unlikely to survive more than a few days.

An MPI veterinarian supervised the euthanisation of 150 cows and 30 calves. A further 60 cows were transported to the local freezing works.

There were concerns over the welfare of the 700 cows remaining at the farm, the MPI said.

It said alleged breaches of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 had been carried out at the farm, though no charges had yet been laid.

Federated Farmers West Coast president Katie Milne said the organisation was assisting the MPI investigation.

She implicated financial problems in the failings at the Lake Brunner farm.

“The critical message we need to get out is whatever happens financially you are a farmer first. This is not the 1960′s so be open to your family, your friends and your bank. Above all, be honest to yourself.

“Failing at a business does not mean you have failed as a farmer but failing your stock does.”

The affected farmer should have reached out to Federated Farmers for support, Ms Milne said.

“You will find we all want to help so no one needs to be an island.

“I also need to make it clear that there is no way anyone can condone the maltreatment of livestock. Aside from an obvious and significant destruction of commercial value, it is ethically unacceptable.”

News Link:- http://beforeitsnews.com/mass-animal-death/2012/09/240-starving-cows-killed-on-farm-new-zealand-2430310.html

 

Shipment Of Animals Suffering – BULGARIAN / TURKISH BORDER – JUNE 2012

 

” I’M POSTING THIS SO EVERY BODY CAN SEE THAT ANIMALS ARE STILL SUFFERING TERRIBLY ON THEIR WAY TO THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE…IT IS NOT HARD TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES NEEDED…SO WHY ARE THE ANIMALS STILL SUFFERING????  Thank God their are people who do care, even if it is only a little water they give…to those who are suffering…it is life!!” 

Eyes on Animals is a farm-animal, inspection-based organization working in Europe with its headquarters in the Netherlands. Eyes on Animals´ teams conduct both announced and unannounced visits to livestock markets, farms and slaughterhouses and inspects and trails international livestock trucks to oversee that current animal welfare legislation is respected and enforced. There is an urgent need for our work considering the extremely high number of animals that are bred, fattened, traded, transported and slaughtered. Government supervision is often understaffed and official inspectors have their hands tied when it comes to crossing borders. Clearly, Eyes on Animals plays an important role in reducing the suffering of farm animals throughout Europe. The work of the organization focuses on the following main aims:

• to witness if current european animal protection legislation for transport, sale, slaughter and at farms is being adhered to by the industry.
• to oversee that the animal protection legislation is being effectively enforced by the authorities.
• to judge if fines are effective in preventing industry from repeating a violation.
• to stimulate industry players in taking steps to improve animal welfare and applauding those that do.
• to draw the attention of the authority to loopholes in the animal welfare legislation

Transport

All farmed animals are transported at least once in their lifetime. Journeys can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few weeks. Transport is known to be one of the most stressful experiences for animals. They are moved from a familiar territory to a new one and are held often under very crowded conditions. They get separated from each other and mixed with unfamiliar animals, which can lead to stress and fighting.

Sometimes there is no water and feed available or the animals cannot reach it. Animals that wish to lie down during the journey are at risk of being trampled by the others. Sometimes conditions on board are very cold or very hot, leading to animals dying from hypothermia and suffocation.

There are laws in place to prevent these types of problems, but there is very little official inspection during the journey to check if these laws are respected. Eyes on Animals regularly trails and checks livestock transport consignments to see if the welfare of the animals is respected during transit

Link:–http://www.eyesonanimals.com/

Investigation into animal transport to Turkey in June 2012- Judge for yourself, do you see any improvements!

Published on 14 Jul 2012 by EyesonAnimalsinspect

In juni 2012 voerden Eyes on Animals en Animal Welfare Foundation weer inspecties uit aan de grens tussen de EU (Bulgarije) en Turkije. In deze film ziet U onze bevindingen. Naast enkele verbeteringen is er nog heel veel mis en lijden dieren ernstig

“Absolutely fuming mad…this is heartbreaking, one can not imagine their stress, their thirst…just because they are going to be killed for human consumption does not mean they have to suffer whilst still alive.  This just isn’t good enough…more must be done to make sure all animals are transported in appropriate wagons for animals height etc. Water must be available at all times, not just when they stop! Good handling of animals, especially stressed ones etc. They must also have proper breaks, out of the wagons to feed & rest etc.”

“WHAT IS SO BLOODY HARD ABOUT CARRYING OUT THE ABOVE? WHY ARE THEY STILL DENIED THEIR BASIC RIGHTS LIKE WATER? ANIMALS ARE STILL SUFFERING ON THEIR WAY TO THEIR DEATHS…FOR HUMAN DINNER PLATES!”

” IT’S NOT MUCH TO ASK THAT THEY ARE GIVEN FOOD, WATER, RESPECT & A BIT OF KINDNESS BEFORE THEY DIE…IS IT???”

Thanks to fellow animal warrior @Strayways for the lead.

 

 

Discovery of more sick horses prolongs animal cruelty case in Easton

EASTON, Conn. — State animal control officials say they have found more sick horses on an Easton farm owned by a man already facing animal cruelty charges.

The Connecticut Post reports (http://bit.ly/LL05OB ) an inspection last week at the Pee Wee Horse Farm turned up 23 horses in need of care and three horses in need of immediate medical treatment.

The farm’s owner, 76-year-old Apollonio Vittorio, was charged in January with animal cruelty after authorities found nearly two dozen animals on the same farm with untreated medical conditions.

Officers said they found 92 horses on the farm, which only had shelter for about 30 of them.

Vittorio has withdrawn his application for probation.

But he tells the newspaper the allegations against him are “lies.”

He is due back in Superior Court on July 12.

News Link:-http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/1f0252cc331141569d6a1214f4241741/CT–Horse-Cruelty

Calves killed because of ‘wrong sex’

“Bet more would want them to be raised here, if only they would watch how they are killed, or listen to the poor mums, crying out for their newborn. Or watch the babies being loaded up for a long haul journey abroad, where many, don’t make it, due to their young age!! But most people just want to turn a blind eye & pretend it doesn’t happen, if they haven’t seen it, or have to think about it, they don’t feel so guilty eating it!”

“But the calf business is disgustingly cruel & heartbreaking. Some farmers wanted to push a rule through so they didn’t have to feed the poor babies, before their shipped to slaughter…cruel & callous or what…talk about bloody penny pinching. I’ll bet there are many veal farms who don’t feed the babies, who going to notice?? Please folks, if you can’t go without meat, just make sure it’s from the UK & from a “RSPCA Freedom Food Scheme” farm. I know, not all of them are as perfect as they make out, but there a hell of a lot better than those who don’t belong to the scheme!!”

About 100,000 dairy calves were killed last year just because they were the ’wrong sex’, new figures have revealed.

The statistics from The Calf Forum highlight that an estimated one in five bull dairy calves born in the Britain last year was killed on farm and a further 11,000 were shipped abroad because they cannot produce milk.

To tackle the numbers of calves killed on farm and the growing live transport trade the RSPCA is working with supermarkets, the farming industry and animal welfare groups to create a market to keep male dairy calves here – such as rearing them for British veal.

David Bowles, director of communications at the RSPCA, said “animal lovers are rightly angry when they see lorry loads of young calves being shipped abroad.”

“However, what many people do not realise is that nine times more calves are killed on farm just days after being born. They are the lost animals of the dairy industry.”

“Farmers don’t want these animals to be killed and neither do the RSPCA. We also don’t want to see them shipped abroad to potentially face long-journeys across Europe where they can be reared on farms without a properly nutritious diet or bedding to lie down on.

“We would much rather these calves reared for veal in the UK where legally they have to be given a proper diet and bedding.”

David Tory a dairy and veal farmer who is a member of the RSPCA’s Freedom Food scheme, has been educating shoppers that British veal calves are free to run around with pen mates and have a longer life than chicken, pigs, turkeys and lamb.

