Every year before Easter, Italy imports tens of thousands of lambs for slaughter, mainly from Romania and Hungary. AWF|TSB teams check on the transport conditions, supported by the Italian animal welfare organisation ENPA. We inspect a total of eleven trucks, three of them together with the Italian police. All three are in breach of the EU animal…

We are hearing the verdict in the case of a bull with part of metal chain ingrown in his head, the one that we documented during cattle market in May 2018.As always in cases of abuse, we reported it to the Police. This time, two persons are accused: the previous owner who allowed the chain to grow into the bull’s head, and the trader who - against…

The TSB|AWF and Eyes on Animals (EonA) team returns for the 4^th time to Skaryszew to evaluate whether anything has changed at the annual horse market. Chances for a lasting change are higher with a new Mayor elected last autumn. In February, we were invited to give a training on legal requirements related to the market operation. The participants…

Our FAS team still treats the canker in one of the hooves of a mare in Brody. This is one of the most difficult and demanding cases in our work. We change the treatment method yet again, and additionally draw the hoof profile to prepare special horse shoes with a plate to hold the dressing. This will improve the protection of the fragile and…

After a big scandal in Poland related to selling meat of downer cattle (revealed at the end of January), there is much less animals at the Bodzentyn animal market. Sometimes we see only around 80 animals, some days there are more. We are told that the price of bovines is very low. Many animals are not sold and go back to the farms. Even Veterinary…

Today the European Parliament votes on the report on the implementation of the Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005: An important day for the animals which are transported each day on Europe’s roads and beyond. The report is critical and contains may suggestions for improvements, which we are demanding for a long time.

First, in front of the parliamentary…

At the beginning of February, our team travels to Croatia. The team spends almost one week close to Pula city, where Raša port, one of the main exit ports of live animals to non-European countries, is located.

Our team observes the arrival of three empty livestock vessels: Phoenix I, Phoenix III and Dragon, while at the same time dozens of trucks…

Not much is going on at the horse market in Bodzentyn. Sometimes we only see about 15 horses, some days no one shows up. The number of animals is also decreasing at Lagow cattle market. We are informed that the Mayor seriously considers closing the market in Lagow. In Bodzentyn the average number of cattle is decreasing as well, however it still…

This month, our FAS team visited 15 farms, trimmed the hooves of 15 horses and the claws of one cow. Also, ten horses were dewormed. Several lame animals need urgent help of our farriers. First, we are going to a lame cow in Paprocice. During trimming we find an abscess. We clean and disinfect the wound. Next, we are going to a farm in Bieliny. We…

TSB|AWF and EonA team joins Road Transport Inspection (ITD) east of Warsaw to assist in inspecting animal transports.

Day 1:
First animal lorry stopped for inspection is empty, however the design of this vehicle raises our concern. We will contact the approving veterinarian to make sure the steep loading ramp with side protections too short for…

This month, our Polish farriers have visited farms 22 times. They have trimmed hooves of 21 horses and corrected teeth of one foal. Four horses have been dewormed and one bull had his skin infection treated. First, we are going to Wola Zamkowa. There, a mare needs regular trimming. If her hooves are not trimmed in time, she injures herself with her…

On invitation of MEP Jorn Dohrmann we participate at a hearing on the implementation of the EU Regulation on the transportation of animals and use the chance to critically comment on the Regulation and its enforement.

Dohrmann´s draft report has been published recently and clearly indicates problems and solutions, particularly regarding long…