Animals‘ Angels inspects a truck with sheep being transported from France to Italy.
The roughly 550 sheep are distributed on four decks – which is definitely too much as most of them bump the truck’s ceiling with their heads or backs. This does not only prevent the animals from taking a natural position during transport, but also restricts airflow above them. The air inside the truck is enriched with ammonia and burns their eyes. The bedding is dirty with the animals’ feces.
Desperately searching for water and feed, Camille and her companions ceaselessly lick and nibble at the trucks walls, side rails and ceiling. Some of the sheep also rummage the dirty bedding for something edible, or nibble at their companions’ ears or fleece. The drivers don’t seem to be much concerned. They don’t see any problem, as for them the transport is within regulation, telling us that “the animals will get water as required by law.”
For sheep, required by law means to be watered (and maybe fed) for one hour after 14 hours of transport. However, Camille and all the other sheep on board of the truck are ‘only’ transported for just under 14 hours today – so they will remain thirsty and hungry.
Animals’ Angels has filed a complaint to the competent authorities in France demanding, likewise, a ban to such ‘short’ long distance transports.
