Author: Kristin Stone

São Paulo—O Pastifício Primo, importante fabricante de massas no Brasil, anunciou uma parceria com a HSI para que, a partir de 2022, utilize apenas ovos livres de gaiolas em toda a sua cadeia de suprimentos. No Brasil, galinhas poedeiras são geralmente confinadas por toda a vida em gaiolas de arame—chamadas de gaiolas em bateria. Essas gaiolas são tão pequenas que os animais não podem sequer esticar suas asas completamente. Tanto o senso comum quanto a ciência concordam que imobilizar os animais por praticamente toda a vida causa angústia e dor física significativa.

O uso de gaiolas em bateria convencionais para galinhas poedeiras já foi proibido ou está em processo de eliminação em todos os estados membros da União Europeia, seis estados norte-americanos, Canadá, Nova Zelândia e Butão. A maioria dos estados da Índia, terceiro maior produtor mundial de ovos, declarou que o uso de gaiolas em bateria viola a legislação federal de bem-estar animal, e o país está discutindo uma proibição nacional.

O Pastifício Primo se une a outros líderes da indústria de alimentos que também já anunciaram uma política livre de gaiolas no Brasil e na América Latina, incluindo a Unilever, que se comprometeu com uma cadeia de abastecimento livre de gaiolas em bateria a partir de 2020 e a Nestlé, maior empresa de alimentos do mundo, a partir de 2025. Depois de trabalhar com a HSI, Burger King e Arcos Dorados – empresa que opera os restaurantes do McDonald’s no Brasil e em mais 19 países na região – comprometeram-se com uma cadeia de fornecimento 100% livre de gaiolas, como fizeram outros grandes operadores de restaurantes, totalizando milhares de restaurantes no Brasil e na América Latina. O Compass Group (GRSA no Brasil) e a Sodexo anunciaram uma política global livre de gaiolas em parceria com a HSI. A Alsea, maior operadora de restaurantes da América Latina e da Espanha, e o Grupo Bimbo, o maior grupo de panificação do mundo, anunciaram suas políticas livres de gaiolas após vários anos de conversas com especialistas da HSI. Empresas como JBS, BRF, Sapore, Casa do Pão de Queijo, International Meal Company (IMC), Grupo Trigo, Brazil Fast Food Corporation (BFFC), Subway, Giraffas, Habib’s, Sodexo, Grupo Halipar, Cargill, Bunge, Hemmer, Barilla, Intercontinental Hotels Group, AccorHotels, Marriott International e Hilton Worldwide também se comprometeram com a compra de ovos livres de gaiolas no Brasil.

Humane Society International/Canada and Chiots Nordiques are heading to Manawan, Quebec to hold a mass spay-neuter clinic for stray and roaming dogs. The organizations expect to sterilize more than 100 dogs and help counter canine overpopulation in the area. This is the second time the team visits this Atikamekw community.

Ewa Demianowicz, senior campaign manager for HSI/Canada, said: “We are thrilled to go back to Manawan and provide essential veterinary services to this community. We saw first-hand the harmful impacts of canine overpopulation in 2014 when we first visited the area. The animals were emaciated and struggling to survive, and the people taking care of them were desperate for help. By going back this year, we are providing ongoing support to maintain a healthy dog population in the community.”

Support the efforts of HSI/Canada to save lives.

Éric Coïa, president of Chiots Nordiques, added: “Our team of volunteers is ready and excited to help Manawan manage its stray and roaming dog population. We will be setting up a three-day temporary clinic and we will be sterilizing dogs from morning to night. Our objective is to tend to almost all dogs in the area to make sure we have the most impact possible. We are extremely thankful that HSI/Canada is assisting us in providing these essential services to remote communities like Manawan.”

Dogs hold an important place in First Nation communities, but the lack of access to veterinary services in these areas has led to overpopulation of stray dogs and neglect. Mass sterilization is an efficient and humane method to control the dog overpopulation crisis these communities face. These clinics not only help animals in need, they also contribute to these communities by reducing the incidence of dog bite injuries and zoonotic diseases.

