Agressive handling of pigs

Eyes on Animals has filed a complaint with the Dutch authorities about the agressive and very unprofessional handling of pigs by an employee of a Dutch transport company (Buurman) observed today at a Dutch pig collecting and export station. The pigs were being repeatedly hit very hard with a plastic paddle, rushed in groups of 40-50 leading to panic and bottle-neck jamming on the loading ramp, yelled at and one, showing signs of extreme stress (having difficulty moving forward, breathing heavily, turning red) was even kicked very hard leading to her becoming “unfit for transport” and the veterinarian refusing her. The handler then picked her up by her ear and hind leg and “dropped” her into a separate pen for sick/injured pigs held back from export. We are disappointed that he was only given a verbal warning to stop his behaviour and not a fine on the spot. Kicking animals and causing unnecessary panic during loading is illegal in the EU, but what use is this law when not enforced? We have been told by the VWA that our complaint is now in the hands of the AID to treat. Eyes on Animals will follow-up on the case.