Breeding must stop
July 2023
It is ludicrous to be deliberately breeding more dogs and cats when the shelters can’t cope with the abandoned pets, and cruel people are dumping them.
Why has this not been banned in the so-called review of the Act covering dogs and cats?
At least with felines there is help available as stated, as the Cats Assistance To Sterilise people are also helping residents in my council of Onkaparinga.
Our council/RSPCA ceased desexing them, due to overflowing cat numbers
What upsets me is that while CATS are donating their time and money to preventing thousands of kitten births, the government is selling permits to almost anybody to breed thousands more.
What can we do to stop them?
Albert Peters
Shooting our living, beautiful wildlife should be a crime.
July 2023
Waterbirds are safe now from hunters since open season 2023 has completed its ghastly massacre of dead and wounded, hopefully, South Australia’s final season.
Kangaroos and wallabies across Australia are shot all year by commercial and non-commercial shooters. Independent research separate from DEW aerial surveys in our state says the commercial industry is not sustainable or viable given the low population numbers in many killing zones.
Red kangaroos, western greys, eastern greys, tammar wallabies and euro populations are too low to continue cruel exploitation.
Thanks to the efforts of macropod activists and conservationists, some sportswear companies have banned kangaroo skin for football boots in favour of animal-free synthetic materials.
There is no justification for harming and killing animal life when humane alternatives for human use and consumption are readily available on the market.
Simone Hunter
Good animal welfare
The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare
The five freedoms are usually expressed as follows;
Freedom from Hunger and Thirst.
Freedom from Discomfort.
Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease.
Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour.
Freedom from Fear and Distress.
RSPCA Australia considers that the welfare of an animal includes both physical and mental states. Ensuring good animal welfare goes beyond preventing pain, suffering or distress and minimising negative experiences, to ensuring animals can express their natural behaviour in an enriching environment, feel safe, have healthy positive experiences and a good quality of life. Thus providing good animal welfare means providing animals with all the necessary elements to ensure their physical and mental health and a sense of positive individual well-being.
Cruel publicity
July 2022
I take issue with Jean Harvey’s letter, “Respect bulls”, in the nicest way.
She says TV broadcasting of animal-cruelty sports events like the running of the bulls and rodeos in Spain is obscene and should not be shown.
The converse is this: For animal cruelty to be banned and animal protection improvements to be made, the public needs to witness and know the extent of egregious harm to animals.
There are equally horrible things happening to animals in our nation. The commercial kangaroo-meat industry is a salient example.
Often at public displays of animal cruelty are protesters making their presence known with signs and visual exhibits of what the sports do.
Simone Hunter
Foot-and-mouth disease
July 2022
Foot-and-mouth disease is highly infectious and spreads like wildfire.
If it gets into our country, we will not be able to control it and millions of animals may suffer horribly and many may be slaughtered.
And all because the federal government did not stop travel between infected countries and Australia.
Why aren’t our livestock owners out there screaming and blowing their truck horns in protest?
G. Hannah
Bullfights and those horrible bull runs
July 2022
Bull tragedy. How much longer is Spain going to allow the wicked cruelty with horrendous bullfights and those horrible bull runs through the streets This country is a disgrace and many of its own citizens oppose this vile spectacle? In fact, if it were not for tourists pouring into bullrings, this blood sport would almost certainly diminish.
I hope no Australian citizens contribute to these atrocities when overseas.
Carol Patricia Jones
Wildlife wonders
March2022
Our planet is home to many amazing animals including fish, reptiles and birds.
To celebrate them all, Thursday is World Wildlife Day. This is a day to remember the inspiring diversity of life on Earth and its critical importance for a balanced, healthy planet.
We must do everything in our power to protect habitats and maintain their essential position in our fragile ecosystems.
Diane Cornelius
Animal shelters
July 2021
The beautiful lemurs are certainly being cared for in this wintry weather, cuddling together under heat lamps and staying cosy.
This is the opposite to all the little lambs born in freezing , wet paddocks at this time of year, many of which don’t survive the icy conditions.When will it become mandatory for farmers to provide shelter for farmed animals to protect them from weather extremes ?
Janine Clipstone
Think of animals
May 2021
I agree with HP and can’t wait for winter to be gone.