Media Contact: Christopher Paré, 514 395-2914 x 206, cpare@hsi.org

Humane Society International/India is applauding Sonepur mela officials for enforcing a ban on trading wildlife, including exotic birds, at Asia’s largest cattle fair.

While elephants on display were a big draw for visitors in recent editions of the fair, their trade has been prohibited since 1972 under the Wildlife Protection Act. The Sonepur mela had also seen illegal trade of animals grow rampantly at the fair ground in recent years.

Recent fairs have also seen the sale of thousands of exotic birds smuggled from various places in the country. However, in October 2017, the Bihar Environment and Forest Department prohibited the trade of protected birds at the fair as per a directive of the Patna High Court.

N.G. Jayasimha, managing director of HSI/India, who was part of the team that fought for the ban on wildlife trade at the fair, said, “It is the first time in my memory that we have seen no illegal trade in wildlife and exotic birds at Sonepur. This is just the beginning of the fair and while we have a few more weeks before we see the fruits of our efforts, we are extremely happy at the current situation. The support of the local forest officials and the enforcement officers has been remarkable and we are certain that by working together we will be able to ensure that law is followed and thousands of animals are spared from unnecessary misery.”

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Since 2014, People for Animals and HSI/India teams have been working with the Patna government, conducting undercover investigations inside the fair and fighting the matter in court, in addition to creating awareness about the illegal wildlife trade in Sonepur. The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations filed a petition to ban the trade in 2014.

Until recently, traders would illegally capture and sell several thousand protected wild animals at the Sonepur mela every year. Several species of birds, including parakeets, munias, mynas, shikras and owls would be put up for sale. HSI/India, through its on-going campaign against the illegal wildlife trade, regularly assists law enforcement agencies by gathering information through informants, converting this into actionable intelligence and finally working with authorities to confiscate and rescue animals in trade. In the past, members of HSI/India have assisted enforcement officials in seizures involving ivory, leopard skin, pangolin scales, live owls, parakeets etc. 

Sonepur mela is a month long fair that is scheduled to end on December, 3 2017.

Media Contact: Vidhi Malla, vmalla@hsi.org

Warning: This statement includes a graphic description of mutilations and fatal injuries

Update November 9, 2017: Local authorities have added Animals Protection Act charges to the case. An NSPCA quote has been included on this release.

CAPE TOWN—Humane Society International is offering a reward of up to R10,000.00 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved in an act of stock theft, animal abuse and mutilation of sheep on the farm “Lust”, in Harrismith, Orange Free State.

The Case: Local authorities believe the perpetrator/s committed the act on or around 1 November 2017 on the Farm “Lust”, in the Harrismith region in the Orange Free State. The farm owner’s neighbour discovered the carcasses of a number of slaughtered sheep in the early hours. The perpetrators also cut the front legs off five sheep, who were discovered alive and which were later euthanised. In total, the perpetrators stole 11 sheep, left behind four carcasses, and mutilated five sheep.

Help stop animal abuse.

Animal Cruelty: Getting the serious attention of law enforcement, prosecutors and the community in cases involving allegations of cruelty to animals is an essential step in protecting the public. The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented. Studies show a correlation between animal cruelty and all manner of other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault.

Audrey Delsink, HSI/Africa executive director, said: “We ask people with any kind of information about this case to please come forward. We cannot tolerate any acts of cruelty, especially these heinous and horrific acts; they must not go unpunished. It is important to catch the individual or individuals responsible for this crime before this behaviour escalates to more crimes involving animals and people.”

Grace de Lange, Farm Animal Protection Unit manager for the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA), said: “The NSPCA is horrified at the mistreatment and cruelty inflicted upon the sheep.”

People with information on the case should contact Mr Stoffel van der Merwe of Nambiti Forensic Investigation Services on (+27)783269689) and the NSPCA’s Manager of the Farm Animal Protection Unit, Ms Grace de Lange at (+27)119073590/1/2/3.

