Investigation in Italy: Lamb-Transports before Christmas

We are working in two teams. Each team waits for the sheep transports near Slovenian / Italian border. We are working in 12 hour shifts. Our team takes the overnight shift.

13.12.23 | Italy | Freeway A4 near Calstorta

We start working at 21:00 to 8 a.m. on the following day. During this time, we inspect 6 trucks transporting sheep and lambs to Italian slaughterhouse. On two occasions we called the police because we found the animals to be overloaded, the bedding was scares, very dirty and wet. Sadley, they don’t allow us to be present at the inspection.

14.12.23 | Italy | Freeway A4 near Gonars

Our shift starts at 20 hrs and lasts til 8 a.m. on the following day. Outside is 3,5 °C. Tonight we inspected 4 trucks with sheep and lambs. We found a truck that carried Franch lambs. The animals are beating loudly, indicating hunger and thirst. After 800 km of following the truck finally the police come to inspect it. Unfortunately, just few minutes into the inspection a serious accident occurs and the police is called away to help with the accident. Sad and very tired we leave in search for the hotel.

15.12.23 | Italy | Foggia

 Our shift starts at 18:30 and ends at 19:00 hrs of the following day. This was a quiet night. We inspect 3 trucks with sheep and lambs. No major violations observed.

16.12.23 | Italy | Gonars

Our shift starts at 16:30 and lasts till 16:00 hrs of the following day. During this night we find a transporter Ovine Sterp and old acquaintance always found to transport sheep and lambs in deplorable conditions. Also, this time it is no different. On the truck we find 5 dying sheep, the truck has a broken water system and is extremely overloaded. The animals are bleating loudly. After following the truck for 400 km finally the police come to inspect it. During the following the drivers tried to push us off the freeway couple of times and tried to squeeze us to the fence. After the police and the vet inspected the truck, they found sheep in agony, broken drinking system and overcrowding. Since the truck was near the slaughterhouse of the destination, they let the transporter go instructing the veterinarian at destination to thoroughly inspect the animals and press charges. Afterwards we are informed that no charges were pressed against the transporter. It is very sad to observe how the very people that are pied to implement the regulation are incapable of doing so.

17.12.23 | Italy | Gonars

We start the shift at 23 hrs. It is our last day of work. We inspect 3 trucks transporting sheep and lambs. For one truck we call the police. It comes after 200 km of following. This time the police and the vet are effective. They thoroughly inspect the truck, find one dead sheep and several in bad conditions. The truck is overloaded. They issue a fine of 10.333.33 Euros. Since the truck is in the vicinity of the slaughterhouse it is allowed to proceed to its destination.

On 18.12.2023 at 17:00 hrs we end this hard investigation. Leaving us with a sadness that after 10 years of constant battling and writing official complaints to the competent authorities so little has changed.