I grizzle and groan from winter’s start, until its end. It makes me think of all the animals living outside, mainly farm animals confined in paddocks or yards with no protection from either the blazing sun or freezing cold, in paddocks with no tree or shed
There’s nothing to make their miserable lives less miserable. Hypothermia or bushfire – they suffer terribly, but providing animals with relief from the unrelenting cold is do-able, yet it never gets done. There is a code of practice that politicians tell you fixes everything. Take a drive in the country and it’s clear, it doesn’t fix anything. We need to do better.
W. Parsons
Chinese fishery firm signs deal with Papua New Guinea
By Mark Godfrey November 2020
A Chinese fishing company has signed an agreement to invest in a new fisheries-focused industrial park in Papua New Guinea.
Fujian Zhong Hong Yu Ye Co. signed the agreement with Papua New Guinea Fisheries Minister Lino Tom, and Taboi Yoto, governor of PNG’s western province, to invest in the construction of the Comprehensive Multifunctional Fishery Industrial Park. Details of the new fisheries industrial park remain scant but may sync with a local government quest for increased value add activity in tuna.
Headquartered in the capital Port Moresby, the National Fisheries Authority has sought investors to build out its tuna processing industry, with much of the catch traditionally shipped to Japan and South Korea, as well as to processing plants in the Philippines.
“China is the world’s biggest consumer market and a vast opportunity for Papua New Guinea,” Xue Bing China’s ambassador in Port Moresby, said at the signing ceremony, according to a statement on the signing from the Chinese Commerce Ministry.
Papua New Guinea has in recent years been looking for a free trade deal with China, and in June, Xue signed an agreement to ensure Papuan seafood can be exported directly to China.
The interest appears to be mutual, as several Chinese fishing companies have sought to increase their presence in Papua New Guinea. Led by governor Nakikus Konga, a delegation from East New Great Britain province traveled to China in October 2018 to meet with several Fujian fishing firms, among them Zhong Hong. Papuan officials also last year inspected safety and tracking devices aboard six vessels of the tuna-focused Wenzhou Da Zhou Distant Water Fishing Co., accompanied by company executives and officials from local government in Dontou County, near the city of Wenzhou, a major export-focused manufacturing hub. During the tour, Wenzhou Da Zhou General Manager Yang Jin Ying said entering Papua New Guinea would represent the “most cherished wish” of his company.
Papuan Prime Minister James Marape has in the past year drawn closer to China, even as the country’s traditional ally and southern neighbor, Australia, has seen its relationship with China deteriorate. Marape has stated he wants a free trade deal with China and wants to restructure the national debt with Chinese loans.
There is no comparison
June 2020
Tricia Varcoe makes no sense to compare the mass breeding of sheep, cattle, chickens, turkeys, ducks and pigs that are crammed into filthy, parasite infested sheds, or on feedlots to fatten them, for human consumption, to the wild African animals.
In nature’s food chain there are both carnivorous and plant-eating animals. For generations, humans have been led to believe they need to eat animal products to be healthy.
That has been scientifically proven wrong. Jenny Moxham is correct in her letter when she wrote about the “needless and unjust killing of billions of inoffensive farmed animals.” I agree with her!
Diane Cornelius
Phase-out farming livestock to save future of the planet
January 2020
The pain and terror endured by the 100,000 or more sheep and cattle who perished in the recent bush fires would have been unimaginable. But what will happen now?
Will the government simply assist farmers to rebuild their stock numbers so that this same tragic scenario can repeat itself?
Of course, drought and floods also take their toll on these unfortunate animals who we impersonally refer to as “livestock”.
But each one of these animals is an individual with exactly the same capacity for suffering as our pet animals or us.
As far back as 2006, the United Nations FAO told us that livestock farming was one of the biggest contributors to almost all of Earth’s most serious environmental problems.
So, for the sake of the animals, for our planet and for our own health, isn’t it time to start phasing out livestock farming?
Jenny Moxham
Animal transport
January 2020
Over the last three days of 40 plus degree heat, many people have been very distressed to see fully loaded sheep and chicken trucks being transported through blistering heat conditions. One truck was broken down on the freeway for five hours?
If there is any compassion left in our community, something must be done about this. The animal transport regulations clearly need changing.
I call upon all politicians to please do something about this. If those trucks were full of dogs, there would be an uproar!
Alex Hodges
Food for thought
December 2019
How many turkeys, piglets and other inoffensive animals were mercilessly massacred for a festive fare on Christmas Day?