ENDS

Media contact: Raúl Arce-Contreras, rcontreras@humanesociety.org, +1-301-721-6440

Humane Society International has praised the launch of the Animal Welfare Unit in Guatemala responsible for implementing the nation’s landmark Animal Welfare and Protection Law and associated regulations, which went into effect in September 2017. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food will house the Unit.

Guatemala’s animal protection law, passed earlier this year, prohibits dogfighting, the use of animals in circuses, the use of animals for experimentation and research in the cosmetic industry, and the cutting of animals’ ears and tails for aesthetics. It also creates criminal penalties for those who cause injury, suffering or criminal death to an animal.

HSI has supported the law since its inception and continues to provide institutional cooperation and technical advice to the Animal Welfare Unit. Cynthia Dent, global field manager for HSI, expressed her satisfaction at the culmination of this project, which took more than two years of work in conjunction with Guatemalan authorities, educational institutions and various organizations.

“We are encouraged by the overwhelming positive response to animal welfare in Guatemala’s Congress. This demonstrates that awareness of the importance of animal welfare continues to grow and that it knows no political differences. Both Guatemalan civil society and government can count on the support of Humane Society International in their efforts to ensure more humane treatment for animals in the country.”

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Agriculture, Livestock and Food Minister Mario Méndez Montenegro said, “It pleases me to know that Guatemala has one of the best laws for the protection of animals, and I am even happier that it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food to ensure its implementation.”

As part of the launch event, representatives from Guatemala’s police departments, ministries, municipalities, Congress and other governmental and non-governmental groups attended a workshop about the animal welfare law, its regulations and sanctions. Experts with Humane Society International led a workshop on animal cruelty and dogfighting.

Among the Unit’s tasks include:

• Determining the rules to regulate animal-related establishments, associations, shelters and people who work with animals;
• Generating public awareness of animal issues;
• Preparing the procedure manuals for the implementation of the country’s animal welfare law;
• Generating canine and feline sterilization guidelines; and
• Training government authorities and sectors involved in the implementation of the law.

Media contact: Raúl Arce-Contreras, rcontreras@humanesociety.org

Humane Society International UK and Lush have launched an eye-catching nationwide #WhatTheFur?! campaign across all 103 Lush stores in the United Kingdom to make shoppers aware they could be misled into buying real fur falsely labelled as fake fur.

Lush shop front windows are famous for bringing social justice issues to the high street, and this latest ambitious campaign with HSI uses lenticular technology in which a woman wearing a fur bobble hat cleverly morphs into a fox on a fur farm, to underline the growing problem of real animal fur being mislabelled as faux fur, duping shoppers into buying cruel fur they might otherwise actively avoid. Both the fur trimmed hat and the fox are shown sporting the same “100% acrylic” label attached to their fur to show that labels can lie. The joint campaign is continued in store and online where customers can pick up or download a free wallet-sized guide to help tell the difference between real and faux fur, and sign HSI’s #FurFreeBritain petition calling for a ban on fur imports.

HSI UK is calling on the government to enact a fur labelling regulation so that consumers can avoid fur products they object to ethically. HSI believes that ultimately it is not enough simply to label cruel fur products, and a UK ban on the import and sale of fur is needed to bring the market place in line with public opinion.

Former Made In Chelsea star and vegan lifestyle influencer Lucy Watson, Cosmopolitan UK’s Senior Fashion Editor Sairey Stemp, and wildlife TV presenter Anneka Svenska joined HSI and Lush to launch the campaign at an event party at Lush’s Soho Studio. Guests were challenged to spot mislabelled fur items before watching the UK premiere screening of documentary-short film Klatki that exposes the cruelty of a Polish fur farm. 

