... by country

How well do German slaughterhouses protect animals from extreme heat? Our investigation shows that many slaughterhouses lack effective measures or that the measures in place are insufficient. This can be life-threatening for the animals. We call for effective heat protection and species-specific temperature limits to ensure that animals are not…

A heat wave is currently sweeping across Germany. At the same time, the grilling season is in full swing, demand for meat is high—and so is the number of animal transports to slaughterhouses. For animals already stressed by transport, the high temperatures pose an additional, significant burden.

Last week, we trained the Saxony-Anhalt State Police in identifying violations of animal transport regulations. At the same time, during a large-scale inspection in Germany, over 70 percent of the transports were found to be in violation—proof of what trained eyes can achieve.

For the second time in just four weeks, our team has documented calf transports at a collection point in Germany, near the Dutch border. Every week, two to three livestock trucks depart from there, loaded with up to 700 young calves. Most of the animals are taken to fattening farms in the Netherlands.

For the second time this year, we were guests at the Animal Transport Seminar held by the Hessian University of Applied Sciences for Public Management and Security (HÖMS). Our project manager Iris Baumgärtner provided insights into the legal basis and challenges involved in transporting farmed animals.

At the invitation of the Hessian Ministry of Justice, we participated in a conference held by the German Judicial Academy last week. Together with our partner organisation Animals' Angels, we gave a presentation on third-country exports and the lack of emergency measures in cases of import refusals. This led to a constructive dialogue with the…

13 August 2024 | Germany | Transports to the Slaughterhouse at 36 Degrees Celsius

Together with Eyes on Animals, we monitored the largest pig slaughterhouse in Rhineland-Palatinate to check whether there were any measures in place to protect the animals from the intense heat. Apparently, there were none. A lorry loaded with pigs stood in the…

22-26 July 2024 | Germany | Poultry transports from France violating provisions stopped

Our team received information about trucks carrying laying hens from France to Poland in poor conditions and waited over 50 hours on the motorway. Three lorries, each carrying around 4,300 chickens (parent stock), were stopped and inspected by the Chemnitz…

April 18-19, 2024 | Germany | Oldenburg | Animal Transport Workshop

Together with Dr. Alexander Rabitsch, we conducted a two-day animal transport workshop with the police in Oldenburg. Police and veterinary offices from neighbouring districts also participated. During the animal transport inspection on the motorway, over 20 transport vehicles…