We are on the roads of Italy. Every week, countless cattle are transported there from neighbouring countries, mostly to be fattened or slaughtered directly. Especially in the time before Christmas, the demand for meat increases and thus the number of animal transports reaches a sad peak during these weeks.
Many of the transports we inspect are classified as short-distance transports according to the law, which means that the animals are transported for less than 8 hours. However, this does not mean that we see less suffering when we look into their eyes. Crowded together, we find Maria, Sabine, and Lea in a sea of faeces, urine, and rainwater. They are dirty and wet all over their bodies. Also, the walls of the lorry are smeared with sewage. The degrading conditions under which the animals are transported are shocking.
Lea immediately catches our attention because she looks us straight in the eye. She is very calm, like her companions, who all remain in line. It looks like she is crying: her right eye is watering profusely, probably due to the unhealthy environment inside the lorry. It is raining, the driver has closed the windows halfway but water has come in. The flaps cannot be closed completely, otherwise there would be no air circulation. No straw has been placed on the floor, which could have absorbed water and excrement and kept the animals in a healthier and cleaner environment. Since bedding is mandatory for journeys longer than 8 hours, no one uses it for shorter journeys because it takes effort, time and money to clean it at the end of the journey. However, the fact that it is mandatory for journeys exceeding 8 hours does not mean that it cannot be used for journeys of less than 8 hours, when necessary. Regulation EC 1/2005 states that transported animals must not suffer when it can be avoided. Standing in a lorry with wet feet in 5 cm of liquid with the draught from the movement is not a pleasant sensation. Furthermore, according to the law, transported animals must be protected from the elements, and they are not in this case. The floor of the compartments must be non-slip, but it becomes slippery with rain and mud. It is obvious to everyone that being transported in these conditions certainly causes discomfort, and it is logical that a good layer of straw would reduce this discomfort. The law should be understood, not taken literally. However, until the inspectors take steps to enforce it properly, these scenes will continue to be repeated, causing the discomfort that the legislator wanted to combat.
The fate of these cattle is a sad symbol of what animals have to endure to meet the huge demand for meat. There is still a long way to go before animals receive the respect they deserve at all levels. A comprehensive change of heart is necessary. Please help by sharing the story of Maria, Sabine, and Lea with others who may be interested, so that they will be remembered, especially during these days before Christmas.