Claire Bass, executive director of Humane Society International UK said: “British consumers will be shocked to learn that they are being duped into buying real animal fur. Partnering with Lush gives us a unique opportunity to reach shoppers across the country who are unaware that trusted brands and independent retailers alike can be caught out selling real animal fur at deceptively cheap prices, described as “faux” or “100% acrylic”. As an urgent first step we’re calling on the government to introduce mandatory, clear labelling of all animal fur in order to protect both animals and consumers, but ultimately the government must use Brexit as an opportunity to close UK borders to the cruel, outdated and unnecessary fur trade.”

Hilary Jones, Lush ethics director said, “We know from our own experience that what customers want from companies is cruelty free products, transparency and honesty. The public think that, because of public pressure, fur was banished from UK high streets decades ago. They will not thank brands that are either mistakenly or negligently putting real fur onto their customers. It is time for everyone in the supply chain to take responsibility, or customers will lose faith. We are happy to help Humane Society International in this important campaign, to help empower customers and to remind the government that current fur policy is neither consistent nor in line with public feeling.”

Fur facts:

• Around the world in countries such as Denmark, France, Poland and China, animals on fur farms are subjected to terrible conditions. Fur farms keep animals in small, barren cages, physically and mentally deprived for their entire lives, before being killed and skinned for their fur. Wild animals such as coyotes fair no better, caught in agonising traps for hours or even days before being shot.
• Although fur farming was outlawed in the UK on moral grounds in 2000, and EU regulations ban fur from domestic cats, dogs or commercial seal hunts, the UK still imports and sells fur from a range of other species such as fox, rabbit, mink, coyote, racoon dog and chinchilla.
• HM Revenue and Customs statistics show that in 2016 the UK imported £39,867,668 of animal fur from EU countries, and £15,746,833 from the rest of the world, totalling £55,614,501 in imports. £30,068,653 of fur is reported as having been re-exported/dispatched, leaving a domestic market of £25,545,848.
• A 2016 YouGov poll commissioned by HSI UK shows that the vast majority of the British public oppose fur, with 9 out of 10 Brits believing it unacceptable to buy and sell real fur, averaged across nine species.

Media contact: Harriet Barclay, HBarclay@hsi.org, 07794354596

Shocking nationwide investigations by animal campaigners from the newly-launched “Dog Meat-Free Indonesia” coalition expose the horrifying brutality and suffering endured by up to a million dogs every year for Indonesia’s dog meat trade. In the coalition’s campaign video launched today, dogs, including stolen family pets, are shown being roughly snatched from the streets and crammed onto the back of trucks with their legs and mouths bound with string. The clearly terrified dogs are driven for hours to supply markets, slaughterhouses and restaurants, where they are brutally beaten and then bled out for their meat in front of each other. The World Health Organization has also identified Indonesia’s dog meat trade as a major contributor to lethal rabies in the country.

Most people in Indonesia don’t eat dogs, and calls are growing to end the trade because of animal welfare and human health concerns. The launch of the “Dog Meat-Free Indonesia” campaign by Animal Friends Jogja, Change for Animals Foundation, Humane Society International and Jakarta Animal Aid Network, has received the backing of some of Indonesia’s biggest superstars—actresses Chelsea Islan and Sophia Latjuba, and singer Gamaliel Tapiheru—as well as international celebrities Ricky Gervais, Joanna Lumley and Peter Egan.

The celebrities star in a powerful new PSA video called “I Didn’t Know,” which campaigners hope will influence hearts and minds towards ending this trade.

Act now to end Indonesia’s dog meat trade.

In addition to being immensely cruel, Indonesia’s dog meat trade also poses a grave human health risk to all sectors of society, notably in the form of rabies transmission, given that it is the only known mass and unregulated movement of dogs of unknown disease-status from different cities, provinces and islands.

The dog meat trade in Indonesia operates in breach of existing laws and regulations to safeguard public health and safety, as well as provisions to protect animals from cruelty; and is in breach of rabies control recommendations from leading experts including the World Health Organization, World Organisation for Animal Health, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. There are growing concerns that rabies-positive dogs are being moved to supply highly-populated cities such as Jakarta and Jogjakarta—that have worked hard to secure their rabies-free status—and dog meat eating hot spots throughout the nation.