Does it make the slightest sense to celebrate the birth of the “Prince of Peace” by violently killing others? Isn’t it time we took off our blinkers and recognised that celebrating Christmas with cruelty turns this whole celebration into a sham?
Jenny Moxham
Sun never shines for factory farmed animals
October 2019
The sun is shining, flowers are blooming and everyone is out enjoying this glorious spring day. Well, not quite everyone. Inside our grim and gloomy factory farms, millions of chickens and pigs are not enjoying this day one little bit.
Deprived of sunshine, fresh air, space to move and all semblance of a natural life, they never “enjoy” any day of their tragic, short lives.
Given the vast array of healthy and delicious vegan foods readily available these days, how can we possibly justify inflicting this suffering on so many totally innocent, life loving beings?
Jenny Moxham
Culling will fail
August 2019
I write in response to the letter titled “Culling” from Philip Miller.
For someone who puts forward his opinions on wildlife Mr Miller appears to have very little knowledge or understanding of animal behaviour or welfare.
Research and disastrous results have already proved that culling does not solve the problem. When one lot of animals is removed another lot of the same species breed to replace it, increasing the original numbers.
The relocation of the koalas from Kangaroo Island, even to the South-East of SA, resulted in disaster.
Sending them to Queensland would end in almost certain death.
Kangaroos live in family groups so relocation splits up the families and their whole lifestyle is destroyed and for what? More kangaroos bred.
There are even worse things than being dead, and relocation by live export overseas is one of them, resulting in suffering, injuries from attack from resident animals, failure to adapt to the climatic conditions and agonising death.
The idea of capturing corellas and exporting them overseas is incredibly cruel, and it would certainly not stop smugglers, as it is almost certain that these corellas would die or else be kept in cages, which is unthinkable.
Factual answers and solutions were put forward by many concerned residents at the Mt Barker discussion on the corella situation.
I spend most of my time researching and assisting with animal issues for all animals and I base my information on this.
I consider that if writers want to maintain their credibility they should do the same.
Christine Pierson
Pest animals
August 2019
Pressure is put on State government to allow a cull of certain animal species,”Call for a cull” by branding some as pests.
Culls do not work as other animals move in to fil the void.
Minister for the Environment, David Speirs should be concerned about the backlash from the public and the political ramifications of culling koalas, kangaroos, corellas and fur seals.
Everyone of these species has been displaced by urban sprawl and loss of their natural environment and food supply.
A UniSA report confirmed that “…numbers of corellas had grown as land was cleared for farming and housing.”
Any animal or bird that appears to be in the “wrong” place, in the “wrong” numbers, is always there because of human actions. Odd clusters of wildlife are nature’s call for help.
As we humans alter and destroy habitat, wildlife moves on.
Yet there remains only so many islands of habitat left, that when wildlife cluster in numbers into the last bastions of suitable habitat they become a local extinction risk.
We must learn to live and let live.
Diane Cornelius
Sad story
August 2019
I felt very sad reading the story titled ”Good behaviour bond for woman’s animal mistreatment charges.”
People who love animals often take in more than they can adequately handle, because they try to save them from bad situations.
Then, when unforeseen misfortune befalls them, they cannot cope.
In situations like these, people should be able to call on the RSPCA and the Animal Welfare League (AWL) – who are both government funded as well as receiving public donations, to assist them – without fear of having their animals seized.
Instead these people battle on until circumstances occur like the one in this article. Instead of being helped, these people are dragged through the courts,
G.Hannah
Animal care
August 2019
I have concern for the Strathalbyn woman who was convicted of mistreating animals after taking in more animals than she could properly look after.
If only the RSPCA would take more interest in the thin young beef cattle throughout the Hills and help well-meaning people care for their animals.
People like this Strathalbyn woman need practical help.
Alice Shore
Caring farmers
July 2019
In response to Darren Hill, who applauds the proposed NSW legislation against people who expose the hellholes of intensive animal production (“ Militant activists"), I suggest Mr Hill has lost the true meaning of what a farmer is.
Real farmers work the land and raise animals in natural conditions. Real farms – free-range farms – have not been targeted. The proposed legislation is nothing more than a means to keep animal abuse hidden behind closed doors by people who call themselves farmers but are just intensive animal producers.
Without what Mr Hill labels militant activists, the suffering behind these closed doors would never be known.
No one would know what a battery hen is, or a farrowing crate or that meat chickens can and often do die from thirst and/or starvation because their bodies have been so badly manipulated that their legs collapse from the weight of their body and they cannot reach food or water.
