Investigations by Topics:

07. July 2021

Turkey | Kapikule | Inspection of live transports at the EU border

Day 1: Our team inspects a transporter loaded with sheep.

At the beginning of July, our team is on investigation in Kapikule, the Turkish side of the EU's external border. Another team is stationed on the Bulgarian side of the border. During the next days, our team will inspect live transports from the EU en route to Turkey. This time, we are accompanied by the EU politicians, Anja Hazekamp and Tilly…

04. July 2021

Bulgaria | Kapitan Andreevo | Inspection of EU-Live Exports to Turkey | Investigation Days 1–5

Investigation Day 1: Close to the border a huge parking lot has been built.

Investigation Day 1 – 30. June 2021 

Today, our team arrives in the Bulgarian village Kapitan Andreevo. The village is located on the EU's external border with Turkey. During our investigation the temperatures are supposed to rise above 30°C. According to the EU regulation 1/2005 it is forbidden to transport animals in extreme weather. Our teams…

30. June 2021

Poland | Swietokrzyskie | Monthly report June: Farm Animal Service

Gosciecin. During trimming our FAS-farriers find an abscess in the hoof of the horse.

In June, our Farm Animal Service (FAS) team is in high demand. After the information spread that our team is back at work again after a COVID-19 related break, our phone is ringing non-stop.  

Our first visit this month is on a farm in Gosciecin. A limping horse urgently needs our help. Our farriers immediately spot an abscess in the hoof and…

30. June 2021

Poland | Bodzentyn | Monthly Report June: Cattle and Bird Markets

Bodzentyn cattle market. Probably due to very high temperatures, there are fewer animals being sold at the market.

During our market inspections in June we see less cattle than usual. The average number of animals present at the market does not exceed 150. We suspect that this could be related to the high temperatures exceeding 30˚C and more. Our team encounters the same situation at the bird’s market which was recently re-opened in Bodzentyn. Also, here fewer…

15. June 2021

Croatia| Port of Raša | Sea transport from Croatia to Jordan, Egypt, and Israel

Our team observes the loading of bulls onto the vessel TULIP in the port of Raša.

At the beginning of June, our team is travelling to Croatia. We spend more than a week close to the port of Raša. It one of the exit ports of live animals to non-European countries.

After sending several complaints to the authorities the EU-Commission carried out an audit of the port in 2018. Like our investigators in the years before, the EU…

05. June 2021

Spain | Murica | Inspection of fattening farms

A French bull in Spanish feedlot.

Our team is investigating several fattening farms together with our partner organisation, Animals International, and two Members of the European Parliament: Thomas Waitz, and Caroline Roose. Spain is the biggest exporter of cattle and the second biggest exporter of sheep to third countries in the EU. Spain exports most animals by sea.

We inspect…

03. June 2021

Spain | Port of Cartagena | Investigation: Live transports by sea

Vessel “FREEDOM” loading European animals destined for export to Lebanon.

In the beginning of June, our investigation team is travelling to Cartagena in Spain. Cartagena is one of the main EU exit ports for live animals that are sent via sea to non-European countries.  

In 2018, an audit carried out by the EU Commission discovered various animal welfare violations during the loading of animals from trucks onto vessels…

31. May 2021

Poland | Wachock | Helping animals in need during the COVID-19 pandemic

Kittens suffering from cat’s flu receive medical treatment at the veterinary clinic.

This month our team continues to help cats and dogs in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Poland is struggling with huge numbers of homeless animals. Therefore, our team tries to enhance the welfare of the animals by providing free neutering procedures and by providing medical care to animals in need.

Our team is organising the sterilisation of a…

31. May 2021

Poland | Swietokrzyskie | Monthly report May: Farm Animal Service

Wola Zamkowa. Our FAS team is looking after the hooves of a 27-year-old stallion.

Finally, our Farm Animal Service (FAS) team can continue with their work for the animals in May after the COVID-19 restrictions forced us to pause our work for two months.

Our first visit is on a farm in Sieradowice. The owner set up an electric fence and extended the paddock. Now his animals will have more space and enjoy their time on the…