Posted on April 30, 2018 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Stefan Eck was until four years ago chairman of the Animal Protection Party of Germany.
He left it in 2014.
In the European Parliament, he is Vice President of the Intergroup on Animal Welfare and Conservation.
He was very committed to the abolition of rabbit batteries in the EU, and that is what this report is about, which I translated (in part) from his own statement from Brussels / 15.04.2018:
Report from the Commission on animal tormenting practices as “in line with existing animal welfare directives”!
Stefan Eck: “On Tuesday, 10 April 2018, I received the Commission’s report on “Commercial Rabbit Breeding in the European Union”, commissioned by Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis on the basis of my own-initiative report “Minimum standards for the protection of rabbits in agriculture” adopted by Parliament.
I took a lot of time to work intensively on the 11-page document with euphemistic photos of rabbit mast farms and some graphics of the Commission’s subordinate departments (for example, the Directorate General of Commerce).
When I read the report, I was shocked, depressed and angry. It is not worth the paper on which it is written and a clear rejection of animal welfare!
In the Commission’s report, the wellbeing of rabbits plays virtually no role. The unspeakable cruelty to animals in the so-called battery cages – although it is clear from the report that 85% of “rabbit production” takes place in these cages – is hardly mentioned:
Conventional cages (this is how the battery cages are made of sharp-edged iron wire) restrict the natural behavior of rabbits, increase the risk of excessive stocking densities (…) and do not meet the legal requirements of the EU. “
The report ends with the sentence: “On the basis of the available results of the competent authorities and the official controls carried out, the sector appears broadly to comply with the requirements of animal welfare legislation.”
With this final recommendation, the Commission wants to talk out comfortably and leave everything as it was.
On 19 April 2018, a meeting took place between Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis and myself.
I made it clear to the Commissioner that this document is not worth the paper, it is best to dispose of it in trash and that I am deeply disappointed that I regard the report as nothing more than a carte blanche for the Commission these – as far as the urgently needed improvements in the keeping conditions of rabbits are concerned – no longer have to take effect.
Commissioner Andriukaitis openly admitted that he had expected my reaction and my disappointment and apologized on the grounds that his hands were tied to him by higher authorities and, in particular, by the European Council. He could only offer me that he would soon set up a “working rabbit mast” within the animal welfare platform where the topic could be further promoted, and I could apply for observer status.
Conclusion: It should have been on the subject of “improvements in rabbit keeping” the last conversation between Commissioner Andriukaitis and me. Everything that could be said was said, everything that could be done on my part was done.
Conclusion: The 180 million rabbits bred and slaughtered in the European Union each year (author’s note: the figure quoted by the Commission is far too low, probably downgraded on purpose), may continue to be tormented legally – according to the Commission’s will, probably for the next decades.
It is a scandal that the European Commission considers the animal tormenting attitude of rabbits in battery cages to be lawful!
The political leaders should be ashamed in the land! Not only do they disregard Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty (animal welfare articles), they are largely responsible for the appalling suffering inflicted on these animals, and they legalize it later with their report.
We can no longer count on the Commission, so we need to set a new course: continue with tenacity and harshness the fight against the rabbit industry until the last cage is empty and until even the last mast has shut down its operation for lack of demand. The pressure must come from the road. Otherwise we cannot win”.
So far the statement of Stefan Eck. This episode only confirms the experience that we unfortunately have had very often with the EU.
Posted on April 29, 2018 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
The great thing about AAU videos is that they always start really badly, with suffering animals – but they always finish with those same saved animals looking so great and enjoying life. Enjoy these stories from AAU.
10 amazing animal rescues!
Oh, to see them in terror, confusion, exhausted from trying to climb out, pull away from the bars, escape the plastic, swim up the walls…these rescues from nearly-fatal situations will fill your heart with unforgettable relief. What would have happened if we HADN’T come to their rescue? The 10 animals you’re about to meet make it crystal clear. If we hadn’t come, these angels would have died where they were. But because of your love and generous help, we saved them.
Adrenalin alone must have helped her make it to the field next to the highway where she had been hit by a car. Our ambulance rushed her back to Animal Aid where we brought her in to surgery to try to save her leg. Our surgeon discovered that even though four major muscle groups were torn apart, no major artery or vein had been cut. This was a miracle because otherwise she would surely have bled to death before our rescue team even reached her. Hold on to your heart with this one because Selene’s injury is hard to see. But even though you KNOW she’ll be happy in the end, you’ve just got to see this for yourself.
Behind her surgery and recovery is your loving support. Donate today.
Posted on April 29, 2018 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Help Animals India is a USA non-profit 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to supporting efficient and effective animal protection organizations in India and Nepal.
We strive to put our donors’ contributions to work where they are most needed and can do the most good.
Help Animals India develops close relationships with the NGOs and thereby ensures all donations given are transparent and do the most good. In short, we enable donors to have the confidence their donations are put to the best use!
