Investigations by country:

31. August 2021

Poland | Swietokrzyskie | Monthly report August: Farm Animal Service

Rzepin. The horses are well trained and now. The trimming of the hooves’ goes efficient and fast.

This month, our Farm Animal Service (FAS) team starts their work by trimming the hooves of two young horses in Rzepin. Since the owner has been eagerly practising with his horses to pick up their legs, the trimming of the hooves goes very smoothly this time.

Next, our team is driving to Sniadka. There, a horse was diagnosed with scabies – a skin…

31. July 2021

Poland | Swietokrzyskie | Monthly report July: Farm Animal Service

Bardo: Our team is looking after the claws of several cows.

In July, our Farm Animal Service (FAS) team is very busy again. We are starting our work by visiting two farms in Szerzawy. On the first farm, we notice that the owner did install many stable improvements since our last visit. He fixed one of the stable doors and whitened the walls. As a reward we trim hooves of his mare. On the next farm, we are…

30. July 2021

Poland | Bodzentyn | Monthly Report July: Cattle and Bird Market

Bodzentyn. Our team inspects cattle market every Saturday.

Our team is inspecting the cattle market in Bodzentyn. Lately, mainly young cattle are being brought to the market for sale. During all our inspection days, the number of animals remains low and does not exceed 150 animals. The animals that we see are all in good condition. There are no animal welfare violations to report.

Our team encounters a…

07. July 2021

Turkey | Kapikule | Inspection of live transports at the EU border

Day 1: Our team inspects a transporter loaded with sheep.

At the beginning of July, our team is on investigation in Kapikule, the Turkish side of the EU's external border. Another team is stationed on the Bulgarian side of the border. During the next days, our team will inspect live transports from the EU en route to Turkey. This time, we are accompanied by the EU politicians, Anja Hazekamp and Tilly…

04. July 2021

Bulgaria | Kapitan Andreevo | Inspection of EU-Live Exports to Turkey | Investigation Days 1–5

Investigation Day 1: Close to the border a huge parking lot has been built.

Investigation Day 1 – 30. June 2021 

Today, our team arrives in the Bulgarian village Kapitan Andreevo. The village is located on the EU's external border with Turkey. During our investigation the temperatures are supposed to rise above 30°C. According to the EU regulation 1/2005 it is forbidden to transport animals in extreme weather. Our teams…

30. June 2021

Poland | Swietokrzyskie | Monthly report June: Farm Animal Service

Gosciecin. During trimming our FAS-farriers find an abscess in the hoof of the horse.

In June, our Farm Animal Service (FAS) team is in high demand. After the information spread that our team is back at work again after a COVID-19 related break, our phone is ringing non-stop.  

Our first visit this month is on a farm in Gosciecin. A limping horse urgently needs our help. Our farriers immediately spot an abscess in the hoof and…

30. June 2021

Poland | Bodzentyn | Monthly Report June: Cattle and Bird Markets

Bodzentyn cattle market. Probably due to very high temperatures, there are fewer animals being sold at the market.

During our market inspections in June we see less cattle than usual. The average number of animals present at the market does not exceed 150. We suspect that this could be related to the high temperatures exceeding 30˚C and more. Our team encounters the same situation at the bird’s market which was recently re-opened in Bodzentyn. Also, here fewer…

05. June 2021

Spain | Murica | Inspection of fattening farms

A French bull in Spanish feedlot.

Our team is investigating several fattening farms together with our partner organisation, Animals International, and two Members of the European Parliament: Thomas Waitz, and Caroline Roose. Spain is the biggest exporter of cattle and the second biggest exporter of sheep to third countries in the EU. Spain exports most animals by sea.

We inspect…

03. June 2021

Spain | Port of Cartagena | Investigation: Live transports by sea

Vessel “FREEDOM” loading European animals destined for export to Lebanon.

In the beginning of June, our investigation team is travelling to Cartagena in Spain. Cartagena is one of the main EU exit ports for live animals that are sent via sea to non-European countries.  

In 2018, an audit carried out by the EU Commission discovered various animal welfare violations during the loading of animals from trucks onto vessels…