Investigations by country:

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…

26. April 2019

Poland | Swietokrzyskie | Monthly Report April: Farm Animal Service

Wola Zamkowa. A happy farmer and a happy horse in brand new stable.

Our Farm Animal Service (FAS) team visits the farm in Wola Zamkowa again to check on the lame mare. So far, we do not see any progress. This is our fourth visit in total. Because our latest treatment does not work, we decide to look deeper into the hoof. Finally, we find an abscess located almost one centimetre underneath the hoof sole. We clean…

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…

12. April 2019

Poland, Hungary | Positive response to our sheep transport document

[Translate to English:]

The national competent authorities of Poland and Hungary respond in a very positive way to our handout about sheep transport.

Based on our experience and legal knowledge, TSB|AWF prepared a document summarising the most frequent violations found during the transport of sheep, especially lambs. In 2018 and this year before Easter – peak time…

30. March 2019

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

Veterinary inspectors cannot strike openly. They continue to work and express their protest by wearing jackets and badges with protest logos.

This month, our team visits the animal markets seven times, including the annual horse fair in Skaryszew (see investigation report 12th of March 2019). Despite the national Veterinary Inspection protest in Poland, the inspectors are present at the cattle market every time. Moreover, they organise joined controls with ITD (Road Transport Police)…

29. March 2019

Poland | Swietokrzyskie | Monthly report March: Farm Animal Service (FAS)

Nowy Jawor. This foal needs training in picking up the leg.

Our FAS team visits the farm in Wzdol to check on the infrastructure that can be accessed by farm animals in emergency cases. Polish municipalities are obligated by law to prepare such spots. The place is big enough to accommodate over a dozen farm animals. However, it needs cleaning and small renovations. Next, our farriers control the farm in…

21. March 2019

Poland | Starachowice | Court Case No.4

Court case: Bull with an ingrown metal chain.

We are hearing the verdict in the case of a bull with part of metal chain ingrown in his head, the one that we documented during cattle market in May 2018.As always in cases of abuse, we reported it to the Police. This time, two persons are accused: the previous owner who allowed the chain to grow into the bull’s head, and the trader who - against…

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…