Today Eyes on Animals and the Dierenbescherming released a report and film about the suffering of Dutch animals being transported in very hot weather and left for hours outside overfull slaughterhouses.
The Dutch livestock-transport and slaughter industry has indeed an “ Extreme Weather Protocol” to attempt to combat this type of suffering, but it is not adequately put into practice or respected. Many slaughterhouses have old lairages, no longer adequate in size for the increasing number of animals they want to slaughter. As a result, animals are left on board stationary trucks for far too long in hot and humid weather. In the past few years, we have succeeded in convincing numerous slaughterplants to invest in large mobile fans and set up shaded parking areas, but these steps are not enough. It is time serious action be taken by the industry and law enforcers. Eyes on Animals and the Dierenbescherming are willing to help find solutions, and have indicated 10 important steps the industry can take in our report, but the will must be there from the other side.
To read our report, click HERE.
To also help out, please sign the petition of Dierenbescherming HERE.
Several Dutch newspapers have reported on this issue:
