Author: Kristin Stone

Animal advocates called on the Justice Committee of the Senate to urgently pass a bill to penalize dogfighting. The bill would reform the Federal Criminal Code to penalize individuals for organizing fights, owning or trading a fighting dog, possessing a property used to hold fights, or attending a fight as a spectator. Humane Society International/Mexico joined government officials, legislators, celebrities and animal advocates in calling for the bill’s urgent passage. In January of this year, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies passed a reform to the Ecological Equilibrium and Environment Protection General Law banning dogfighting and mandating the Federation and States to impose penalties on dogfighters within a one-year timeframe.

Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies passed the bill last December by a 291 to one vote. The Justice Committee is expected to issue a favorable opinion today, which would allow the bill to be put to a vote in plenary session.

Anton Aguilar, HSI/Mexico director, said: “We are calling on the Senate’s Justice Committee to move forward the criminalization of dogfighting today. Dogfights are terribly cruel, highly unpopular and harmful for our society. Dogfighters also have strong ties to organized crime. We’ve made great progress in the fight to end dogfighting in Mexico, but we are at the crucial moment where Senators need to act to effectively penalize this cruel activity nationwide.”

Actress Vanessa Bauche, who stars in the 2000 Mexican film “Amores Perros,” backed the call for urgent passing of the bill. The film, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, includes references to the brutal cruelty behind the dogfighting industry. Bauche said: “Dogfighters sometimes kill the losing dogs, and even winners may die from their wounds. Police often discover drugs, guns, and even murder in connection with dogfights. Mexico does not need more violence and organized crime.”

A recent Parametria poll shows that 99 percent of Mexicans oppose dogfights and 85 percent support strong penalties for those involved in the business. HSI has collected more than 200,000 signatures asking to penalize dogfighters at the federal level.

During the press conference, Mexico City authorities highlighted growing efforts at the local level to respond to reports of animal cruelty and dogfighting, including the rescue of dozens of dogs from a dogfighting case in February. Dignitaries attending the event include Congresswoman Ms. Verónica Delgadillo; Consejo Ciudadano’s president, Mr. Luis Wertman; and high-level officials from Mexico City Public Security and Attorney General.

If the Senate does not pass the reform to the Federal Criminal Code before the legislative period ends on April 25, the window of opportunity to pass the bill will almost certainly close.

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

Mexican lawmakers moved one step closer to enacting tough penalties for dogfighting with a vote today in the Senate Justice committee. Activities to be penalized include organizing fights, owning or trading a fighting dog, possessing a property used to hold fights, or attending a fight as a spectator. The full Senate is now expected to vote on the reform.

Anton Aguilar, executive director of Humane Society International/Mexico, issued the following statement:

“We applaud Senators in the Justice Committee for passing these much needed reforms to the Federal Criminal Code to penalize dogfighting throughout Mexico. Dogfighting is a criminal act that needs to be punished because of the immense suffering it causes to dogs and the illegal, violent entities that surround these underground activities. With this vote, Senators are sending a clear signal, and echoing what the Mexican public demands, that it’s time to root out animal cruelty and violence from Mexico. We now urge the full Senate to approve these penalties as soon as possible.”

HSI joined animal advocates earlier in the day in a press conference to urge Senators in the committee to penalize dogfighting.

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

The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a report on the responsible ownership and care of equine animals, initiated by the Committee of Agriculture and Rural Development. Animal protection group Humane Society International/Europe welcomes the adoption of this report, which highlights the need to improve the living conditions of millions of equine animals, including horses, who share a multidimensional and unique bond with humans.

In particular, the report urges:

• An increase in the number the audits carried out in slaughterhouses outside the EU that are authorised to export horsemeat to the EU and suspending such imports when EU traceability and food safety requirements are not met;
• The formulation of guidance, facilitating and enhancing scientific research on the welfare of equidae at the time of slaughter;
• Avoiding, when possible, the transport of live equidae to slaughter and ensuring the compliance with EU welfare rules on the transport of animals;
• Supplying statistics on a regular basis notably on the transport and slaughter of equine animals in the EU.

Humane Society International/Europe is, however, concerned by the proposed establishment of a withdrawal period system for horses and other equids treated with unauthorised substances, which would allow animals presently excluded from the food chain to be slaughtered for human consumption.

