Uk: (Ministry) Defra Called to Come Clean on Plans for Wild Animals in Circuses. Charities may turn to the High Court for Answers.

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Captive Animals Protection Society, PO Box 591, Manchester, M12 0DP, England UK

 

SAV Comment:  Excellent news, and in keeping with the overwhelming wishes of the British public.  For too long now, Defra have ignored the people and tried every excuse in the book.  We wish CAPS and BFF every success in taking this forward and getting a ban in British circuses.

Source: Captive Animals’ Protection Society (CAPS):

http://www.captiveanimals.org/news/2011/12/breaking-news-caps-and-born-free-to-seek-high-court-ruling-on-circuses

Below – SAV Previous Post Links on this subject:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2011/06/24/uk-despite-attempts-by-david-cameron-to-kill-the-introduction-of-legislation-it-is-now-the-start-of-the-end-for-wild-animals-in-english-and-uk-circuses/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/uk-uk-conservative-government-headed-by-david-cameron-blocks-circus-ban/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/uk-uk-citizens-required-to-take-part-in-defra-consultation-on-use-of-wild-animals-in-circuses/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/uk-more-cruelty-at-circus-exposed-and-still-the-uk-government-after-promises-made-years-ago-does-not-have-the-backbone-to-act-and-ban-animal-circus-acts/

Defra Called to Come Clean on Plans for Wild Animals in Circuses.

Charities may turn to the High Court for Answers.

Today, The Born Free Foundation and the Captive Animals’ Protection Society called upon the Government to make their position clear on wild animals in circuses as the two organisations stated their intention to look to the High Court to clarify the nature of the “legal obstacles” that Defra officials and Ministers claim are standing in the way of a ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses.

In a letter sent to the Secretary of State on the 23rd December, the two organisations, who have been campaigning for a ban on the practise for a number of years, expressed their frustration at the Government’s failure to make its decision clear on the issue. The letter highlighted the result of the previous government’s 2010 public consultation process, which saw an incredible 94.5% of respondents calling for a ban, and the unanimous motion passed by MPs in the House of Commons in June of this year “directing” the Government to implement the same.

In spite of this, the Government has apparently opted for a regime to license the use of wild animals in circuses; a process which leading animal welfare organisations say will be unworkable. Numerous statements from Defra officials have cited potential (but vague) legal obstacles to a ban, referring to an ongoing court case challenging an Austrian ban, as an example of what could happen here. However, last week the Austrian case was dismissed by the Constitutional Court in Vienna, apparently clearing the way for action in Westminster.

The charities have appealed to the Government to make its position clear and clarify whether or not the perceived legal obstacles are still cause for concern. If unspecified legal difficulties remain, the two groups will consider going to the High Court to try to overcome the current stalemate using the Judicial Review process as part of “friendly proceedings” in which the Secretary of State would be the named respondent.

Said Liz Tyson, Director of CAPS:

“We sincerely hope that the resolution of the Austrian court case will give rise to the Government taking the decision to make good their promise to listen to the will of the House of Commons and we are eager to clarify their next steps. If the perceived legal obstacles persist then the only way we can see to resolve the current impasse is to take the matter to court. We can speculate forever about what the outcome of a legal challenge to a ban might be and, during this procrastination period, animals will continue to suffer. We are asking Defra to allow this process to be decided once and for all and to work with us to seek a solution.”

Will Travers, CEO of the Born Free Foundation added:

“Having personally worked on this issue now for nearly two decades and in light of overwhelming public, Parliamentary and professional support for a ban, the Born Free Foundation and its supporters sincerely hope Defra will move swiftly and decisively to humanely end this form of wild animal exploitation. We seek nothing less than a guarantee that no wild animals will be subjected to life on the road when the circuses season starts again next spring.”

More on this story can be found in the Independent this morning: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/coalition-faces-court-fight-over-refusal-to-ban-circus-animals-6282997.html

– ENDS –

Notes to Editors:

For more information on the case in Austria: http://www.vfgh.gv.at/cms/vfgh-site/attachments/0/5/5/CH0003/CMS1324453358376/wildtierverbot_im_zirkus_g74-11.pdf

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, CIRCUS, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »

China: Truck full of dogs crammed into tiny cages and bound for Chinese restaurants is intercepted by animal lovers

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Reproduced from Uk newspaper – Daily Mail.

