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RSPCA comments on post-ban fox hunt:
but where were they during the
FMD slaughter of farm livestock?
Editorial
Filed 19 Feb 05
©www.land-care.org.uk
Yesterday Land-Care commented that watching fox
hunting antagonists on TV declare that the the banning of the sport
"was the will of the people" was a distasteful experience
and tried to explain why (1).
Another distasteful experience today was viewing
an RSPCA officer on TV attending a post ban hunt, presumably looking
for any cruelty to foxes in breach of the fox hunting ban.
And just where were the RSPCA during the mass
slaughter of farm livestock during the UK FMD epidemic of 2001?
To quote Sheila Crispin (professor of veterinary
medicine) and her colleagues (2):
"The management of the foot and mouth disease
(FMD) epidemic which occurred in the UK in 2001 resulted in widespread
animal welfare problems. These problems arose firstly because
of the large numbers of animals slaughtered to bring the epidemic
under control, which meant that the conditions under which animals
were slaughtered and the manner in which this was carried out
often breached regulations concerning welfare at slaughter. Secondly,
the restrictions imposed on movements, especially animal movements,
resulted in what appeared to be readily avoidable difficulties
with livestock dying from, for example, food shortages and pregnant
animals giving birth under unsuitable conditions.
This brief review is based on the personal experiences
of the authors as well as relevant observations and reports from
a variety of sources"
Other comments about the role of the RSPCA can
be read on the website that has done so much to draw the public's
attention to the serious shortcomings of how FMD UK 2001 was handled
(3). The hierarchy of the RSPCA are severely
criticised for standing back when gross and avoidable transgressions
of animal welfare rules were being flouted.
In view of their behaviour in the UK FMD crisis,
it does the RSPCA no credit to be so forward in searching for evidence
against those who wish to continue to hunt foxes in the manner that
has been practiced for centuries.
©www.land-care.org.uk
References
1. Editorial (2005). Another sad
day for rural Britain: this time for England & Wales. Fox hunting
ban.
See SOCIAL/ECONOMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, filed 18 Feb 05,
www.land-care.org.uk Click
Here to View
2. Crispin, S.M., Roger, P.A.,
O'Hare, H. & Binns, S.H. (2002). The 2001 foot and mouth disease
epidemic in the United Kingdom: animal welfare perspectives.
Rev. sci. tech.Off. int.Epiz. Vol 21 (3), 877-883
3. Editorial (2002). Concern about
the RSPCA.
See www.warmwell.com (go to SEARCH warmwell: then use key
words RSPCA, FMD)
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