Early this morning we drove 60 km south-west of Gdansk to the village of Stezyca. The representatives of ITD, veterinary inspection and the police that participated in our theoretical course yesterday are already there. As soon as we get out of the car, our team member spots the first animal truck, which is immediately stopped for inspection. All in all, … [Read more...] about Training of Road Police and Veterinarians in Gdansk (Poland) – Practical part
live animal transports
Training of road police (ITD) in Olsztyn, Poland – Theory
Olsztyn has a group of 30 ITD (Road Inspection) inspectors and two policemen attending our training course on the EC 1/2005 directive covering the protection of animals during transport. Today we cover the theory and the importance of unannounced checks on the road of livestock trucks passing by their region. The attendants are enthusiastic for tomorrow's practical … [Read more...] about Training of road police (ITD) in Olsztyn, Poland – Theory
Inspection of EU cattle trucks heading into Turkey
Shocking news. Today our team that had been busy inspecting slaughterhouses in Turkey, drove quickly up to the Turkish/EU border for 1.5 days to get an impression of the latest situation at this border for live animals. The team was accompanied by French journalists. Now that the EU and its Member States have felt the pressure to finally enforce maximum live-animal … [Read more...] about Inspection of EU cattle trucks heading into Turkey
Meeting with Masterrind and ADR (German export-companies sending pregnant cattle to Turkey)
Today Eyes on Animals and AWF/TSB were in Bonn to meet with the German Cattle Breeders Federation and Masterrind about the situation for the thousands of pregnant heifers they exported to Turkey this past summer. We think we may have achieved a first small step : they will discuss internally our proposals that they stop exporting animals during hot weather, not use animal … [Read more...] about Meeting with Masterrind and ADR (German export-companies sending pregnant cattle to Turkey)
Inspection of EU cattle trucks at Turkish border
One of our teams is on the Turkish side of the EU/TR border and inspected 15 livestock trucks today transporting live bovines from EU member states into Turkey. The majority of the animals appear to be in a suitable condition. However on one of the trucks we discover two new-born calves. They were born on the truck during the journey from German. This should never have … [Read more...] about Inspection of EU cattle trucks at Turkish border
Inspection of Dutch pigs trucks at Weidemark slaughterhouse during a heatwave
Today a team from Eyes on Animals, together with Vroege Vogels Dutch radio, made an unannounced visit to Weidemark slaughterhouse in Soegel, Germany. We wanted to check if Dutch pig-transport companies were respecting their own new "Heat Protocol" guidelines which require 10%- 20% lower pig density levels when it is very hot outside (27 degrees for a period of 4 days or … [Read more...] about Inspection of Dutch pigs trucks at Weidemark slaughterhouse during a heatwave
Inspection of Dutch sheep trucks at the port of Calais (FR)
On the night, 24th August, 2016 our team inspected six sheep trucks at the port of Calais (FR). The trucks travelled from the UK and arrived by the Joline Ro-Ro Barge, which is owned by the Dutch company, Onderwater Agneaux. The sheep on board the trucks looked crowded. According to the documents they were given only 10cm2 more space than the maximum EU densities allowed … [Read more...] about Inspection of Dutch sheep trucks at the port of Calais (FR)
Inspections of transports to Turkey, Bulgaria
Our AWF/ EonA team stays at the Bulgarian side of the border between Kapitan Andreevo/ Bulgaria and Kapikule/ Turkey and observes the arrival times of animals at the border. A French journalist from ARTE is accompanying us. The trade is comparably slow, with approximately 10 animal trucks per day. We inspect a certain number of trucks, who are loaded with heifers from … [Read more...] about Inspections of transports to Turkey, Bulgaria
Meeting with Pimk transport company about suffering they cause to animals en route to Turkey
There is one company in particular, Pimk, that has been causing horrible suffering to cattle en route from France, Hungary and other EU countries to Turkey. Their drivers are not rude or mean, but most do not have any experience working with farm animals nor do they understand how the equipment on a livestock lorry works. As a result the animals on board most Pimk trucks … [Read more...] about Meeting with Pimk transport company about suffering they cause to animals en route to Turkey
Presentation to European Members of Parliament on animal-transport
This afternoon an Eyes on Animals team in the Netherlands gave a talk to the European Members of Parliament about the horrible animal-suffering we continue to see on the live-animal transport route from Europe to Turkey. We showed the most recent photos taken by the Eyes on Animals and TSB|AWF team that is currently at the EU-Turkey border documenting the dozens of … [Read more...] about Presentation to European Members of Parliament on animal-transport