The unsanitary conditions of slaughterhouses and the unknown health status of dogs slaughtered for consumption are of added and equal concern, with anyone involved in the dog meat trade—traders, slaughterers, vendors and consumers—at further risk of being exposed to rabies and other zoonotic diseases.

In July this year, Bali’s Governor Pastika issued an official letter ordering a crackdown on the dog meat trade on this Indonesian island, following a harrowing investigation. The letter was issued on the basis of animal cruelty, the risk to public health and to the island’s reputation as a tourist destination, all factors that apply equally to the rest of Indonesia. The Dog Meat-Free Indonesia coalition believes that strong actions must be extended to the whole of Indonesia in order to shut down the brutally cruel, unsanitary, and unsafe dog meat trade.

“Although dog meat is only consumed by a minority of Indonesians—estimated at less than 7 percent—and only a tiny fraction of society are reliant on it as a primary source of income, the dog meat trade threatens the health and safety of the entire nation. If Indonesia is to achieve its goal to eliminate rabies by 2020, urgent action is required by the government and all sectors of society.” — Karin Franken, Jakarta Animal Aid Network.

“There is an ever-growing opposition to the dog meat trade in Indonesia and globally, and we are committed to working with the government to identify solutions to ensure the protection of animal welfare and public health and safety, which are gravely compromised by the trade.” — Lola Webber, Change For Animals Foundation.

“Indonesia’s dog meat trade is as brutal as it is unsafe, threatening to undo all of Indonesia’s hard work towards achieving rabies-free status by 2020. The Dog Meat-Free Indonesia coalition’s investigations have exposed the horrifying suffering that dogs caught up in the dog meat trade endure.” — Kelly O’Meara, Humane Society International.

“I didn’t know the magnitude, literally millions of dogs are slaughtered for food in Indonesia every year. It has to be condemned, and we have to stop it. Now that you know, please help us help them, thank you.”— Ricky Gervais.

“I didn’t know that the transportation and slaughter of dogs poses a significant risk to the transmission of rabies and other deadly diseases. Some of these diseases can be passed on by eating dog meat.” —Gamaliel Tapiheru.

“I didn’t know the huge scale of the dog meat trade, and the pain and suffering that these dogs go through. Please make your voice heard.” — Sophia Latjuba.

“Right now, tens of thousands of dogs are suffering in ways I can hardly imagine. Please support us for our cause, for a dog meat-free Indonesia.” — Chelsea Islan.

Download photos, broadcast quality broll video footage, and our celebrity PSA here: www.dogmeatfreeindonesia.org/resources/information-pack

Media Contacts:
For additional information about, and photos of, the dog meat trade in Indonesia, please contact:

• Animal Friends Jogja (AFJ) Co-Founder/ Programmes Director: Dessy Zahara Angelina Pane (Yogyakarta, Indonesia): animalfriendsjogja@gmail.com; Tel. +62-821 3374 9524
• Change For Animals Foundation (CFAF) Co-Founder & Programmes Director /Dog Meat-Free Indonesia Coalition Coordinator: Lola Webber (Bali, Indonesia) — info@dogmeatfreeindonesia.org; Tel. +62 813 3740 8768
• Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) Co-Founder/ Programmes Director: Karin Franken (Jakarta, Indonesia): jaan_adopt@yahoo.com
• Humane Society International (HSI) Director International Media: Wendy Higgins (London, UK): whiggins@hsi.org

About The Dog Meat-Free Indonesia Coalition
Jakarta Animal Aid Network, Change For Animals Foundation, Animal Friends Jogja and Humane Society International created the “Dog Meat-Free Indonesia” campaign based on a shared commitment to working collaboratively to tackle the dog meat trade in Indonesia.