He said: “There is a lot of ignorance out there about British veal but once I’ve explain the facts, that there is a high welfare choice for veal, a vast majority of people are onside.

“Our veal calves have a very high quality of life – a good vaccination programme, high feed programme, deep bedding, low stocking density.”

Latest figures from The Calf Forum, which was set up by the RSPCA and CiWF, revealed that over the past five years, the work of the Forum has contributed to an increase in the numbers of dairy bull calves being reared in Britain and a drop in the percentage of those being killed on farm or shipped abroad.

However last year the percentage of calves killed on farm and being shipped abroad started to creep up again.

Dr Julia Wrathall, head of the RSPCA’s farm animal science department, said: “Part of the solution to this problem is for more people to choose to buy British veal, ideally Freedom Food veal which is from farms, hauliers and abattoirs inspected to RSPCA welfare standards.

“When properly run and managed, veal calf rearing systems in the UK can provide animals with a good quality of life. Due to the diet and lifestyle of the calves the meat produced under this system is darker pink rather than very pale in colour and is known as ros’ veal.”

News Link:-http://www.farminguk.com/news/Calves-killed-because-of-wrong-sex_23592.html

Horses escape from Zanesville-area exotic animal farm

“Lets just hope the animals returned this farm are in cages that they can’t escape from…horses is one thing…a leopard loose is another!”

ZANESVILLE —

 A sheriff says his office is investigating after horses repeatedly escaped from the Ohio farm where dozens of exotic animals were released by their suicidal owner and later killed by authorities last fall.

Two surviving leopards, two primates and a bear were returned to the owner’s widow and the farm near Zanesville this month. That left some people concerned because nothing in Ohio law allows state officials to check on the animals’ welfare.

Last week, horses were reported outside the farm three days in a row. Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz tells WBNS-TVhe’s concerned because horses on roadways could cause crashes. He says his office is monitoring the situation but isn’t using it as a roundabout way to check on the exotic animals at the farm.

 News Link:–http://www.cantonrep.com/newsnow/x358790276/Horses-escape-from-Zanesville-area-exotic-animal-farm

 

Farmer accused of animal cruelty speaks

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVB)

A southern tier farm owner accused of animal cruelty is telling his side of the story. This isn’t the first time Jay Williams and the Cattaraugus County SPCA have gone through this. Their past stems back to the early 90’s, but Williams says he’s done nothing wrong. Of course the SPCA disagrees.

“They’ve put me out of business so far,” says Williams.

Dozens of animals were removed from Williams’ farm in Cattaraugus County last week including horses, goats, sheep, chickens, and cows. Rescuers say their body was covered in mange, scabs, and lice.

“I talked with the USDA Marshall’s and they said as long as I fix the slaughterhouse with stainless steal and get rid of the wood that’s in there. There can’t be any wood and I can keep slaughtering. But the SPCA said no, they don’t want no animals on the farm,” says Williams.

Williams first lost animals on his East Otto farm in 2000.

“So we did take over 100 animals off his property back in 2000 and there were probably about 200 dead animals as well,” says Kelly Chafee.

Cattaraugus County SPCA President Kelly Chafee says they hoped that would be it. But in 2006 charges were filed again, Williams went to jail, and she says the process just keeps repeating itself.

“The sheriff’s department was actually the ones who contacted us in March and they said that there were 3 dead horses on the property,” says Chafee.

But Williams says his animals weren’t neglected and he lets others use his slaughterhouse.

“The sheep were a little thin because I would buy them when they were thin and try fattening them up. Other than that I think the horses were perfect, the cows were perfect, the chickens were perfect,” says Williams.

But Chafee says far from perfect. The animals were swarming her for food and she says it even gets worse.

“Screaming bloody murder. That’s what these lambs and sheep were doing. It was so deafening that someone would be standing right next to you, you couldn’t hear them because they were so loud,” says Chafee.

Chafee says she’ll be meeting with the Assistant District Attorney to decide if they will press charges.

A rabbit and 7 horses still need homes.

News Link:-http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/farmer-accused-of-animal-cruelty-speaks