The abject and unrelenting misery of these animals is not what real farming is about.
W. Parsons
Follow the golden rule on kindness
April 2019
April 5 is International Golden Rule Day.
Imagine living in a world where everyone adhered to the Golden Rule.
This would be a world where everyone treated others the way they would like to be treated if they were them.
Now when I say “others”, I’m not simply referring to human beings, I’m referring to all sentient beings because all sentient beings desire happiness and none want to be subjected to pain and suffering.
Tragically, billions of our most gentle and inoffensive creatures – those reared for their flesh, milk and eggs – are treated, by us, in the most horrific manner.
We severely confine them in cages and pens, we agonisingly mutilate them and we steal their newborn babies. Ultimately we subject every single one of them to a terrifying and excruciatingly painful death.
International Golden Rule Day, on April 5, was founded to encourage kindness to everyone.
Shouldn’t “everyone” logically include all sentient beings?
Jenny Moxham
Serious pet business
March 2019
I share the concerns shown in the letter “Pet responsibility” (Sunday Mail, 24/3/19) regarding Lainie Anderson’s article “My pet peeves but hutch is where the heart is” (Sunday Mail, 17/3/19).
W. Parsons is correct, this issue is too close to the terrible truth to be amusing as it happens all too often, and not just with guinea pigs but with all animal species. My concerns resulted in establishing that Ms Anderson said she is not going to give the guinea pigs away and still has them.
One important point is that they were both the same sex so thank goodness they didn’t breed. Guinea pigs get along OK but male rats and rabbits fight and need to be desexed.
When I was teaching at Yunta Special Rural School, the irresponsible actions of the Education Department resulted in sending up a pregnant guinea pig for science, to see babies born, which was a disaster. I took on the job of looking after this poor little animal and it ended with years of worry and work.
This article would have been much more constructive if it had been treated in a serious context.
Christine Pierson
International Women's Day, stop violence to all females
March 2019
The focus of this years International Women's Day, on March 8th, was ending violence to women. But if violence to human females is wrong, shouldn't violence to all females be deemed wrong? Logically, how can it be wrong to abuse human females but right to abuse non-human females?
The females I'm referring to are the sows, hens, cows and other female animals who are condemned to lives of suffering and violent deaths simply because of their reproductive capabilities. Breeding sows quite literally go insane in their body hugging metal and concrete pens and battery hens endure not only the intolerable confinement of their small, wire cages but also the feather pecking of their half-crazed "cell" mates.
Each year "dairy" cows are forced to endure the agony of giving birth, only to have their precious babies torn from their side and killed. As soon as their milk supply wanes they, too, are callously slaughtered.Whenever we buy animal products we are saying, in effect, "I support the abuse of females. Please use my money to continue abusing them".
As a vegan of forty years I can assure you that no abuse of females -or males -is necessary in order to enjoy a healthy and happy life.
Jenny Moxham
Animal rights
March 2019
As an animal activist, I read last week's article on Aussie Farms with interest.
The days of abusing animals away from the public eye are coming to a close.
Cruel practices must be recognised by the public and kinder methods of animal husbandry adopted.
Alice Shore
Animal laws
February 2019
The ACT is Australia’s first territory/state to consider legislation for including animals’ sentience – their ability to experience mental states and feelings – to become part of animal protection law.
This is positive, radical news for animal lovers, who have long advocated, argued and campaigned for what is scientifically proven about animal psychology.
That animals are capable of feeling and expressing good and negative emotions and that they suffer just as humans do and just as intensely is indisputable .
This brings the way people use animals in farming, entertainment , experimentation and work into a brilliant new light.
The ACT legislation is open for community response and will be debated later this year in their Legislative Assembly.
I will be following the trailblazing development and would hope South Australia will also introduce this kind of legislation for animals.
Simone Hunter
How can it be?
August 2018
Ed Vaughan's letter stated the ‘wages of sin is death’.
How can that be when people of all ages die accidentally and due to grave illnesses?
Actually... growing scientific evidence proves that vegans are healthier without the cholesterol that builds up in our arteries from eating unhealthy animal products. Vegans also suffer less from dementia for this reason.
Ed Vaughan obviously wants to be forgiven for eating sentient animals by stating that God gave us ‘dominion’ over them.
Genesis was originally written in Hebrew so every translation involves interpretation, which shows having the right to exploit or despoil is wrong.