Posted on April 29, 2018 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Cesar Millan method kills dog
In Fürstenfeldbruck (Germany), a dog owner hired a dog trainer to train her fearfull- aggressiv dog, Nikos. A training that was based on the brutal methods of the violent Cesar Millan, and which paid the dog with his life.
Nikos was originally from Greece, a stray dog. The 74-year-old woman from Fürstenfeldbruck took him over from acquaintances five years ago, when he was still eight months old.
The animal has always been anxious, but at last fearfull aggressive.
The 52-year-old coach was already the fourth coach to train Nikos. He specializes in problem dogs. For weeks he had worked with him, then it came to the submission rite, as a result, Nikos died.
The coach put slings around his neck and muzzle for a submission ritual.
These choking leashes cannot only cause injuries to the air and esophagus, larynx or cervical spine but, as in this case, they can kill as they have no “train stop”.
When the dog went nuts, the dog trainer pulled the dog up on the leash so that the dog kicked his legs violently and screamed terribly until he did not move anymore. The dog suffocated due to too much pressure on the larynx and trachea.
The case against the dog trainer is set after a payment of 2,800 euros and he may continue to train dogs with his torturous methods.
Is not Cesar Millan a dog whisperer? Many dog trainers rely on the violent methods of Cesar Millan. The self-proclaimed “dog whisperer” works with cruel methods of education, pressure and violence. His goal is to assert himself as a pack leader and to make the dogs docile by intimidating methods. This has nothing to do with “dog whispering”.
He recruits to save even dangerous dogs and to put them down. However, with his training methods in the long run, he does just the opposite. Through his coercive and punitive techniques such as kicks in the kidney area, strangulation by train collars, use of spiked collars and electric shock collars he tries to make the animals docile. With loud hisses he scared the stressed four-legged friends in addition. Many of them fall into a so-called “learned helplessness”. Above all, the biggest danger of these terrifying methods is that the dogs begin to defend themselves from their fear. He turns terrified dogs into ticking time bombs (Video in the link).
How do I recognize a good dog trainer? Good dog trainers always work with positive reinforcement. The animals are never yelled at, and they never work with physical violence. Also, a linen print, a choke collar or spiked collar are “no-go” education methods.
The animal friend should never lose the fun of learning. Even social contacts with other conspecifics should not be a taboo in the dog school. An introductory appointment should be offered by every good dog school.
Do you rely on your gut feeling when choosing a dog school, does your four-legged friend feel well? Does he like to visit the dog school and enjoy learning and with his fellow species?
Then you can be sure that you have chosen the right dog school!
Posted on April 29, 2018 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Elephant Killed After Circus Truck Overturned on Highway Illustrates the Problem With These Shows
Life for an elephant forced to perform circus tricks is far from natural. These gentle giants are bound by chains and shipped like cargo from location to location. Circus employees tie heavy chains around the elephants’ ankles to limit their ability to move, preventing them from lying down or even having social interactions with other elephants. As you can imagine, transporting wild animals is dangerous for not only the animals themselves but also the people around them.
In yet another wreckless circus accident, a circus truck carrying five elephants in Spain was recently overturned on a motorway.
One elephant has been pronounced dead after they rolled off the road and into a ditch,Sky News reports. The four surviving elephants stood over their friend’s body. Elephants are highly intelligent creatures and will often mourn the death of a fellow elephant.
The motorway was closed off for two hours while fire personnel and concerned drivers tried to help.
Two of the elephants involved in the wreck suffered large cuts to their faces and legs. Is an hour of the circus really all that fun when you consider the expense animals have to pay?
The injured elephants are being treated by veterinarians in a public facility and from there, they will be moved to a clinic.
This latest incident is just another example of why circuses that force wild animals to perform are highly unethical and dangerous for all involved.
“This terrible incident symbolizes all that is wrong with the use of animals in traveling circuses,” said Animal Defenders International President Jan Creamer. “Instead of a life in the wild, these incredible animals are being carted around the country, confined and forced to perform.
Please don’t visit a circus with animals and help stop their suffering today.”
We hope that the circus involved in the crash has the compassion to send the four surviving elephants to an accredited sanctuary, where they can live out the remainder of their days in peace (another circus in Spain retired their animals to a sanctuary just last year, so it’s possible!).
The growing majority of the public agrees that they don’t want to watch captive animals perform silly tricks. Over 40 countries worldwide have banned the use of wild animals in circuses, including Scotland, India, Italy, Iran, Ireland, Romania, the U.K, and the Netherlands, so why are we still forcing animals into this horrific life?
If you are looking forward to the day when animals used in entertainment will be just a mention in history books, SHARE this article to spread awareness about what’s wrong with circuses!
Posted on April 28, 2018 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Today, ten years ago, I opened a restaurant.
