Posted on January 28, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Minnesota Hen Slaughter Exposé: Birds Abused, Scalded Alive Daily
Investigation Is First in Nation of “Spent” Egg-Laying Hen Slaughter Plant
Author/Organization: Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
Year: 2015
Where: United States of America
Eurogroup welcomes importation ban of horsemeat from Mexico
The European Commission has banned the importation of horsemeat from Mexico following a series of audits by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO), which identified significant traceability problems with horses slaughtered for export to the EU that had originated in Mexico and the United States.
Author/Organization: Eurogroup for Animals
Year: 2014
Where: Mexico, United States of America
Final report of an audit carried out in the United Kingdom from 29 April to 09 May 2014 in order to evaluate the animal welfare controls in place at slaughter and during related operations
This report describes the outcome of a Food and Veterinary Office audit in the United Kingdom from 29 April to 9 May 2014 to evaluate the effectiveness of controls in ensuring animals are spared any avoidable pain, distress or suffering during their killing and related operations, as required by Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009. The report concludes that Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 is not yet being implemented in the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, there are good official controls to ensure that in the main animals are spared any avoidable pain, distress or suffering during their killing and related operations, and Competent Authorities are developing tools and procedures to adapt the system of official controls to the requirements of the mentioned Regulation. Business operators, especially the large ones who are bound by industry standards, do ensure standards of animal welfare which are largely equivalent to the Regulation. The main animal welfare problem is that poultry is slaughtered after passing through an electric waterbath stunner using parameters below those prescribed in the Regulation. This happened because new requirements were not yet enforced by competent authorities and because official veterinarians did not correctly understand how this equipment worked. In addition, this slaughter was as prescribed by a religious rite which could derogate from pre slaughter stunning. The Competent Authority indicated its intention to address this problem when implementing the Regulation and to enforce the minimum parameters also for slaughter prescribed by a religious rite. The report makes a number of recommendations to the authorities of the United Kingdom to address the deficiencies noted.
Author/Organization: European Commission (DG SANCO)
Year: 2014
Where: United Kingdom
Joint Declaration Aims to Push EU Further on Animal Welfare
Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands have issued a joint declaration on animal welfare, calling on the European Union to improve further animal welfare for those species where there are already regulations and to extend it to include others.
Author/Organization: The Pig Site
Year: 2014
Where: Denmark, Germany, Netherlands
Welfare Campaigners Urge Cage-free Eggs Sales in California
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is urging food retailers to sell only non-cage eggs in response to the the latest California egg law.
Author/Organization: The Poultry Site
Year: 2014
Where: United States of America
Californian egg welfare ruling comes into effect
As of January 1st 2015, egg producers in the US state of California need to comply with the requirements of California’s Proposition 2 , which voters passed in 2008. The initiative, backed by animal rights activists, was designed to move farmers away from traditional battery cages for laying hens.
Author/Organization: World Poultry
Year: 2015
Where: United States of America
NewStream Top 10: Popular farm animal care stories last year
As we kick off our coverage of the farm animal care sector in 2015, here’s a look back on some of the key stories that generated buzz and interest last year. They provide a collective window on many of the trends and developments driving change that will produce major ripples in the months ahead.
Author/Organization: Meristem Land & Science
Year: 2015
What’s in a label? Understanding animal welfare claims
Food labels that emphasize how animals are treated and cared for on the farm or ranch are popping up in grocery stores across the United States, but that does not mean that these labels are easy for consumers to understand, says Heidi Carroll, South Dakota State University Extension livestock stewardship associate.
Author/Organization: National HogFarmer
Year: 2015
Where: United States of America
Californians vote to give layer hens more room while Australian industry considers animal welfare standards
Australian egg farmers say they are closely monitoring a consumer-driven overhaul of the Californian egg production system, as it launches a review of its own industry standards.
Author/Organization: ABC Rural
Year: 2015
Where: Australia, United States of America
Cows’ ear positions tell us how they’re feeling, study finds
Our new study on cow behaviour indicates that cows reveal their emotional state by the posture of their ears.