Link:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2088309/Truck-dogs-crammed-tiny-cages-bound-Chinese-restaurants-rescued-animal-lovers.html

 

Truck full of dogs crammed into tiny cages and bound for Chinese restaurants is intercepted by animal lovers

By David Gerges

Crammed into tiny cages, unable to stand and deprived of food and water, these dogs endured terrible suffering on a truck bound for a chain of restaurants.

The harrowing pictures show the cruel conditions in which 1,500 of the animals were found  when the truck was stopped at a toll gate by highway police and animal rescue volunteers in Chongqing, south-west China.

The truck was stacked high with cages, each containing several dogs in pitiful condition.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

The animals were moved to a nearby farm by volunteers from the Chongqing Animal Protection Association who gave them food, water and emergency treatment. Sadly some of the dogs were already dead and rescue workers were unable to save other  who were dying.

Volunteer Xiao Lu said: ‘When they [the dogs] saw us they were groaning, but some were so exhausted and dying that they didn’t even have the strength to make a sound.’

He said: ‘The dog peddler said his truck was only loaded with 700 dogs, but there are at least 1500.’

Dog continues to be a popular meal in the Far East, with many in China favouring the meat, particularly during the winter.

The incident comes just months after police in Thailand rescued more than 1,000 dogs that were being transported to Vietnam.

The dogs were being taken across the Mekong river in Laos as prices for stray dogs and pets in rural Thai villages can reach as much as  $33 an animal.

11 COUNTRIES WHICH STILL EAT DOG MEAT

Eleven countries around the globe still eat dog meat. They are: China, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Philippines, Polynesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Arctic and Antarctic and two cantons in Switzerland.

China: Although the Chinese were the first to domesticate the dog and keep them as pets, dog meat has been a source of food from at least the time of Confucius, and possibly even before.

Indonesia: Eating dog meat is usually associated with people from the Batak Toba culture, who cook a traditional dish named saksang that is like a dog-meat stew.

Mexico: Dogs were historically bred for their meat by the Aztecs. These dogs were called itzcuintlis, and were often pictured on pre-Columbian Mexican pottery.

Philippines: In the capital city of Manila,the law specifically prohibits the killing and selling of dogs for food except in certain circumstances including research and animal population control.

Polynesia: Dogs were historically eaten in Tahiti and other islands of Polynesia at the time of first European contact in 1769.

Taiwan: Dog meat in Taiwan is particularly eaten in the winter months, especially black dogs, which are believed to help retain body warmth.

Korea: Gaegogi literally means ‘dog meat’ in Korean. Gaegogi, however, is often mistaken as the term for Korean soup made from dog meat, bosintang. The distaste felt by dog lovers, particularly from the West, has made this dish very controversial.

Switzerland: According to a Swiss newspaper report in 1996, the Swiss rural cantons of Appenzell and St. Gallen are known to have had a tradition of eating dogs, curing dog meat into jerky and sausages, as well as using the lard for medicinal purposes.

Vietnam: Dog meat is eaten throughout Vietnam. To many Northerners, it is a popular, if relatively expensive, dinnertime restaurant meal.

Arctic and Antarctic: Dogs have historically been an emergency food source for various peoples in Siberia, Alaska, northern Canada, and Greenland. Sled dogs are usually maintained for pulling sleds, but occasionally are eaten when no other food is available.

Video Link (Daily Mail)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2088309/Truck-dogs-crammed-tiny-cages-bound-Chinese-restaurants-rescued-animal-lovers.html

 

 

 

 

 

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), VIDEOS | Leave a comment »

Serbia: Please Help the Kitties At ‘Felix Shelter’ With A Winter Donation – Thank You.

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Please give anything that you can to help this very worthwhile shelter

Thank You – SAV.

A homeless cats shelter in the Vojvodina region of Serbia

Website:  http://novisadcats.blogspot.com/

PayPal link and full details on site if you wish to donate by this method.

