During the evening of 15 January 2019, Eyes on Animals followed an empty turkey truck from company Mantrans. The truck was on its way to a farm owned by Raaijmakers where turkeys were due to be caught and loaded for slaughter. Our goal was to observe this process and give advice on reducing stress, pain and possible injuries caused by the catching and loading process. … [Read more...] about No permission from Raaijmakers to view the catching and loading of turkeys
Bad news
Dying sheep not able to be helped because truck did not provide access
TSB|AWF trailed trucks transporting lambs to a slaughterhouse in Italy. One lamb on board was suffering horribly and in need of being put out of her misery but the veterinarian and police on site were not able to because there was no access to the lamb. In the compartment and on the side where she was lying, there were no access doors built in the truck. Result: the … [Read more...] about Dying sheep not able to be helped because truck did not provide access
Tamale slaughterhouse – serious animal suffering
We continue to see serious mistreatment and suffering of animals at Tamale slaughterhouse in Ghana, with no real hope in sight. Despite some of the butchers participating in the EonA and WACPAW training on humane handling in 2017, we continued this year to observe animals being dragged and beaten into this slaughterhouse. They are left for hours if not days without water. … [Read more...] about Tamale slaughterhouse – serious animal suffering
Slaughterhouse VION Boxtel fails to prevent pigs suffering from heat stress
During the July heat wave, Eyes on Animals visited various slaughterhouses in The Netherlands. At many of the slaughterhouses, we saw pigs with (severe) heat stress. The problems at VION Boxtel, one of the biggest pig slaughterhouses in the Netherlands, were the most severe. There were no fewer than 8 loaded pig trucks waiting in front of the slaughterhouse. Another 5 … [Read more...] about Slaughterhouse VION Boxtel fails to prevent pigs suffering from heat stress
Unsatisfactory inspection of a mink transport by the NVWA
At the beginning of July, Eyes on Animals received a disturbing notification from our colleagues at Animal Welfare Foundation in Germany about a Bulgarian mink transporter heading to Putten (NL) to load mink there for Greece. Due to the miserable conditions under which the animals would be transported and the lack of papers, Eyes on Animals asked the NVWA to check on the … [Read more...] about Unsatisfactory inspection of a mink transport by the NVWA
Heat protocol fails to protect pigs from heat-stress
The heat protocol, that has been produced by the industry, fails to protect pigs from heat stress and is regularly being violated. During our inspections Eyes on Animals witnessed many pigs suffering from heat stress in the queues waiting outside the slaughterhouses. Many pigs arrived when the temperature already exceeded 35 degrees. This means the industry fails to … [Read more...] about Heat protocol fails to protect pigs from heat-stress
Minks from Holland transported in horrible conditions
Recently we were in Poland conducting inspections of animal trucks. We stopped a horrible transport truck originating from a breeding farm in The Netherlands (owner: van Ansem) with hundreds of mink on board in tiny dirty wire cages. They were heading to fur farms in Poland. The animals were completely stressed. They were trying to break free of their cages, performing … [Read more...] about Minks from Holland transported in horrible conditions
Bad containers at Van Miert poultry slaughterhouse
Today we brought an unannounced visit to poultry slaughterhouse Van Miert in Breukelen (NL). In front of the building there was a poultry-truck with badly designed and poorly maintained containers. The metal wire of the drawers was bent in several places, causing small openings where birds could stick their heads out. Once the birds are loaded into the containers and these … [Read more...] about Bad containers at Van Miert poultry slaughterhouse
Poultry slaughterhouse Heijs in Leek (NL) not interested in visit of Eyes on Animals
Today we brought an unannounced visit to poultry slaughterhouse Heijs in Leek. We hoped to share ideas on how to reduce suffering during the transport, handling and stunning of poultry. The director told us he wasn’t interested in talking to Eyes on Animals directly. He rather wanted us to talk to Nepluvi (stakeholder for poultry industry). Our experience is that talking … [Read more...] about Poultry slaughterhouse Heijs in Leek (NL) not interested in visit of Eyes on Animals
Slaughterhouse Gosschalk (NL) not yet interested in visit from Eyes on Animals
Earlier this year we brought an unannounced visit to cattle and pig slaughterhouse Gosschalk in Epe (NL). At that moment no one was present to talk about how suffering during the unloading, handling and stunning of cattle and pigs can be reduced. The day after our visit the director informed us by email that Gosschalk wasn’t interested in a visit from Eyes on Animals as … [Read more...] about Slaughterhouse Gosschalk (NL) not yet interested in visit from Eyes on Animals