Up there on the mountain where I live, in the high Black Forest, surrounded only by firs and meadows.
It is not an ordinary restaurant, it is very different from the restaurants we all know:
In the opening hours, in the food variations and especially in the clientele !!
My restaurant is open all week, but the food is served only after 23:00 in the evening.
This has become established, because of the special working conditions of my clients, I knew these conditions from the beginning and that’s why I tried to adapt the meal times to their needs.
My clients are not demanding; Mostly I serve my leftovers or those of my pets. They still seem to like my cooking, because until to this day they never left anything behind.
I don’t know how many they are, I don’t know even who they are.
In the past, they have made it clear to me that they want to remain anonymous.
I had a small, discreet camera installed on a tree for the purpose of getting to know some of them.
When I looked at the pictures after three days, I noticed that almost everyone has understood my slyness and left the restaurant immediately; so it was impossible to identify them.
They wanted to remain anonymous, I respect it.
One night- I’ll never forget it – a customer wanted to introduce himself to me. It turned out that it was a “she” and not a “he”.
I remember it was a polar night, the thermometer showed -20 Celsius and everything was quiet and fairytale under the full moon.
When I came to the restaurant I could see not only two, not only four (as usual), I could see about ten eyes under the moonlight!!
It was a red fox with her five little ones.
That night she brought her whole family to present all to me.
After this meeting, all other customers remain unknown until this day.
From time to time I get threats from the hunters of the village; they say, they will make a complain to the police.
They claim, that my restaurant does not have a legal work permit !!
Sure, of course! If I had a restaurant where the hunters come to eat my “customers”, then there would be no problem!
I am not afraid and remain loyal to my customers.
The years go by, and the restaurant of Venus is still there!
And my clients, those who will always be unknown to me, my beloved animal companions of the forest, visit my restaurant every evening.
For the 10th anniversary, today, I have two wishes: the first is that I do not lose any of my clients. And the second is, that many people open such restaurants around the world.
Dear all, I wanted to celebrate this day with all of you.
Venus
Posted on April 27, 2018 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
We used to think: Corruption and maladministration in the meat industry only happen in southern countries.
No! That happens here too, in Germany.
Undercover investigations in German stables show that Germany is no longer the country with the best animal welfare.
Not even the land, where animals should benefit from -otherwise- very good animal welfare.
When it comes to meat industry, corruption knows no homeland.
The following is a translation of an article from Deutschlandfunk:
Controversial pig farm animal cruelty allegations against North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) Minister of the Environment.
Diseases, bites, no room: The pigs in the fattening farm of the family of NRW Environment Minister Christina Schulze Föcking suffer according to animal rights activists to an extent that goes beyond what is legally permitted. Whether the allegations are correct, should now decide the district court Münster.
For Sandra Franz (from the animal rights organization “Animal Rights Watch”), the matter is clear: Even if the Minister of the Environment repeatedly asserts the opposite. According to her, both Frank Schulze-Föcking and his wife, Christina, operate the controversial pig farm in the City Steinfurt.
“We reproach the spouses Schulze-Föcking for having let the pigs in their pig fattening suffer to an extent that goes far beyond what is permitted by law.” For years, the low minimum standards were also exceeded and the animals additionally suffered we believe that animal husbandry must be prohibited to the operator. “
Crushing evidence New documents are to prove the involvement of the Minister of the Environment in the company and thus also in the alleged animal rights violations – including an “Environmental Inspection Report” of the district of Steinfurt on 4 December 2017 and a mail from the district government of Münster on 24 April this year. Both authorities speak literally of “operation” and “pig farm Christina Schulze-Föcking”. The petition has been extended by the Animal Welfare Association. Since the beginning of the week, the Minister of the Environment has been officially involved in the process. Peter Vierhaus, animal rights advocate, is optimistic.
“The special thing for me is from my legal perspective, that we have a very good proof situation here.” The evidence is overwhelming, especially through filming and other documents that we have. “
Animals suffer from many diseases For example, various reports from the caring veterinarian until the year 2009. As it is often respiratory diseases, diarrhea, arthritis and bite wounds. According to one expert, all references to “poor housing conditions”, “management errors” and “poor hygiene”. The reports of the district veterinary office over the controls of the enterprise are also available to the animal rights activists.
“These inspections in 2013, 2014 have already shown that the employment material was insufficient, that the drinking water supply was insufficient, that the slatted floors were so old and broken that the pigs could get hurt by them repeatedly criticized by the veterinary office. But that all were not turned off. “
Minister of the Environment denies participation So the representation of the animal rights activist. The Minister of the Environment contradicts. “These allegations are pointless,” she explains in a written statement on request of West German TV stations. The state of the pigs is even “above average”. The participation in the court in Steinfurt denies them, the farm has been leased since 1 July 2017 and is managed by the tenants on their own responsibility. Now, the court has to decide if the acting environment minister is banned from keeping animals.
