... by date

29. April 2019

Poland | Bodzentyn, Lagow | Monthly Report April: Cattle & Horse Markets

We are writing down the ear tag number of an emaciated cow.

Whilst inspecting the cattle market in Lagow, our team notices a cow with overgrown hooves. We are taking photos and writing down the ear tag number. In the meantime, the trader who bought the animal to the markets starts yelling at us. The Veterinary Inspector sees the whole situation and decides to thoroughly inspect the trader`s documents and…

17. April 2019

Slovenia, Italy | Transport of lambs

Italian police stopping a Hungarian truck with lambs.

Every year before Easter, Italy imports tens of thousands of lambs for slaughter, mainly from Romania and Hungary. AWF|TSB teams check on the transport conditions, supported by the Italian animal welfare organisation ENPA. We inspect a total of eleven trucks, three of them together with the Italian police. All three are in breach of the EU animal…

21. March 2019

Ireland | Grange | EU Animal Welfare Platform: Animal Transports

Calves trying to drink water from pig drinkers.

For the second time stakeholders and experts meet in Grange (DG SANTE) to discuss animal transport issues. The claims of our laywers against the EU Commission supported the focus projects on the agenda. In three working groups cattle exports, transport of unweaned calves and extreme temperatures are discussed. The platform was initiated to give…

15. March 2019

Germany | Round table discussion about animal exports

The Ministry for Environment of the federal country of Hessen stopped with a decision animal exports to 14 third countries. The reason is concrete evidence of risks for the animals´ welfare during transport and slaughter. During the round table discussion, where we are participating, the industry is requested to provide evidence that the…

12. March 2019

Poland | Skaryszew | Horse market and vehicle inspection

The TSB|AWF and Eyes on Animals (EonA) team returns for the 4th time to Skaryszew to evaluate whether anything has changed at the annual horse market. Chances for a lasting change are higher with a new Mayor elected last autumn. In February, we were invited to give a training on legal requirements related to the market operation. The participants…

28. February 2019

Poland | Swietokrzyskie | Monthly Report February: Farm Animal Service (FAS)

Czastkow. We trimm the hooves of a lame mare.

Our FAS team still treats the canker in one of the hooves of a mare in Brody. This is one of the most difficult and demanding cases in our work. We change the treatment method yet again, and additionally draw the hoof profile to prepare special horse shoes with a plate to hold the dressing. This will improve the protection of the fragile and…

25. February 2019

Poland | Bodzentyn | Monthly Report February: Cattle & Horse Markets

Empty cattle market after revealing scandal related to selling meat of downer animals.

After a big scandal in Poland related to selling meat of downer cattle (revealed at the end of January), there is much less animals at the Bodzentyn animal market. Sometimes we see only around 80 animals, some days there are more. We are told that the price of bovines is very low. Many animals are not sold and go back to the farms. Even Veterinary…

14. February 2019

France | Strasbourg | Vote on the report on the implementation of (EC) No. 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport

Pictures of our lambs-investigation are shown in front of the Parliament in Strasbourg.

Today the European Parliament votes on the report on the implementation of the Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005: An important day for the animals which are transported each day on Europe’s roads and beyond. The report is critical and contains may suggestions for improvements, which we are demanding for a long time.

First, in front of the parliamentary…

13. February 2019

Croatia | Port Raša | Sea transport from Croatia to Lebanon and Israel

Our team observes the loading of bulls and calves on the vessels Phoenix I and Phoenix III

At the beginning of February, our team travels to Croatia. The team spends almost one week close to Pula city, where Raša port, one of the main exit ports of live animals to non-European countries, is located.

Our team observes the arrival of three empty livestock vessels: Phoenix I, Phoenix III and Dragon, while at the same time dozens of trucks…