We are charged to protect, support, love and treat animals with dignity and respect each according to its kind.
Diane Cornelius
Suffering animals
August 2018
Were being called on to help the “poor” drought-stricken farmers.
But what about the poor sheep and cattle who are physically suffering through lack of food?
What have they ever done to us to deserve this pain?
Drought is “part and parcel” of Australia.
Clearly this hot, dry land is not a good place to raise vast numbers of sheep and cattle.
Despite this, farmers continue to fill the land with livestock and when drought comes our government rushes to keep them afloat with multi-million dollar handouts.
It’s time to phase out industries that are not sustainable – and the livestock industry is one of them.
Jenny Moxham
Meaty issue
July 2018
Ed Vaughan believes we should kill animals for food because, "while Peter was in a trance “God” told him to kill and eat."
Does Ed also believe we should enslave humans, murder, rape and pillage because “God” ordered these cruel acts? Just about every other page in the Old Testament has God ordering the death of somebody.
Clearly the Bible is the word of man, not the word of a just and loving God? Consequently we should not base our actions on what we read in this archaic book but on what is just and fair.
Is it fair to subject inoffensive animals to the pain and terror of slaughter just because we enjoy the taste of their flesh?
Is it fair to truck millions of newborn calves to the slaughterhouse in their first week of life just because we enjoy the taste of their milk?
As an anti abortionist, Ed, why do you condone this cruelty to babies? And is it fair
to condemn hens to lives of intolerable suffering inside uncomfortable wire cages just because we enjoy the taste of their eggs?
If you were in their place, Ed, how would you like to be treated?
Jenny Moxham
Speciesism
July 2018
Why should a human life be deemed worthy of saving, but a non-human life be deemed worthless?
Last week as people around the world – including me – rejoiced following the rescue of the Thai children trapped in the cave, I reflected on this question.
I couldn’t help thinking about the millions of other youngsters who are currently trapped – trapped inside our grim and gloomy factory farms.
These frightened youngsters never escape from their “caves” alive, yet they don’t want to die terrifyingly and painfully any more than human children do.
“Broiler chickens” still have their baby blue eyes when sent to their hideous and cruel death and pigs are just six months old when sent to slaughter.
Where is our compassion for these innocent, vulnerable youngsters?
If we have sympathy for humans, but none for non-humans – who feel pain in exactly the same way – aren’t we guilty of speciesism?
And isn’t speciesism – discrimination against another solely on account of its species – just as indefensible as racism, or sexism?
Jenny Moxham
Ludicrous claim
July 2018
Dairy Farmers, the Camerons, continue to make the same ludicrous claim that PETA’s shearing video was fake, despite the fact that the Australian shearers in question admitted their guilt in court.
They say dairy farmers don’t “mercilessly kill millions of calves”. Fact: Each year in Australia 450,000 newborn dairy calves are trucked to the slaughterhouse in their first week of life.
The Camerons say, they “abhor” cruelty to animals. But can they deny that they force their cows to endure the physical pain of giving birth each year, the emotional pain of having their babies continually stolen from them, and the terror and pain of being sent to the slaughterhouse as soon as their milk supply wanes?
John and Jenny, if your Oxford Dictionary defines milk as opaque white fluid secreted by female mammals for feeding “young”
I suggest you get a new dictionary. I just looked at an ancient copy that I have and it clearly said milk was produced by mammals for “their young”.
Jenny Moxham
Remember we’re all God’s creatures
June 2018
Re: “Jesus apparently loved his fish.” There’s one suggestion in the Bible I wholeheartedly agree with: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. Although this directive was intended for humans, if we all treated all beings the way we would like to be treated if we were them, what a wonderful world it would be.
Jenny Moxham
Power of language
June 2018
Scott Kovacevic’s editorial referring to the frequent absurdity of human language.
Of course it would be fascinating to understand “dog talk”, although even more important would be the obvious interpretation of farmed animal’s voices and cries, who are imprisoned in filthy factory farms, on stinking export vessels and are forced to go to slaughter in their billions.
We would surely all be vegan.
Diane Cornelius
The genesis of misperception
June 2018
In his letter, “The genesis of misperception,” ‘SD’ wrote of Eric Bahrt: “Your value of compassion for other beings is sacred enough.” I agree, and include Jenny Moxham’s letters, which reject all animal cruelty.