Author/Organization: World Animal Protection
Year: 2014
Temple Grandin: Animal Welfare Begins on the Farm
The big issues of animal welfare today are on the farm, not in the slaughterhouse, famed animal-care expert Temple Grandin told the American Farm Bureau Federation here Sunday as she accepted an award for her contributions to American agriculture.
Author/Organization: National Journal
Year: 2015
European Commission sets out position on food safety and animal welfare in TTIP papers
The European Commission (EC) published a series of legal texts and position papers, setting out EU proposals in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations with the US.
Author/Organization: GlobalMeat
Year: 2015
Denmark Leads the Way for Animal Welfare
As Denmark is becoming a leader in animal welfare, agriculture minister, Dan Jørgensen, has announced a major international conference.
Author/Organization: The Pig Site
Year: 2014
Where: Denmark
Member States sign Joint Declaration and commit to work to actively improve animal welfare
Eurogroup for Animals welcomes the Animal Welfare Declaration signed yesterday in Vught by Sharon Dijksma, the Dutch Minister of Agriculture; Christian Schmidt, the German Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture and Dan Jørgensen, the Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. This initiative calls on the European Commission and all Member States to acknowledge the need for better regulation, better animal welfare and to promote awareness, EU standards and knowledge in order to #Act4Animals.
Author/Organization: Eurogroup for Animals
Year: 2014
A farm-built code for animal care
This family believes their responsibility starts on their farm
Author/Organization: Meristem Land & Science
Year: 2014
Death and the goddess: The world’s biggest ritual slaughter
Motilal Kushwaha had promised the Hindu goddess Gadhimai that he would offer her a male goat if one of his children found a job.
Author/Organization: CNN
Year: 2014
Where: Nepal
Ground-breaking Animal Protection Index assesses animal welfare around the world
Our new Animal Protection Index judges 50 countries on their policy and legislation for animals, identifying where improvements can be made to protect animals and people
Author/Organization: World Animal Protection
Year: 2014
WTO is Biggest Threat to Global Progress on Animal Welfare
The World Trade Organization is blocking attempts to improve animal welfare laws around the globe.
Author/Organization: Care2
Year: 2014
Alarming Rise of Antibiotic Resistance in Europe
Antibiotic resistance in Europe has increased in the past years to the point that now constitutes a serious risk to public health.
Author/Organization: The Meat Site
Year: 2014
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »
Posted on January 28, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Fiona finally seems to be doing well at last.
Her second surgery was successful and the stitches have just been removed.
She looks a lot more cheerful after the protective collar she’s been wearing for days has been taken off.
Walking on three legs is obviously not a problem for her, she’s gotten accustomed to it pretty quickly. She’s still being kept in the cage for the main reason of her own safety, as she just might get re-injured if she starts to jump around before she’s completely ready.
Long story short, we dare to hope her story will have a happy ending after all.
Above – Morgan – Earlier Times – at the vets!
Latest pose for the camera
Morgan’s not a kitten anymore, although he’s running and playing as if he is.
He’s grown a lot, put on some weight and is already a teenager, just like that!
He doesn’t seem to have any problems now, but considering his terrible reaction to the general anesthesia during the surgery performed a couple of months ago, we can’t be sure he’s completely healthy.
However, he’s obviously enjoying life now and we take a lot of delight in his happiness 🙂
Filed under: Animals Requiring Adoption or Homes - Worldwide, CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Posted on January 28, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Regarding our recent very disturbing post associated with organised animal fighting In Serbia:
We immediately followed up (this week) regarding the very disturbing videos and have been in contact with Green Party Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South East England – Mr Keith Taylor. Keith has supported and worked with us in the past regarding Serbian stray dog issue – he is a dedicated animal welfare MEP:
In written response to us on 26/1/15; we have now been informed by Keith’s constituency office in the European Parliament, Brussels, that Keith will most probably now be writing to EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn very soon about this issue and as a result, Serbia’s joining of the EU.
The above first link gives a lot more info on what we are campaigning about.
We have informed Brussels that we are fully prepared to assist Keith with the construction of any letter if required; but we do also feel that we have supplied a lot of info and video links for him to forward to Commissioner Hahn.
