The public organization “Animal Freedom”, by infiltrating its employees on a mink farm, has revealed facts that indicate cruelty to animals. Following the publication of the videos on the Internet, the responsible authorities have promised to evaluate the findings. So far, no significant violations have been identified in the company.
Warning!
There are unpleasant views in the scenes of the show.
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This is my last day at the Baltic Devon Mink Zoo, where I worked for two months. Want to know what I experienced there? ” with these words begins the video of the association “Animal Freedom”. Animal advocates say that what is seen in these shots is not just the cruelty of individual employees. It is daily routine in fur farms.
Nothing has changed since 2012, when “Animal Freedom” secretly documented what was happening in zoos. The same violations continue, the FVS drives, checks something, records something, but many violations are not recorded at all for various reasons, ”said Katrīna Krīgere, the head of the Animal Freedom Association.
In addition to the usual violence and non-compliance with animal welfare requirements during the pandemic, biosecurity requirements were also ignored in zoos. Employees worked without face masks, no disinfection equipment.
Baltic Devon Mink is the largest mink farm in Latvia. It is owned by Dutch and Danish citizens. The owners deny the violations.
“I see employees who are skilled. Dead mink are a normal occurrence in mink farming. I don’t see anything wrong with these videos, “said Bob van Ansem, a board member of Baltic Devon Mink.
In response to the video taken by “Animal Freedom”, the Ministry of Agriculture has also started to move reluctantly. Information has been requested from the Food and Veterinary Service (FVS), a working group will be set up, and discussions will take place on improving controls.
However, representatives of the ministry do not hide their dislike of whistleblowers.
“Rather, the author of the footage should be asked how it was filmed and whether it is ethical to display such footage for public viewing. (.) Those shots are not pleasant. If someone has information that animal welfare violations are taking place in an institution, but to publish such unpleasant footage … It is necessary to think hard about how it affects the rest of society, ”said Jānis Eglīts (Head of the National Association), Head of the Office of the Minister of Agriculture.
“It simply came to our notice then. And it is a real shame that a representative of a public authority can say that. If there is a crime in our neighborhood, do we have to keep quiet about it? ” commented the head of “Animal Freedom”.
In addition, during the study, animal advocates already informed the FVS about the detected violations. But the result was the opposite of what was expected.
“I personally called the FVS Housing Monitoring Department. I talk to the management. I mentioned that we have information that the farm does not comply with biosecurity requirements, does not provide assistance to injured, sick animals.
Unfortunately, the FVS did not respond to our alerts, but this information was leaked to animal watchmen.
The next morning, our activist who worked there heard comments from colleagues, which told me that I needed to be careful, ”said Krieger.
The representatives of the FVS explain that this was not a leak, but a call to eliminate the shortcomings. “After this information, it was also the case that we contacted the company and informed them that we had information that something was wrong,” explained Kristine Lamberga, Director of the FVS Veterinary Surveillance Department.
In April and May, the FVS carried out at least 12 inspections at the farm. For the most part, everything was in order.
“For our part, we have had one of the best reviews of this company.
Animal welfare violations were detected this year and last year in another company, but not in this one, ”said the FVS representative.
Currently, the FVS has asked Animal Freedom to submit the filmed material in order to decide on initiating an administrative procedure. The company faces a fine of up to 2,500 euros for non-compliance with animal welfare requirements, and up to 3,500 euros for cruel treatment of animals.
However, animal advocates are most reliant not on controlling authorities or politicians, but on fellow human beings who are invited to sign a petition on the Internet to ban animal husbandry in Latvia.
Similar to Estonia and several Western European countries. The petition has already been signed by more than 32 thousand people.
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