Posted on February 22, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Stand By – Over the next few days we hope to be launching a new petition which encompasses Serbia wishing to gain EU accession, whilst at the same time failing to meet the fundamental principle of EU Member States that they must enforce the ‘rule of law’ (in their own country) regarding many animal welfare issues. We trust you have seen some of the photographs in other recent posts as well as non EU compliance statements made by EU farm animal welfare organisations who know the rules !
This all relates to the changes made in the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009 which is now renamed as the ‘Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union’ (TFEU).
This includes new laws for animal welfare; including the statement that:
‘the Union and the Member States shall, since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals’
Unfortunately; and typically for the EU; certain topics of animal protection remain under the responsibility of the Member States (e.g. the use of animals in competitions, shows, cultural or sporting events and the management of stray dogs).
Stray dog management being a subject the EU is very aware of due to the excellent work of many campaign NGO’s over the years – and hence why there must be EU wide legislation relating to stray dog management introduced very soon.
Despite this failure of the EU to protect stray dogs, instead leaving ‘protection’ (so they call it – we call it ‘mass murder’) to individual nations !!!; we can still present a great deal to the EU Commission where we consider that Serbia is failing in meeting the EU accession requirements of the TFEU with regard to animals and their welfare. These other issues are what the petition will hinge around.
Below is the reference to; and selective relevant sections of the TFEU relating to animal welfare; which we have shown in red bold type.
Stand by in the coming days to see the new petition link posted here on this site and in many other places – we hope it will be a big signature one !
THE TFEU
Title II of TFEU lists some key principles the Union should respect. Here an Article 13 has been introduced with the Lisbon Treaty. It states that: “In formulating and implementing the Union’s agriculture, fisheries, transport, internal market, research and technological development and space policies, the Union and the Member States shall, since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals, while respecting the legislative or administrative provisions and customs of the Member States relating in particular to religious rites, cultural traditions and regional heritage.
“The Treaty of Lisbon, which entered into force on the 1st of December 2009 amends the current founding treaties, i.e. the Treaty on European Union (EU Treaty), which will retain its name; and the Treaty Establishing the European Community (EC Treaty), which will be renamed as the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
This puts animal welfare on equal footing with other key principles mentioned in the same title i.e. promote gender equality, guarantee social protection, protect human health, combat discrimination, promote sustainable development, ensure consumer protection, protect personal data.
It needs, however, to be noted that the European Union operates under the principles of conferred competences and subsidiarity. So competences not conferred upon the Union in the Treaties remain with the Member States and under the principle of subsidiarity, in areas that do not fall within its exclusive competence, the Union shall act only if and in so far as the objectives cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States (Article 1, 4 and 5 of the EU Treaty). As a consequence certain topics of animal protection remain under the responsibility of the Member States (e.g. the use of animals in competitions, shows, cultural or sporting events and the management of stray dogs).
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SAV Thinking Summary:
IF THE EU ‘MAKES THE RULES’, THEN SURELY THEY MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT ‘THEIR RULES’ ARE NOT BROKEN BY MEMBER / ACCESSION STATES ??
– IF WE HAVE CLEAR EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT RULES ARE BEING BROKEN, THEN THE EU MUST BE INFORMED – HOPEFULLY TO CORRECT IT – THEIR OWN RULES THAT IS !
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »
Posted on February 22, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Hunt news from Germany.
The state of Baden-Wuerttermberg has passed a new set of hunting laws, which come into force in April. Passionately fought by the hunting societies in the last months, at least as concerns animal welfare improvements, it nevertheless contains much that caters to the hunters’ interests.
One being the new law that henceforth fox cubs may be caught (and killed) directly from the den, where a cage sticks in the mouth of the den, and the cubs are then trapped at the upper end, to be killed by the hunters later) WITHOUT extra permission by the authorities.
So far that sort of thing used to be the exception; as from April onwards it will become the widespread rule.
Also, in the Saarland hunters are now targeting mainly pregnant vixens at this time of year.
Legally, of course.
The hunting society of a rural Bavarian community recently withdrew their plans of shooting some 100 foxes on a single weekend (beginning of Feb: mating season) (across several districts) for reasons of “population control”.
