Dear donors, friends and supporters,

Through our presentations, welfare-workshops, inspection reports and training courses we reach more and more people. We open eyes, motivate people and thus ensure that animals receive more protection. Our approach works! We would like to share some positive news from the field with you that Eyes on Animals  wouldn’t have been able to achieve without your donations.

Turkish slaughterhouse improvement

Slaughterhouse Gönen in Turkey has implemented several improvements after our visit in 2013. For example the walls of the raceway are now solid and curved, instead of partly open and leading straight into the slaughter area. Also a roof above the waiting pens and raceway has been built. Because of these adjustments the cattle are less anxious when moved forward: they are no longer deterred by foreign objects, people walking about, shadows on the floor, puddles or activity on the kill floor. Previously the cattle were scared to death to walk through the connecting hallway and they were forced through by violence. Read more

Increased training and presentations livestock transport

In the past few weeks EonA has given several training sessions and presentations in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe. For example, we have trained 6 highway police brigades in Poland and Hungary, we have given an animal-welfare workshop to the livestock truck drivers of the international transport company “Hunland” and last week we held a 2-hour presentation for inspectors from the Dutch Food Safety Authority (NVWA) and the RDW on the furnishing of livestock  trucks. We get more and more demand for our courses, from various angles. Polish highway police were so excited about our training that they have written an article on their website. In the article they state that they have become much more confident in controlling and punishing inappropriate animal transport.

Penalties for long-distance transport of young calves

Wageningen starts  investigating into alternatives to CO2 stunning of pigs

State Secretary Van Dam agrees with the MPs and the Political Party for Animals: an alternative should be provided for the CO2 stunning of pigs during slaughter. He wrote this in a letter to the MPs. To achieve this he commissioned Wageningen University to do research into alternative and more humane stunning methods. He writes that Eyes on Animals will be involved in the research because we initiated this whole discussion of phasing out CO2. Read more

Ireland and Elbe-Elster state in Germany: no export of live animals to Turkey in July and August

Ireland and the German state Elbe-Elster decided to ban animal transport to distant countries such as Turkey during the hot summer months. Already for years EonA has sent reports to the EU Member States about the very long waiting times at the Turkish border and the major animal welfare problems, partly caused by the extreme heat. Ireland and Elbe-Elster are the first to take this severe animal suffering seriously and have the courage  to intervene. We are working hard, together with our colleagues from TSB|AWF and CIWF so that more countries will follow! Read more

Dutch livestock transport company fined

Recently we trailed a Dutch-licensed livestock truck transporting lactating cows from Germany through Hoek van Holland to the UK. The cows were not milked after 12 hours of transport, which is in conflict with the law. If cows in lactation are not milked regularly their udders become too full and painful. We sent our trailing-report and a complaint to the Dutch authority (NVWA) and they informed us now that the transport company will be fined at least €1500. Read more.

Without your help we could not attain these important steps to curb animal-suffering. Please, do support us with a donation. Every gift, small or large, is very appreciated.