Keith as always, as a dedicated animal welfare MEP, we are certain, will help us in raising this important subject of Serbian animal fighting with both the Enlargement Commissioner and also with other EU MEP’s.
We are currently waiting too hear back from Keith’s office in Brussels on the next stage, but we are always free to assist should it be necessary. Further news will be posted on this site as and when we are able to further update.
Keith runs an e newsletter associated with animal welfare.
To sign up for this free e publication, just mail to the following:
IMPORTANT – Please ensure that you put ‘INFO’ as the subject header of your e mail; and nothing else.
Send your mail to: keithtaylor@greenmeps.org.uk – be sure to put INFO as the subject header.
Once again our thanks go to Keith for his support and help.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »
Posted on January 28, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
SAV Comment – we support the BVA on this issue 110%. The UK is a county that abides by EU law (except for ‘religion’ (?) and stuns all animals prior to slaughter. There should be no exemption for religious purposes. In the UK, do what the UK wants – ALL animals stunned prior to slaughter. Or much better still – ditch the meat and go veggie or vegan !
Vets call on Welsh Government not to spend taxpayers’ cash on North Wales halal abattoir
12:58, 26 January 2015
By Sally Williams
Welfare concerns raised by the British Veterinary Association over use of non-stun killing methods
Vets are urging the Welsh Government to end talks with a company that has been approved to deliver non-stun slaughter at a halal abattoir in Wales.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is particularly concerned that the Welsh Government is considering using public money to support the company, without prioritising the welfare of the animals.
Rebecca Evans, Deputy Minister for Farming and Food, confirmed in correspondence with the BVA, that Cig Menai Cymru abattoir in Caernarfon, owned by Birmingham-based halal meat suppliers Pak Mecca Meats, has been approved by the Food Standards Agency to carry out controversial non-stun killing.
But Rob Davies, president of the BVA Welsh Branch, said the Welsh Government had failed to answer questions about whether or not they are willing to give financial support to a company which undertakes and promotes non-stun killing as a marketing tool.
Mr Davies said: “It seems that animal welfare is not a concern for the Deputy Minister in this particular discussion.
“BVA calls upon the Welsh Government to state clearly that it will not spend public money on abattoirs which don’t stun animals before killing them. I would appeal to Welsh farmers to consider the damage done to the image and reputation of Welsh meat if they knowingly take or send animals to an abattoir which doesn’t stun before killing.
“Welsh meat must be welfare-friendly from birth to slaughter. ”
Current law in Wales requires animals to be stunned before slaughter but exemptions exist for animals killed for certain faith communities.
BVA is calling on the Welsh Government to end these exemptions and claims the Government also failed to give details of the species or throughput in the abattoir, without which a proper assessment cannot be made about how much meat is being used for religious practice and how much is entering the general food chain.
John Blackwell, BVA president, said: “BVA advocates that all animals which enter an abattoir be stunned before being killed; this view is based on scientific evidence that shows that non-stun slaughter allows animals to perceive pain.
“Concern about welfare of animals at slaughter is a priority not only for our members but also the general public, with the BVA’s Government e-petition reaching more than 95,000 signatures.
“This is a clear signal that the Welsh Government is out of touch with the public on this issue.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The welfare of animals is a priority for the Welsh Government, as demonstrated by Mrs Evans’ Animal Health and Welfare Framework introduced in July 2014.
“We have implemented European Commission Regulation 1099/2009 on protection of animals at time of killing.”
Petition stop halal.
Petition wording
Whether halal process of animal slaughtering for commercial purpose is valid?