Bank Account Number

Felix – Felinolosko drustvo

SWIFT/BIC: VBUBRS22 (Vojvodjanska banka a.d. Novi Sad)

IBAN: RS35355000320003120311

Felix – Felinolosko drustvo

355-1070729-96

Svrha uplate: uplata gradjana

 

Mission Statement

The purpose of Novi Sad Cats is to raise awareness of (and eventually funds for) an independent animal shelter for homeless cats in the Vojvodina region of Serbia. We will also bring you true stories and lots of pictures of these charming creatures. Email us at felix.shelter@gmail.com

Felix kitties need your help!

The weather is changeable this winter and it affects all of my kitties, especially the oldest and the youngest. Almost all new kitties that arrived this year and are not fully adapted to the life in the shelter are already under treatment, they have a fever and eye discharge and most of them are sneezing.

 

It’s rather warm now, at least for this time of the year, but we had bad snow a couple of weeks ago, as you may see on the photos. I fear for my chronically ill kitties, they’re always in crisis during the winter. Although a contagious respiratory infection is not a serious health threat for most cats, for the elderly or those who have a chronic health problem it can result in serious complications.

My kitties are in continuous need of your support. Vet bills are mounting, and lots of medicines have to be bought for treatment at home.

Right now, 6 of my cats are being given injections and the vet is coming every day. It’s extremely hard to defray costs of maintaining or restoring health of dozens of senior cats, 15 chronic patients and 5 delicate kittens under the age of six months.

Again, I’m forced to ask for your help as we depend on your generosity.

My kitties and I thank you in advance from the bottom of our hearts!

Cats for virtual adoption

See our previous post on Felix Shelter:

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/serbia-161211-latest-news-and-pictures-from-cat-shelter-felix-belgrade-can-you-help-the-cats-this-christmas/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/serbia-financial-appeal-to-help-the-cats-this-winter-at-felix-shelter/

https://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/serbia-felix-cat-shelter-a-request-for-financial-help-please-can-you-give-a-donation-full-details-below/

 

 

 

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering), SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, SHELTER - Information | Leave a comment »

Romania: BREAKING EARLY NEWS – Result For Animals – Constitutional Court Declares PL 912 for Management of Dogs by Euthanasia has Just Been Declared ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’.

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Dear all,

With 8 votes (and only one vote against) PL 912 for management of dogs by euthanasia has just been declared UNCONSTITUTIONAL because the Articles 7 and 8 – that speaks about under what conditions can be make euthanasia and also adoption are unconstitutional.

It means, in the absence of clear medical criteria,

EUTHANASIA IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

Therefore, the Constitutional Court sends the law back to the commissions in Parliament!

Our materials containing the legal counters have been taken into consideration and the members of the Constitutional Court have proved they are not corrupt!

Your protests sent to the Constitutional Court, your whole work in Romania have been and are of incontestable help, showing to them they are always monitorised and warned!

Thank you very much for that!
Let’s hope the future will be for strays like today is!

Sincerely

Carmen Arsene

 

 

 

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »

EU: Very Urgent Action (For EU Citizens) by 15/03.2012 – Please Ask Your National / Regional MEP’s To Support Written Declaration (WD) 0049 / 2011 For An 8 Hour Maximum Journey Time For EU Animals In Transport. IMPORTANT – This is ADDITIONAL To The 1 Million + Petition Recently Completed – Please Act By March.

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Photos by Valerie Cameron – KAALE – http://www.kaale.org.uk/

ACTION – WRITTEN DECLARATION –  0049 / 2011

** CAMPAIGNER ACTION REQUIRED ** to be completed by first week of March 2012.

An 8 hour Written Declaration (WD), Ref 0049 / 2011  and calling for an 8 hour maximum journey limit for live animals in transport has now been created by the following MEP’s – Dan Jørgensen, Esther de Lange, Pavel Poc, Carl Schlyter and Andrea Zanoni.

This Written Declaration is IN ADDITION TO the 1 million + petition which has been recently signed and completed by Euro citizens. 

*****  Do not confuse it with this EU citizen petition – this is a separate issue.

This Written Declaration can only be signed by supportive Members of the European Parliament (MEP).  It further supports the Euro citizen petition (! Million +) if the required numbers of (MEP) signatures are achieved. 

