Investigations by country:

21. September 2019

Poland | Podmielowice | Injured cats

A cat with a broken leg is examined by a veterinarian before surgery.

We are informed about two injured cats that need help in the village Podmielowice. When we arrive, we find one animal with an open fracture of the hind leg and another with swollen testicles caused by injury. We are taking both cats to the veterinarian. After successful surgery both cats stay in the clinic.

A few days later we received the sad…

20. September 2019

Rome, Freising | EU training course on animal welfare during transport

We were invited to this course as experts to present the problems observed during live animal exports.

In March (12th-15th) and September (17th-20th) the first and second edition of an advanced level training course on animal welfare during transport took place in Rome (Italy) and Freising (Germany). The two four-day training courses were organised by "Better Training for Safer Food" (BTSF), an initiative by the European Commission. 

Attendants of…

12. September 2019

Poland| | Wloszczowa | Verdict in a case of an injured cow

Ingrown horns cause chronic pain. This cow suffered a lot.

Today we are in the court in Wloszczowa waiting for a judgment regarding a case of a cow with an ingrown horn in its head. We documented two injured animals at Lagow cattle market in September 2018. We sent a notification about the offence to the police. However, only one complaint was forwarded to the court by the police so far. The other case is…

09. September 2019

Iceland | PMSG production | Blood farms for hormone production

117 empty blood canisters with a capacity of fives litres each.

During ten days of investigation in Iceland, we find 40 blood farms out of around 100 farms where blood is taken from pregnant mares for the production of the fertility hormone PMSG. We detect numerous risks of injury to the mares at these facilities. Most raceways and restraint boxes have dangerous gaps where the mares can injure their legs, and…

31. August 2019

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

We are verbally attacked by the trader who received a reprimand regarding the ban of tying cattle by the horns in the truck.

The Italian trader is back on the horse market. This time he only buys older horses. The younger animals go back home. At Bodzentyn cattle market we also re-encounter a trader that left almost a year ago. The subsidy time ends and beside the big traders there are no people willing to buy cattle.

We observe that one trader ties the cows by their…

30. August 2019

Poland | Swietokrzyskie | Monthly Report August: Farm Animal Service

Brody. A hoof canker appears again. We are applying special ointment on a hoof.

This time, our Farm Animal Service (FAS) team is helping lame foal in Niedospielin. During trimming we find an injury in the hoof. The wound is cleaned and protected with a special dressing. Next, we are going to the farm in Brody where the problem of hoof canker appears again. It is a very difficult disease to treat. However, we do not give up. We…

22. August 2019

Argentina | Ezeiza, province of Buenos Aires | “Field of horror” of Raúl Onorato

Our team helping the rural police to save the dying horses of Onorato.

While our team is in Argentina investigating about the illegal trade of stolen horses, we learn about another case. More than 400 malnourished horses have been discovered on a field in Ezeiza near Buenos Aires. 25 of them are dead, four are dying. These horses belong to a dealer named Raúl Onorato, the father-in-law of Hernan Arbeo who recently…

18. August 2019

Argentina | Trenque Lauquen, province of Buenos Aires | Acopio Langhoff

Emaciated, weak horse lying down.

We visit the acopio (assembly centre) of horse dealer Angel Langhoff for the first time. There are approx. 100 horses present, including a few ponies and foals. Most of them are kept in small holding pens with dirt floors. They have no weather protection. The condition of the horses varies greatly. While some are malnourished, others are rather…

16. August 2019

Poland | Srodborze, Kochanow | Teaching kids compassion towards animals

During our training, the young animal enthusiasts learn about animal welfare.

This year we continue to meet children during summer camps to teach them about animal welfare. Like in previous times, our training includes a theoretical part in the form of a presentation, and a practical part based on the everyday work of our farriers.

During the theoretical training, the young animal enthusiasts learn about the concept of five…