I: Stop cruel treatment animals transported for slaughter in Italy

["Christiana Soccini" <ch.soccini@tin.it>]

Mi giunge e giro a tutti/e - mi spiace non avere tempo di tradurre, sorry
:-|
Christiana Soccini, I-Brescia

----- Original Message -----
From: Franck MICHEL <fmichel.da@wanadoo.fr>
To: <fmichel.da@wanadoo.fr>
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 12:30 PM
Subject: Help stop cruel treatment of stricken animals transported for
slaughter in Italy


> This article may interest you:
>
> "Help stop cruel treatment of stricken animals transported for slaughter
in
> Italy"
>
> http://www.people.co.uk/shtml/FEATURES/P40S6.shtml
>
> PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE: BARBARIC! THE DONKEYS ON A 5-DAY RIDE TO HELL..
>
> EURO SCANDAL 3 Help stop cruel treatment of stricken animals transported
> for slaughter in Italy
>
> A DONKEY lies dead on the floor of an overcrowded animal truck, covered in
> its own blood and filth.
>
> The pitiful creature was on a barbaric five-day journey to a slaughter
> house in Italy when it died.
>
> For four days it lay undiscovered as the 70 other terrified animals packed
> into the lorry trampled it underfoot.
>
> But even when the stricken donkeys arrived at their destination there was
> no respite. They were dragged from the truck by their tails and ears -
> before being brutally killed for their meat.
>
> More than 23,000 donkeys and horses make harrowing journeys of up to 1,500
> MILES across Eastern Europe through Slovenia to Italy EVERY week.
>
> And their sickening plight is just another example of the animal cruelty
> which goes on in the heart of Europe - cruelty which we want YOU - our
army
> of caring readers - to help stamp out.
>
> Just last week the Sunday People told how campaigners are demanding a
> Europe-wide ban on testing cosmetics on animals. We also revealed how
> monkeys are being tortured to the edge of madness by a research lab in
> Holland. But even by these standards, the transportation of donkeys and
> horses for slaughter in Italy is particularly vile. A probe by UK charity
> Advocates for Animals revealed a shocking catalogue of torture and abuse.
> Many animals died in the cramped trucks, while others were left with
> terrible wounds.
>
> The charity's Sharon Hay said last night: "This was one of the most
> harrowing investigations I have been involved in.
>
> "I have seen a lot of animal abuse in my time but I believe what I
> witnessed in Italy was one of the worst cases of cruelty.
>
> "I shall never forget the look of absolute despair and fear in the eyes of
> those animals. They were crammed in so tightly together that they were
> unable to move.
>
> "And when they were eventually let out of the trucks there was only a
> painful death to follow.
>
> "I just feel an emptiness and overwhelming sadness and frustration that
> this despicable trade in animals continues."
>
> The charity's investigators followed a number of transportation trucks as
> they crossed the border from Slovenia into Italy.
>
> Many of the animals had been travelling for five days and up to 1,500
miles
> from as far as Lithuania. Throughout their journeys, strict European
> regulations were breached.
>
> For example, one truck meant to carry just 20 horses contained 27
stallions
> and two mares. Some animals received no food or water during their hellish
> trip and were half-dead by the time they arrived in Italy. Two horses
which
> were lying on the floor were unable to get up due to exhaustion and severe
> overcrowding.
>
> The animals were packed so tightly into the trucks that once one had
> lowered its head, it was unable to lift it up again.
>
> Another truck containing 70 donkeys was stopped at the Slovenian
border.Two
> had already died and many others were on their last legs. Two were in such
> an appalling state the investigators asked that they be put down
immediately.
>
> The overcrowding in the truck was so bad that many of the animals lying
> down were unable to stand up again.
>
> As they were led out for food and water, many collapsed in a heap. Some
> donkeys had injuries to their eyes and heads, while others had chains
> wrapped around their necks. The transport workers treated the animals with
> contempt and cruelty. Any donkey which collapsed or fell was grabbed,
> twisted and yanked by the ears or tail as it was led out of the truck.
>
> The cruel and inhuman treatment handed out to the donkeys is reflected in
> their value. For these animals are sold to the Italian slaughter houses
for
> just pounds 2 each.
>
> Donkey meat is used to make salami in Italy - a popular food among
families
> throughout the country. Horse meat is also loved in Italy and in 1998 more
> than 18,000 tons was consumed there.
>
> But even if these animals are seen as cheap food, that is no reason to
> treat them in such a callous and brutal fashion.
>
> That is why we are calling on the Italian government to end this sickening
> trade and, as always, we need your help to do it.
>
> HOW YOU CAN HELP
>
> WE are calling on the Italian government to end this sickening trade by
> ensuring that all donkeys and horses are treated according to strict
> European laws on animal welfare.
>
> To support our campaign, send your letters of protest to Donkey Watch,
> Sunday People, 1 Canada Square, London E14 5AP - and we will send them all
> on to the Italian Embassy in London.
>