The required number is at least 369.

And so we need to support this massive Euro citizen petition of over 1 million by collecting the signatures of 369 (minimum) MEP’s by the deadline date of 15th March 2012.

We currently have 119 MEP signatures collected throughout Europe but still have another minimum of 250 to collect. 

To clarify, at least 369 MEP signatures of the WD need to be collected by early March if there is to be any success.

The number of the specific Written Declaration is: 0049 / 2011.

Its title is:  Written Declaration on the establishment of a maximum 8-hour journey limit for animals transported in the European Union for the purpose of being slaughtered.

You can check which MEPs throughout Europe have / have not signed by clcking on the following link:  http://www.8hours.eu/declaration

Very Important Note:

You can only ask your national and regional MEP’s to support this WD. 

Please do NOT contact other MEP’s outside your area or in other EU nations asking for them to sign.

Once you have clicked on the link  http://www.8hours.eu/declaration check the following in relation to your specific regional MEP’s:

A GREEN TICK (√) to the left of the individual (MEP) name means they HAVE signed the WD;

A RED BAR against their name means they still HAVE NOT signed the WD.

Hence these (red bar) MEPs are now the only ones which need to be further contacted.

Once clicked on the above link and using youur national flag ident, find your regional MEP’s; or use the link given below to select your region. 

Then check against their name(s) – do they have a Green ‘Tick’ or a Red ‘Bar’ ?

If they have a Red bar still against their individual name, then they HAVE NOT yet signed the WD.

Therefore, please contact them immediately and ask them to support this

Written Declaration – 0049 / 2011.

We require as many Uk MEPs as possible to sign and support this

WD by 15th March.

Using the above procedure, you can specifically find out which of each of your REGIONAL MEP’s have or have not yet signed and, if not signed, ask them to add their signature to this WD – 0049 / 2011.

Take no further action against those who have already signed; apart from a line of thanks maybe ?

To help find your MEPs for different EU national regions, go to:  http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/performsearch.html?search=true&webCountry=GB&webTermId=7

Click on ‘Country’ and ‘All’ drop down to find the specific MEP’s which represent the different regions (your region) of the EU.

Please ask ALL your National and regional MEP’s to support Written Declaration 0049 / 2011 for the 8 Hour limit NOW !

 Remember – Deadline of 15th March 2012.

We need to act NOW !

Thank You and regards;

SAV

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, LETTERS, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering) | Leave a comment »

Greece: Finally, Greece Hands Out A Kind of ‘Justice’ To the Scumbag That Attacks Stray Dogs With Sledgehammer.

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)


http://www.examiner.com/animal-advocacy-in-national/harsh-sentence-imposed-for-greek-dogs-beaten-with-sledgehammer

Justice handed down for Greek dogs beaten with sledgehammer

January 9, 2012

Moxsato, Greece:  In the article published here on January 5th, the story about 2 innocent stray dogs who had been heartlessly bludgeoned with a sledgehammer simply because the human monster believed they had chased his chickens was told.

According to the information available, the trial has been completed.
In a huge victory for those innocent dogs and in a clear message for those who might consider this type of horrible cruelty in the future, the perpetrator has received a rather harsh sentence by Greek standards.

He was sentenced for a misdameanor crime, which was all that was available for the brutal beatings.  He was sentenced to 9 months in jail without the possibility of parole or to pay a fine to get out early.  He has also been ordered to pay a total of 8500 Euros (500 Euros for every threat he made to his neighbours, for the strays themselves, 1000 Euros for each dog harmed and 2000 Euros for King (Rigas), the poor dog who died from his horrendous injuries).

The perpetrator tried to present witnesses who stated the dogs attacked him because they were hungry, but the judge dismissed those witnesses as not being reliable.  Advocates packed the courtroom holding pictures of King, which the judge stated was simply too hard to look at.  Clearly the judge heard the pleas of the advocates for justice for these innocent dogs.

This is the first time an abuser of animals has received a sentence of this kind ever in the history of Greece.  This is a huge step forward for animals in that country, and hopefully will deter others from committing such horrors in the future.