Joanna Swabe, executive director of HSI/Europe, stated: “While we applaud MEPs for adopting an ambitious report highlighting the specific welfare needs of horses, donkeys and other equidae, we strongly oppose the proposed establishment of a withdrawal period system that aims to facilitate the slaughter of an increased number of equids. Such system would potentially create additional animal welfare problems and would seriously undermine the EU’s efforts to strengthen the traceability of horsemeat.”

Support the efforts of HSI/Europe to prevent cruelty and save lives.

Facts:

• Since 31st July 2010, the EU has required that the only horses allowed to be slaughtered for export within the Union are those with a known lifetime medical treatment history and medicinal treatment records that show they have not been treated with banned substances and satisfy the veterinary medicine withdrawal periods.
• In 2014, the European Commission suspended the import of Mexican horsemeat imports owing to serious traceability and food safety concerns.
• In 2016, the European Commission adopted new requirements to regulate the import of horsemeat from non-EU countries more strictly and require that horses are resident in the country of slaughter for at least six months before they may be for slaughtered for export to the EU.

Media Contacts:

US: Raul Arce-Contreras, rcontreras@humanesociety.org, +1 301.721.6440
UK: Wendy Higgins, whiggins@hsi.org, +44 (0)7989 972 423

For EU supporter enquiries: email info@hsieurope.org  
For US supporter enquiries: call 866-614-4371 or fill out our contact form

Following the brutal killing of a four-year-old male southern white rhinoceros named Vince in a zoo near Paris, Humane Society International is calling on the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria to urgently review and improve security protection for vulnerable animals in light of the increased threat from the global poaching crisis. HSI is asking zoos to set up security measures that ensure vulnerable species are watched and protected at all times.

Joanna Swabe, executive director of HSI/Europe, said, “The tragic death of Vince at the hand of poachers at a French zoo is alarming, but sadly, not unexpected. As species like rhinos disappear from the wild, poachers are turning to more ruthless tactics to attain animal parts to smuggle to Asia or sell right here in Europe for a high price. We cannot be complacent about the safety of vulnerable species in zoos such as rhinos, elephants, tigers and giraffes who are trafficked for their parts, as it’s possible that more animals like Vince will be targeted in the future. Zoo associations and the international community must do everything it can to protect rhinos before they disappear forever, and to shield all species from the rapacious poaching criminals.”

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Vince’s tragic killing also highlights the role Europe plays in wildlife trafficking. It is widely considered the third largest destination for smuggled wildlife, being a market, source and transit route for the illegal wildlife trade. A coalition of groups including Humane Society International/Europe recently issued a letter to EU Member States calling on them to make wildlife trafficking a priority issue.

Facts:

• Poachers shot Vince the rhino three times in the head, then cut off his horn. This tragic event marks the first known time poachers killed an animal in captivity in Europe.
• Three rhinos are poached every day for their horns, and last year more than 1,000 rhinos were poached in South Africa, where the majority of the world’s rhinoceroses live. If these poaching rates continue, rhinos could disappear in the next decade.
• Just two weeks ago, poachers killed two rhino calves and took their tiny horns at a rhino orphanage in South Africa. Poachers also assaulted the animal caretakers. It is a tragic reality that neither baby rhinos nor their caretakers are safe.
• Rhino horn is valued in countries like China and Viet Nam for purported medicinal benefits, although there is no scientific evidence to back these claims. Horn can be sold for high prices on the black market, but there are indications that the price has fallen recently in Viet Nam, thanks in part to a campaign to reduce rhino horn demand by HSI and the Vietnamese government.

Media contact: Wendy Higgins: whiggins@hsi.org, +44 (0)7989 972 423

For EU supporter enquiries: email info@hsieurope.org  

For US supporter enquiries: call 866-614-4371 or fill out our contact form

Just a month ahead of the 2017 Canadian seal hunt, Switzerland has concluded a multi-year process of prohibiting its trade in products of commercial seal hunts with a decision adopted by the Swiss Federal Council on March 3, 2017. As of April 2017, trade in products of commercial, non-indigenous seal hunts (including seal skins, oil, meat and organs) will be prohibited in Switzerland. The decision aligns Switzerland with the European Union, which banned commercial trade in seal products in 2009.

Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of Humane Society International/Canada, who has observed Canada’s commercial seal slaughter for 18 years, said: “In banning its trade in products of commercial seal slaughters, Switzerland is helping to spare countless defenseless seal pups from unimaginable cruelty. More than 35 nations have already adopted similar legislation, and it is clear that global markets for seal products are closing forever. It is time the Canadian government took steps to phase out the commercial seal hunt and invest in a fair transition program for sealers.”

Support our efforts to stop the slaughter of baby seals.

Joanna Swabe, executive director of HSI/Europe, said: “We are delighted that Switzerland has followed in the footsteps of the European Union by banning the cruel products of commercial seal slaughters. Our Swiss neighbours clearly concur that the brutal killing of defenceless young seals for fur – a luxury product – is an affront to public morality. The closure of yet another market should send a strong signal to the commercial sealing industry that its days are numbered.”

Vera Weber, president of the Swiss-based Franz Weber Foundation, who has observed Canada’s commercial seal hunt for four years, said: “By banning our trade in commercial seal products, Switzerland is refusing to participate in the cruelty of commercial sealing. I am so proud that Switzerland has ensured we will never become a replacement market for Canadian seal products in the wake of the EU ban on seal product trade.”

Facts:

• HSI has campaigned to end Canada’s commercial seal hunt for many years, documenting the commercial seal slaughter and working to remove the economic incentives for fishermen to slaughter seals.
• With more than two million seals killed since 2002 alone, Canada’s commercial seal slaughter is the largest kill of marine mammals on earth.
• Government landing reports confirm that more than 98 percent of seals killed in Canada’s annual slaughter are less than three months of age.
• Veterinary reports consistently reveal high levels of animal suffering in commercial sealing, and leading veterinary experts now state that Canada’s commercial slaughter is inherently inhumane.
• The seals are killed primarily for their fur and, because most Canadians oppose commercial sealing, the sealing industry relies almost exclusively on export markets to sell its products.
• Global markets for seal products are closing fast. In 2009, the EU joined the United States, Mexico and Croatia in prohibiting trade in products of commercial seal hunts. In 2011, the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus prohibited trade in harp seal fur, and in 2013, Taiwan ended its trade in all marine mammal products (including seal products).
• Polling consistently shows most Canadians want the commercial seal slaughter to end, and oppose the Canadian government using tax dollars to promote the sealing industry.
• Polling shows half of Newfoundland sealers, and the majority of Newfoundlanders holding an opinion on the topic, support a federal sealing industry buyout (Ipsos Reid 2010).

Media Contact: Christopher Paré, 514.395.2914, cpare@hsi.org

U.S. Representatives Alcee L. Hastings, D-Fla., Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., Dave Trott, R-Mich. and Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., have introduced legislation to ban the dog and cat meat trade in the United States, earning applause from Humane Society International, The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund. The bill, the Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act of 2017, would amend the U.S Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the slaughter and trade of dogs and cats for human consumption, and would provide penalties for individuals involved in the dog or cat meat trade.

HSI is one of the leading organizations campaigning across Asia to end the dog meat trade that sees around 30 million dogs a year killed for human consumption. It’s a trade that subjects dogs to horrifying treatment and raises serious human health concerns for traders and consumers alike, all for a type of meat that relatively few people eat on a regular basis. Similar problems face an untold number of cats. In the United States, the dog and cat meat industry is limited. The new bill will prevent domestic trade and imports, and serve as an important symbol of unity with countries and regions such as Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Taiwan that have dog meat bans in place.

Kelly O’Meara, director of companion animals and engagement for HSI, said: “The dog and cat meat trade is immensely cruel, so much so that many Asian countries have bans in place. This bill prevents the dog and cat meat trade from taking hold in the United States, but it also shines a spotlight on those countries where this brutal industry is not yet outlawed and where action is desperately needed.”

Donate today to help us fight the dog meat trade and keep all animals safe.

O’Meara adds: “Through our work in China, South Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia, we are urging policy makers to take decisive steps to end the trade. A similar law here in the United States would show important solidarity with those that have already enacted bans and inspire more to join the cause. We applaud Congressmen Hastings, Buchanan, Trott and Boyle for introducing this bill and their commitment to ending this brutal trade.”