All the biblical talk has nothing to do with the way animals are treated in industrial factory farming and how Thailand’s elephants lead lives of deprivation, are mercilessly beaten and have their spirits broken. Many of the world’s wild animals are nearing extinction and we should be respecting and allowing them to live their lives as naturally as they can. Australia is not blameless for the slaughter of our iconic kangaroos.
Diane Cornelius
No chance for animals to grow old
June 2018
Imagine never growing old. An appealing thought? Well, there’s one group of individuals who never grow old.
These individuals never grow old because their lives are cruelly snuffed out. I’m referring, of course to farmed animals. The youngest victims – hatched by the egg industry – are the millions of “useless” male chicks who are dropped live into mincing machines on day one of their lives.
The next youngest are bobby calves who are barley one week old when trucked to the slaughterhouse.
Broiler chickens, at just six weeks of age, still have their baby blue eyes when they meet their gruesome death and pigs and lambs are six month old when killed. Beef cattle are slaughtered at around three years of age and spent dairy cows are killed at about five years of age.
Jenny Moxham
Animals should share our peace
May 2018
I notice that May 16 was International Day of Living Together in Peace. Now, obviously, this “day” was established with human beings alone in mind. But is there any logical reason why we shouldn’t include everybody in this?
By “everybody”, I mean every living, feeling being. Is there any valid reason why humans deserve to live in peace but non-humans don’t?
Why is it considered okay for us to deprive them not only of all semblance of a natural life but also fresh air, sunshine and space to exercise?
Why is it okay for us to agonisingly mutilate them and needlessly subject them to a terrifying and violent death? Isn’t it time we humans started living in peace with all sentient beings?
Jenny Moxham
Animal farming
March 2018
Miles Kemp's article "Horses, possum and donkey meat would be on the menu under legal changes in SA, " sent shivers down my spine. The article goes on to also suggest allowing buffalo, camel, deer, goat, pig, hare, and wallaby, as well as our iconic kangaroo.
Cruel, intensive industrial animal agriculture of gentle cows, lambs, pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys and fish, and their secretions, milk and eggs, for our temporary taste bud satisfaction, is already completely unsustainable and environmentally polluting.
We must adopt non-violent, non polluting, lighter footprint lifestyles and create compassionate and gentle populations. The survival of our species and even planet, is dependent on the empathy and responsibility that veganism embodies.
Diane Cornelius
Switching to the animals’ point of view.
March 2018
Tony Ash wonders if farmed animals would prefer to “savour” life in order to be eaten – or prefer to never exist at all. Firstly, to savour something means to enjoy it, and I doubt whether any farmed animals would ever “enjoy” their lives.
Endure, would be a more appropriate word. This is because the majority are imprisoned in grim, stinking, sunless, cramped factory farms. They have no semblance of a natural life and, in addition to this, they are agonisingly mutilated. Laying hens may be in chronic pain as a result of de-beaking while “broiler” chickens are deliberately bred in a manner known to cause suffering. Animals reared outdoors suffer too.
Dairy cows are compelled to give birth each year and each year they have their beloved newborn babies torn from their side. Calves are agonisingly castrated and dehorned. Sheep and cattle suffer in droughts and severe heat and many sheep freeze to death after being shorn.
This is only a fraction of the pain farmed animals are forced to endure. And, of course, they all meet a terrifying and brutal slaughter. Does Tony seriously think any sensitive, intelligent animal would prefer this life over no life? I know I wouldn’t.
Jenny Moxham
Training people
Feb 2018
I understand that the RSPCA is going to start focussing on training people in proper care for their dogs, cats and other domestic pets? However, I question their advertising themselves “for all creatures great and small”?
What are they doing about the transport of sheep, cattle, goats and chickens in searing heat, as I witnessed today in Birdwood. At 2pm, two sheep transporters drove through Birdwood with obviously distressed animals on board. It was 40 degrees! The number plates were so dirty, you couldn’t read the numbers. Imagine how hot the steel plate floors in these trucks get, not to mention the dog boxes underneath. When is something going to be done to put a temperature limit on farm animal transport?
Meanwhile, all over the hills, one sees sheep, cows and horses in paddocks with no shade or shelter, enduring 40 degree heat or freezing wind and rain, depending on the season. When is something going to be done about that? I commend PETA and other concerned groups, for continuing to point out the cruelty and lack of care being shown to certain groups of animals which appear to have little or no legal protection.
Alex Hodges