Through public awareness campaigning and political lobbying, our united goal is to harness opposition to the dog meat trade in order to secure an Indonesia-wide ban. With proven experience and expertise in delivering effective public awareness campaigns, and in working in collaboration with local and central governments to pass and implement laws and regulations to end cruel practices and strengthen animal protection legal provisions, we are well positioned to tackle Indonesia’s cruel and dangerous dog meat trade.

Find out more: www.dogmeatfreeindonesia.org

MONTREAL— Humane Society International/Canada is joining the family of the late Rob Stewart, writer and director of the renowned documentary Sharkwater, in welcoming the introduction of Green Party MLA Sonia Furstenau’s landmark bill that would end the possession, sale and distribution of shark fins in British Columbia.

Sharks are often hunted for their fins, which are used to make shark fin soup. The practice is cruel because once the fin is sliced off, the shark is left to a slow, agonizing death on the ocean floor. In 2016 alone, Canada imported over 140,000 kg of shark fins, an increase of over 34,000 kg per year since 2012. The University of Guelph conducted a study on DNA tests on samples of shark fins sold in the Vancouver area, and discovered that 76 percent of the fins were from species listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Give now to help protect sharks and other animals.

“Cutting the fins off sharks and tossing them into the ocean to die is an exceptionally cruel practice that puts entire ocean ecosystems at risk,” said Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of HSI/Canada. “This bill is an important step towards ending Canadian trade in products of shark finning and we ask the BC government to pass it as a matter of urgency. We also call on the Canadian government to take action now to stop the import of shark fins into Canada.”

MLA Sonia Furstenau said, “Every year, in oceans around the world, tens of millions of sharks are condemned to a slow and painful death from the cruel and wasteful practice of shark finning. Many shark species are threatened and their populations are unable to rebound in the wake of unsustainable kill levels. The survival of sharks is vital to sustain healthy oceans, marine species, and our planet. This is why we are proud to put this bill forward.”

Sandy and Brian Stewart, parents of the late Rob Stewart, issued the following statement: “Ten years ago, Sharkwater was released globally and exposed the urgent need for governments to stop the trade in shark fins. Since that time, over a billion sharks have endured a horrific death as a result of this ecologically devastating practice. We are so pleased to support this bill, which would stop shark fin trade in BC, and make BC a provincial leader in marine protection. We also urge the Canadian government to act quickly to ban the import and sale of shark fins. The sharks—and the ocean ecosystems that depend on them—do not have another ten years to wait.”

Facts:

• HSI/Canada has campaigned to end the shark fin trade for more than 10 years. Globally, HSI has been at the forefront of a powerful movement to protect sharks and stop the trade of their fins through education and legislative efforts.
• In 2012, the Union of BC Municipalities passed a near-unanimous resolution calling upon the provincial government to ban the sale, trade and distribution of shark fins and on the federal government to ban the import of shark fins.
• In April 2017, Canadian Senator Michael MacDonald introduced Bill S-238, the Ban on Shark Fin Importation Act, which would prohibit the import of products of shark finning.
• Seventeen Canadian municipalities have banned the sale of shark fin products, including Abbotsford, Brantford, Coquitlam, Duncan, City of Langley, Township of Langley, London, Maple Ridge, Mississauga, Nanaimo, Newmarket, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Oakville, Pickering, Pitt Meadows, Port Moody and White Rock.
• In 2013, the Chinese government banned shark fins from all official state functions.
• Sharks grow slowly, mature late, and have relatively low rates of reproduction, making shark populations highly vulnerable to the impacts of overfishing. As apex predators, shark populations impact all other marine species and entire ocean ecosystems depend on their survival.
• Neither the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) or the Species at Risk Act provide protection for the majority of imperiled shark species, as together they only protect eight species of sharks. This means that out of 141 vulnerable shark species, only eight are protected by Canadian federal laws.

Media Contact: Christopher Paré — office: 514 395-2914 x 206 / cell: 438 402-0643, email: cpare@hsi.org