Spread over an area of over 17 acres the plant has Adequate chillers, blast freezers, Mechanized and Hygienic Processing Area conforming to high and Stringent Quality Standards. Strategically located near IGI Airport New Delhi, chilled and frozen sheep / goat Meat can be airlifted at short notice The AL nafees group has added to Its fold a new ultra modern Integrated sheep and goat plant at Nooh, Distt. Mewat (Haryana)The abattoir is fitted with imported Italian line having a capacity of Slaughtering and processing of 1500 Animals per day, claimed by the Al Nafees Proteins Pvt. Ltd on its website, where as its slaughter house in Satakpuri, On the eve of World Environment Day, being an member of State Committee for Slaughter House (Govt. of Haryana) I have visited the said slaughter house and found that two adult sheep’s leg were broken during their cruel shifting in goods transport vehicles, which is the violation of the Cattle Transport Rules, 1978 amended in 2001 read with the Haryana Motor Vehicle Rules, 1993 section 94, two small lamb was also seen in the lairage, sheep’s were being killed adopting hallal process and it was being done in the presence of many alive sheep’s, I have got photographs with hidden camera, hence this is the violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001 (Copy of this rule is attached here with for ready reference), 6. Slaughter – (1) No animal shall be slaughtered in a slaughter house in sight of other animals, where as this slaughter house is duly recognized by the National Meat and Poultry Processing Board. My recommendations: 1. Shut down the slaughter house after lodging FIR against the management, official responsible and rescue all abused animals. 2. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter house) Rules, 2001 read with the Cattle Transport Rules, 1978 amended in 2001 and Haryana Motor Vehicle Rules, 1993 section 94 be strictly implemented, where as FIR No. 145 dated June 5, 2013 was also lodged with the Police station, Bhondsi in Gurgaon rescuing 170 sheep’s, while going to Satakpuri on June 5, 2013. Animal can be shifted as per their shape and size. 3. Close circuit camera be installed to check the animal abuse since transportation to slaughter the animals. 4. SPCA’s, Infirmaries, State Animal Welfare Board, State and District Committees for Slaughter Houses should be effectively managed. 5. The National Cattle Commission report, 2002 be implemented and cow progeny be declared as National domestic animals of India. 6. Camels, cow progeny slaughter be banned in India, where as transportation of camels rules may kindly be introduced with the breeding protocol for Emu and Rabbits. 7. Poultry needs attention, since hatchery to slaughter, the Govt. of Haryana issued advisory for Poultry farms be implemented strictly, all illegal slaughter houses be crack down at once, concerned officials be charge sheeted for any violation of the above said legislation’s.
Links to some of our (SAV) past posts regarding Halal and ‘religious’ slaughter:
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere ! | Leave a comment »
Posted on January 26, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Defenders of Wildlife
We’re running out of time to save Mexican gray wolves.
After almost 40 years on the Endangered Species List, the Mexican gray wolf (also called the lobo) hovers on the brink of extinction. At the last official count, there were only 83 of these spectacular animals clinging to survival in the wild.
Tragically, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has failed to conserve the lobo, so Defenders of Wildlife has filed suit to compel them to act.
Thanks!
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »
Posted on January 26, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
URGENT NEED HELP FOR 16 DOGS !!!!!!
16 DOGS IS IN PENSION AND THEIR FUTURE IS NOW A VERY UNCERTAIN. WE HAVE BIG DEBT FOR PENSIONS . WE OWE PENSION COSTS FOR 5 DOGS FOR NOVEMBER AND FOR 16 DOGS FOR DECEMBER … ALREADY A MONTH JANUARY AND ALREADY NEED TO BE PAID FOR JANUARY . WE NEED URGENT HELP !!! PENSION FOR ONE DOG IS 60 EURO (40…
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHELTER - Information | Leave a comment »
Posted on January 24, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
There have been a lot of very depressing videos and news here recently; some things like little Tak passing away cannot be resolved as much as it is wanted; other things could be greatly resolved if some of the politicians who are able to make the change in Serbia came out from hiding behind their desks and acted to stop cruelty !
So we are giving a link to a much better video here – it is one we have shown before, but it is always great to see the excellent work of the Hillside crew up in Norfolk, here in England; feeding and taking care of the hundreds of rescued farm animals which they have at the sanctuary.
And it is the right time of year to see this, with snow on the ground in many parts of the UK.
Enjoy watching the recued animals having fun in the snow !
All funded as a charity by donations from great folk who like to see animals being cared for.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, SHELTER - Information, VIDEOS | Leave a comment »
Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 