Last year, and again this year, Congressman Hastings introduced a Congressional Resolution condemning China’s Yulin dog meat festival. Dog meat traders in China launched the festival in 2010 to increase sales, but popular outcry, both internationally and within China, has dramatically reduced the scope of the festival that takes place every year during the summer solstice. HSI and its Chinese partner groups have been on the ground every year to uncover the cruelty of the festival, and to stop the illegal transport of dogs into Yulin. Last year, HSI and its local partners rescued 170 dogs and cats from slaughterhouses on the outskirts of Yulin and transported them to the US, UK and Canada for adoption.

“Many people would be shocked to learn that it is still legal to slaughter dogs and cats for the purpose of human consumption in 44 states,” said Congressman Hastings. “This legislation will prohibit these practices and unify the animal cruelty laws across our country by explicitly prohibiting the slaughter and consumption of our most beloved companions. I am proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fight against these cruel and inhumane practices.”

Facts:

• In China, HSI works alongside Chinese groups to rescue dogs from trucks bound for the dog meat markets, uncover the immense cruelty that takes place at the slaughterhouses, and draw attention to the plight of the animals.
• In South Korea, thousands of dog farms throughout the country rear an estimated 2.5 million dogs each year for human consumption. HSI has worked with six farmers since 2015 to shut down their farms and rescue 770 dogs. By helping farmers transition into humane trades, HSI is demonstrating that a government-led dog meat farm phase out is possible and desired by many farmers in the industry.

For more information visit hsi.org/dogmeat

Media Contact: Raúl Arce-Contreras, rcontreras@humanesociety.org, 301-721-6440

To mark World Spay Day, teams of volunteer veterinarians spayed and neutered 426 cats throughout Mexico City in a campaign supported by Humane Society International Mexico and executed by local organizations Cemegatos and Koncientizando. The campaign spanned from February 25 to March 1 and involved eight veterinarians and 20 assistants.

Dr. Claudia Edwards, DVM, HSI/Mexico programs director, said: “People often misunderstand cats and have prejudices against them, but they are the most extraordinary pets. Cats are often overlooked in spay/neuter efforts and it is important to promote their inclusion in humane population control campaigns.”

World Spay Day shines a spotlight on the power of affordable, accessible spay/neuter services to save the lives of companion animals, community (feral and stray) cats and street dogs who might otherwise be put down in shelters or killed on the street. Mexico has an acute street cat and dog problem, with an estimated 23 million free roaming cats and dogs.

Support our efforts of to prevent cruelty and save lives.

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

For US public enquiries: call 866-614-4371 or fill out our contact form.

The European Parliament today voted overwhelmingly in favour of a robust report concerning EU Common Commercial Policy in the context of wildlife sustainability imperatives. This non-legislative report – initiated by the Parliament’s Committee on International Trade – focuses on achieving policy coherence between EU trade policy and environment policy, specifically in relation to the urgent need to effectively tackle and eliminate the problem of wildlife trafficking.

Humane Society International/Europe’s executive director, Joanna Swabe, issued the following statement after the vote:

“By adopting this report, the European Parliament has ensured that combating the illegal wildlife trade remains a priority for policymakers throughout the EU. This report is important in helping maintain the political momentum that followed the adoption of an EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking. One of the key accents of the report is on the need for the EU to show greater ambition with regard to wildlife trade in its current and future trade negotiations with other countries and regions. This strongly reflects Humane Society International/Europe’s position that trade policy is a vitally important instrument that can be wielded in the fight against wildlife trafficking. The inclusion of provisions relating to wildlife protection in sustainable development chapters is not only a good means of securing concrete commitments for species protection, but also to help to build capacity in other countries to achieve the greater protection of wild animals.”

The report highlights a number of crucial issues, such as:

• The need to tackle corruption and increase information exchange
• The necessity of effectively addressing the increasing threat posed to wildlife by illegal trade online
• The need for the uniform application of EU legislation by customs authorities in all EU Member States
• Recognises the key role that both NGOs and the private sector, including the transport industry, can play in assisting national governments to protect their wildlife
• Echoes previous Parliamentary calls for the EU to close a current legislative gap by developing supplementary legislation (akin to the US Lacey Act) to prohibit the trade in wildlife that has been taken in violation of national legislation elsewhere in the world

Support the efforts of HSI to prevent wildlife cruelty and save lives.

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

For EU supporter enquiries: email info@hsieurope.org  
For US supporter enquiries: call 866-614-4371 or fill out our contact form