Animals\' Angels - wir sind bei den Tieren | we are there with the animals

Arcadia is a very large, modern auction. However, the pens with concrete floors are covered in manure and very slippery for the cattle. No food or water is provided in the inside pens. Outside, investigators observe two cows in an adjoining pasture. The two cows are down and panting heavily. One is extremely thin and much of its tail is missing. The remaining stub is bleeding. Both cows have auction tags attached. There was no readily available or logical explanation why theses cows with tags attached were separated from the others and left in the pasture. Auction personnel seemed very uneasy and alert to investigators, with several employees closely watching the investigators observe the cows. Investigators feel unsafe and have to leave. Returning the next morning, investigators find the cows are gone. ANIMALS’ ANGELS will continue to monitor this auction.

Wauchula is an old, run down, dark auction. There is no water or food for the cattle, calves and goats in the pens. Completely unnecessary use of electric prods and incompetent handling increase panic of animals already spooked by the booming noise of very loud, heavy hydraulic gates. Animals are driven into a very narrow, dark shoot into auction ring. Panicked animals trying to turn back but are forced forward, causing them to slip and fall. ANIMALS’ ANGELS will discuss the issues observed with auction management and push for improvements.

Animals’ Angels Team inspects cattle husbandries in northern Germany. The predominant husbandry form is stall runs in which cows – contrary to tether husbandry – can move within the stable. Animal welfare problems observed were primarily stands that are too narrow and short as well as damp floors covered in muck without bedding. Animals’ Angels is urgently advocating for husbandry regulations for cattle and “dairy cows” on the EU and federal levels. These explicit legal provisions are necessary in order to be able to proceed effectively against conditions in cattle husbandries that do not meet animal welfare standards.

ANIMALS’ ANGELS Team inspects the market. School holidays meant the market was very busy. 2 peacocks in cardboard boxes, assorted chickens and birds, roosters, baby chicks, rabbits, native (birds) galahs, ducks, 3 goats with 1 kid, 1 sheep. 7 pigs and piglets and 8 calves (some of these calves appeared extremely young and extremely bony) are for sale. 2 Lots of 6 puppies were also for sale. It is not acceptable to sell puppies at this yard according to the council officer who checks if the animals were being sold, but despite being told the puppies are free, money is observed changing hands. The market fails to ensure water is provided to every bird and overcrowding of poultry continues. The 2 peacocks try to escape their small confinement and in another cage it appears a small bird is dying yet her mate stays close by as if to protect her. The market failed to address this issue. The State Animal Welfare Inspectorate was not present because the State Government has stopped the funding which enabled the Inspectorate to employ Animal Welfare Inspectors. WA has just 1 State Animal Welfare Inspector for all of the state.

ANIMALS’ ANGELS and the Spanish organization ANDA inspect the market in Pola de Siero, where cattle in particular are sold for slaughter. Among them are many used-up “dairy” cows. Like so often, these cows present a sad picture: many suffer from mastitis and claw problems. Many are emaciated and some give the impression that they are in pain all over their bodies. ANIMALS’ ANGELS and ANDA are of the opinion that these cows should not be brought to market, regardless of the statutory provisions on fitness for transport. The ANIMALS’ ANGELS/ANDA Team also meets with the market management and the city council member in charge of the market in order to discuss further structural improvements. Positive at this market are the inspections by the official veterinarians from the autonomous Region of Asturias; they champion the compliance with animal welfare provisions at market. ANIMALS’ ANGELS and ANDA will monitor the structural improvements at market and campaign for used-up “dairy” cows no longer being admitted to markets.

ANIMALS’ ANGELS and the Spanish organization ANDA inspect the annual horse fair in Padrón in the north-west of Spain. There is chaos at the market. Exposed to the weather, the horses stand in mud, many of them over 12 hours and they are not even supplied with water. Only a few receive hay. The horses are nervous, stressed, frightened, and exhausted. Tethered between two trucks we find Christopher, an old totally emaciated gelding; his gaze seems desperate. The tethering of the animals follows no safety measures. In addition, many horses are tied up so that they cannot stand in their natural position, much less lie down. ANIMALS’ ANGELS and ANDA will continue to campaign for a prohibition against such fair events.

ANIMALS’ ANGELS and ANDA once again inspect the calf market in Pola de Siero. The market is well organized and the veterinary inspections are strict. Still, being at the market is extremely stressful for the animals that are often only 2 weeks old. The calf Lucas was already at the market in Santiago de Compostela in the morning. The ANIMALS’ ANGELS/ANDA Team escort him to Pola de Siero from there. He is exhausted, lies down almost the entire time, his coat is smeared with the diarrhea of other calves. But commerce knows no mercy: After being at two different markets Lucas continues on to the French province of Montalban per long-distance transport. ANIMALS’ ANGELS will continue to fight for a prohibition of long-distance transports for unweaned calves.

ANIMALS’ ANGELS and ANDA meet with the director of the market in Santiago de Compostela and the city council member in charge of the market in order to discuss further structural improvements for the market. ANIMALS’ ANGELS and ANDA are promised that the slippery floor will finally be renovated, as it represents a special stress factor for the animals. In addition, the watering system at market will be improved and a milking machine will be procured. ANIMALS’ ANGELS and ANDA will monitor the realization of these measures.

ANIMALS’ ANGELS is once again inspecting the Rates cattle market in Portugal. The market has improved since the new, private veterinarian is present. Nevertheless, the animal welfare situation is still not acceptable. The main reason for this is the inadequate effort of the official veterinarians. The official veterinarians do inspect the animals for fitness for transport, but appear to have very low criteria because it still happens that cows that were loaded at market collapse during transport and have to be euthanized at the slaughterhouse. It is also very negative that the official veterinarians do not intervene in cases of maltreatment, e.g. extreme stick beatings in the face and to the udder and the prohibited use of electric prods. ANIMALS’ ANGELS will thus continue to monitor the market and campaign for a replacement of the official veterinarians at market.

ANIMALS’ ANGELS conducts an animal welfare course for the handlers and farmers at market in Ponte de Lima in northern Portugal. Cattle, sheep, goats, ducks, chickens, pigeons, geese, turkeys and rabbits are being sold at this market, which was not built until 2005. The accommodations for and the handling of the cattle, sheep and goats is acceptable and the private veterinarians conduct strict animal welfare inspections among them on a regular basis. However, the handling of the birds is cause for concern. Many of them are simply placed in cardboard boxes in which they cannot stand up straight. Boxes and cages are often stuffed so full that the animals can barely move. The cages are equipped with drinking systems, but only few can reach the water because the cages are too crowded. In the best case, boxes with holes are used as means of transport for the birds. Others are simply stuck into buckets with their legs tied together. The veterinarians seem to overlook this part of the market. ANIMALS’ ANGELS shall advocate for better treatment of and accommodations for the birds at market and for the inspections at this part of the market being increased.