Dear donor/friend,

As international animal-welfare inspectors we often speak with people from the livestock industry. With substantiated arguments, a positive outlook and respectful dialogue we try to make livestock transporters, slaughterhouse managers and poultry-catchers enthusiastic about making improvements. We build bridges, open eyes and consequently accomplish small and large improvements for the animals that lead to real decrease in suffering.

Pig slaughterhouse takes steps to reduce stress and suffering

Last summer we visited a small slaughterhouse in the east of the Netherlands. The handling of the animals when moving them towards the stunner was causing great fear in the animals and stress. Because the animals did not dare enter the raceway, there was a lot of yelling, pushing and running after the pigs by the sole employee. The pigs were even electrically prodded. The pigs were afraid of walking into the passageway because it was dead-end and they had to enter it all alone. Pigs are group animals that want to stay together. Separating them causes fear.

Eyes on Animals gave advice to the slaughterhouse on how they could change the design of the raceway and how they could move the animals differently in order to at least reduce some of the stress. We received a positive reaction from the plant, grateful for our tips. The slaughterhouse is now adjusting the raceway and an extra employee has been hired to reduce the yelling and running back and forth. As soon as the adjustments have been put into place, we will plan a new visit to observe the effect on the pigs’ welfare.

Better handling of chickens at Polish market

In 2011 Eyes on Animals visited a market in Poland where chickens were carried in net-bags. The animals were all tangled up in the nets, they trampled each other and were in distress. Wings, heads and nails stuck out of the net-bags, normally used for onions. We realized this ‘method of transport’ could only be changed if we had a cheap and practical alternative. That is why we collected boxes at supermarkets, in which we made ventilation holes. We put stickers on the boxes with ‘Eyes on Animals’ and the text ‘Live animals, be careful’. We offered the boxes to several traders. Now, four years later, the boxes are still in use! Our colleague Anna from TSB/AWF recently took the photo on the right showing our idea still in practice at the Polish market.

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Livestock truck manufacturer will improve design

Furthermore:

- We have been offered a wonderful office space near the Amsterdam House Hotel in the centre of Amsterdam. The room has an abundance of daylight, a beautiful wooden floor and a lovely big work table. We would like to thank Irene, owner of the hotel, with all of our heart. We can work effectively and with pleasure in this space!

- The improved poultry crates, which have been designed in collaboration with Eyes on Animals so that there is access to the birds during transport, have been further improved on and ordered by a major player in the poultry industry.

- Our images of CO2 stunning of slaughter pigs have caused quite a stir. The images were broadcasted on Finnish TV during prime time  last month! Many discussions have been unlocked due to our pressure and exposure of CO2 and both the industry and scientists are now working even harder on more humane alternative methods.

- Our video of CO2 stunning of slaughter pigs was shown to representatives of the meat industry and veterinary medicine students of the University of Bristol. The video is highly appreciated by scientists, partly because the images of CO2 stunning are explained by a veterinarian.

- SVO, an organization that provides courses to people from the food industry (among whom also slaughterhouse employees), are going to use our brochures with information about reducing suffering at slaughterhouses.

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.