They ran into trouble with PETA in Stuttgart, who threatened to take them to court should they persist. However, who knows what happened when nobody was looking ..?
A 50+year old German hunter has been charged for shooting a young man (26) recently, thinking him, in poor sight, a wild boar.
He got away with a suspended sentence of 2 years.
In contrast, a young man who protested in front of a well-known (for selling fur) Austrian clothing retailer, was dragged inside by staff, beaten to the point of requiring hospitalization, and later sentenced to 7 months in prison, effective immediately.
No further comment required – one rule for most; another for hunters.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, HUNTING - Primarily UK and Germany, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on February 22, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
U R G E N T !!!
Nearing the deadline for payment of the debt, and we have not even a quarter collected.
More and more I’m afraid that the dogs have to return to the street, because we have no other solution currently.
Everything what we did for them so far, will be in vain … their lives will again be are jeopardized. Can someone help them to stay safe ???
16 DOGS ARE IN BOARDING KENNELS AND THEIR FUTURE IS NOW A VERY UNCERTAIN.
WE ARE PAST DUE ON THEIR BOARDING FEES ARE FIND WE ARE IN REALLY BIG TROUBLE… WE ARE APPEALING TO EVERYONE TO HELP US KEEP THESE STRAY DOGS OFF THE STREETS AND SAFE!!!
Lina’s Animal Rescue is organisation for animal welfare from Serbia . . We have 17 dogs in small private unfinished shelter, 20 dogs in 2 boarding kennels and 15 kitties in one rescuer’s home.
Funds are desperately needed to pay the boarding kennel fees. We have debt for December for 10 dogs and still unpaid January for 16 dogs. The life of street dogs everywhere is difficult, but here in Serbia the dog catchers kill them rather than rescue them. Finding homes is very difficult as the culture in Serbia is not to adopt dogs, but rather buy a puppy then turn it out in the streets later when it is grown.
Ideally we want to adopt the dogs outside Serbia, but this involves blood-work, lab tests and transportation fees. The average Serbian salary is 200€ and each dog’s boarding fees are 60€ per month ( 40 boarding kennel + 20 food ) . With 20 dogs currently in boarding facilities, the debt is too great to even think about renovating our shelter.
First we must improve our housing situation as boarding costs are too high, pay bills and veterinary fees and then join forces with international rescue groups to finds these animals ‘furever” homes outside of Serbia. .
Please donate , this is URGENT APPEAL !
Spread the word!
Youcaring is a perfectly safe site in Canada where you can donate to causes such as this.
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Filed under: Animals Requiring Adoption or Homes - Worldwide, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHELTER - Information, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on February 22, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Drustvo za zastitu zivotinja ALEX
Victor’s story.
Victor was saved in 2008.
On a tip that a dog is in poor condition, that only serves as a guard dog, and that nobody cares for him, volunteers of NGO “Alex” immediately went on the field and took the custody over the dog. They named him Victor.
Horror is a mild word for the poor state the dog was in. Starved and weak, he had a heavy chain around his neck, food and water was nowhere to be seen, and he had a bad skin disease Demodex.
It took a long time for Victor to recover, to learn that he is no longer limited by a meter long chain, that food and water are always available to him, and that every day there is someone who will come and pet him, talk to him with a gentle voice and nice words.
Victor began to flourish. He got better, but kept his position of a housekeeper.
He doesn’t like other dogs and cats, but with people he is simply wonderful. He likes to go for walks and enjoys being in the center of attention.
Victor is now 8 years old.
He hasn’t found a home yet.
Volunteers of “Alex” would give everything if he could go to a family that will love and cuddle him for the rest of his life.
But, if that does not happen, Victor is grateful that he got a second chance in life. We don’t even want to think of the fate that would have awaited him if he had remained with that chain, and in those conditions for one more day or one more month… one more year he would not have survived.
Victor is a dear dog. He acts as if he wants nothing more than what he already has. But we think he deserves a home.
If anyone is interested in adopting him, it would be the most beautiful news for him and for us.
Filed under: Animals Requiring Adoption or Homes - Worldwide, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHELTER - Information, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 