Advocates in Greece are celebrating this victory and hoping it spells positive change for the future for animals in that country.  It was thanks to advocates from around the globe who spoke up for these innocent stray dogs that made it all possible.

Together, you truly do make a difference and your voices really are heard. Together, advocates showed the country of Greece and the world that the lives of all animals truly do matter.

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering) | Leave a comment »

USA (California): Justice for ‘Clover’ – Petition – Almost Decapitated by Rope and Chain. Demand the Madera Police Take Action.

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Justice for emaciated, filthy and almost decapitated dog (Petition)

Click here for the Care2 petition:  “Justice for poor Clover found nearly decapitated”. 

http://www.examiner.com/animal-advocacy-in-national/justice-for-emaciated-filthy-and-almost-decapitated-dog-petition

Madera, CA:  Clover, a 1-1/2-year-old poodle mix was discovered after a concerned advocate reported his condition to authorities.  What they found when they arrived was horrific.

Clover was found helpless and severely sick.  He was tied with a tangled short chain to a pole in a backyard, unable to escape his torment.  A hard plastic rope had been tied around his neck clearly when he was just a puppy and much smaller, and the rope had slowly eaten into the flesh of his neck, almost completely decapitating him. (Source.)

He was freezing, emaciated, starving with no shelter whatsoever.  His fur was matted with his own waste, he had a raging fever from the infection from his neck and he was in agony from the pain of it.  No food or water was anywhere to be seen.

He craved kind human attention, but was in so much pain that it took numerous people to get him free from his painful prison of that rope and chain.  Incredibly, the human monsters responsible for Clover had placed another collar on his neck, but never removed the old plastic rope.  They left the chain attached to that rope, so every movement Clover made had to have been agony, with the rope carving deeper and deeper into his neck. 

The authorities stated it had to have taken months for Clover to end up like this, so those monsters would have had to know he was in such bad shape.  Even more astounding is that Clover was the second dog seized from this home because of neglect and cruelty in the past year.  The home owners deny they had anything to do with Clover at all. 

This shows how severely lacking laws are when it comes to the torture of animals.  These monsters should have never been allowed even near another animal after the first seizure. 

Clover was being cared for in a loving foster home, but in a heartbreaking turn on December 27th, he had to be euthanized because he had come down with tetanus, a horrible bloodstream infection most likely brought on by the rope that nearly took his little head off.  Sadly, help came too late for little Clover.  One can only imagine the kind of pain this precious boy endured with the cold, hunger, thirst, fever, infection and complete helplessness. (Source.)

He had been given medical treatment at the Madera Veterinary Clinic, where he had surgery to remove the imbedded rope and was fed through a feeding tube because the injuries in his neck had made it too painful to eat.  He had received intensive medical treatment and when stable, went to the foster home to recover.  At least for just a short while, Clover knew warmth and care, which he should have had his entire life. 

A petition has been started directed at the Madera County Police Department, asking that the perpetrators who did this to Clover be brought to justice and the maximum possible penalties be handed down against them.  No one spoke for Clover until one brave advocate made that lifesaving call about him.  Now it’s time for all advocates to be his voice, and send the message that this kind of heinous cruelty will not be tolerated and will be severely punished.

This is a Care2 petition, which anyone can sign.  You can access it here, or at the link provided below.  The maximum penalty for felony animal cruelty, the charges that are being filed, is 5 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.  That’s not much in comparison to the suffering this precious boy endured, but hopefully they will be given the maximum possible sentence as justice for little Clover. 

If you would like to make a small donation to help offset the huge medical expenses related to Clover’s care, you can do so via the Friends of Madera Animal Shelter website here, or at the link provided below.

Rest in peace precious Clover.  Advocates will speak for you and seek justice for your horrible suffering and neglect at the hands of human monsters.  You deserved so much more from life and our hearts ache that you never knew what it was like to be cherished as you should have been.  Know that we will carry on the fight for justice.

Click here for donations to the Friends of Madera Animal Shelter website. 

Click here for more information about this story at Pet-abuse.com.

Click here for the KMPH Fox 26 website for a video of Clover when he was alive and it was hoped he would recover and finally find a loving home.

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere ! | Leave a comment »

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