Go undercover for better welfare labelling

The RSPCA are encouraging consumers to take photos of misleading welfare labels in supermarkets.

The RSPCA are encouraging us, the consumers, to investigate poor welfare food labelling in supermarkets.

In a time where welfare labelling is becoming more and more important to us, some are worried that food companies print misleading labels in order to sell their products. The RSPCA are encouraging consumers to take pictures of any such labels that feel are misleading and to send their images to the charity as part of their new labelling campaign.

What they’re looking for:

• Chicken meat labels – pre-packed whole chicken, chicken breasts, chicken drumsticks etc
• Pig meat labels – pre-packed sausages, ham, pork etc
• Cows’ milk labels – bottled milk, cheese, yoghurt etc
• Any other examples of misleading labels

The RSPCA are interested in labels found on products sold in the UK, but would also really like to see labels from other EU countries.

Here are some words, phrases and images the charity are asking people to look out for:

• Words or pictures that imply the food is high welfare, but then when you read the small print this isn’t the case
• Look out for words like ‘farm fresh’, ‘natural’, or ‘high quality’ and also pictures of free range animals, sunshine, trees, fields or attractive rural scenes.
• If a product really is higher welfare it will often be part of a relevant certification scheme eg RSPCA Freedom Food or Soil Association in the UK or Label Rouge in France.

It would then be really helpful if people could take a photo of the label including the bar code and make a note of the date as well as the shop, town and country in which they saw it. Helen Coen, online community manager for the RSPCA, said, “We’ll use the photos to put pressure on policy makers to enforce existing rules and introduce better legislation which ensures labels make it clear how food was produced.”

Once you have your photos please email them to campaigns@rspca.org.uk together with:

• the date you took the photo (including a picture of the bar code)
• the name of the shop
• city/town/village and country in which you saw the product(s).
• also include your name, country of residence, and a daytime telephone number would be helpful (though not essential) in case the RSPCA need to contact you with any queries.

Labels should be submitted no later than 30 September 2012. The RSPCA said that unfortunately they won’t be able to respond to individuals about every label but they greatly appreciate all responses.

Further info and links:

http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/farm/foodlabelling
http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/farm/foodlabelling/takeaction
http://www.rspca.org.uk/freedomfood

This project is part of the ‘Labelling Matters’ campaign for honest food labelling, which is being run in partnership with Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the Soil Association.

Pack your picnic basket full of welfare

Put welfare products in your picnic basket this summer, or have a go at making your own!- Photo courtesy of the RSPCA

The RSPCA ‘s latest campaign is to encourage shoppers to pack their picnic baskets  and summer parties full of animal welfare products.

A survey taken by YouGov PLC has shown that many shoppers are confused by conflicting labels on food packaging, or they don’t know what to look for in the first place or the problem of there being a limited range available.

One solution is to avoid the confusion completely and for people to make their own summer treats, but research has shown that people under the age of 44 said they were less likely to make their own picnic and party snacks than their parents or grandparents in years past.

I enjoy making my own cakes and snacks myself, but struggle to find animal welfare-friendly products. Pork is one of the toughest products to find decent standard labels on, as choices are currently very limited.

TV presenter and food writer Richard Johnson is supporting the campaign and has written some easy-to-follow picnic recipes to make cooking fun for all the family: rspca.org.uk

If you want to know more about how to help your picnic or party meet animal welfare standards then here is some further info about the campaign, including a list of the nation’s top picnic foods and advice for shoppers who want to do the best they can for animal welfare.

● The nation’s favourite picnic foods are: sandwiches (51%), cold
meat (42%), sausage rolls (40%), pork pies (32%), scotch eggs (28%),
mini sausages (28%), quiche Lorraine (18%) and Cornish pasties (13%)*

● We’re working with supermarkets to encourage them to provide
higher welfare party and picnic food

● If you want to feel good about what you’re eating this summer,
our advice is to look for meat that’s labelled RSPCA Freedom Food

● If you can’t find Freedom Food, at least buy options like
free-range, organic, outdoor-bred or reared and make your own picnic
favourites by following Richard’s simple recipes

● More than 900 million animals are farmed for meat in the UK every
year and shoppers can make a difference to the lives of these animals by
choosing higher welfare options

● Find out more at: rspca.org.uk

What bugs a bunny?-RSPCA latest campaign

“What’s up doc?”

We’re all familiar with the image of Bugs Bunny munching happily on a carrot, but there are some serious misconceptions about what our pet rabbits should be fed.

The rabbit’s diet is wrongly thought to consist mainly of food pellets and carrots, but this isn’t the case. A recent study* from the RSPCA has shown that rabbits do in fact need hay and grass above all other components in their diets.  Shockingly a recent survey showed that 8% of rabbit owners were aware that grass was the most important part of their animal’s diet.

Helen Coen online community manager for the RSPCA said, “We’re trying to tackle this serious animal welfare problem with our new ‘Hay Fever!’ campaign which encourages people to mainly feed their rabbits hay and grass.” The RSPCA have put together a fun video called “No-one likes a grass!” (see below) and some vital dos and don’ts to keep your rabbit healthy and happy:

Dos:

A healthy rabbit diet should consist of:

● Mainly good quality hay which should be available at all times (a bundle of hay that’s as big as a rabbit every day) and ideally also access to grass for grazing

● Fresh clean grass (growing or picked by hand)

● An adult rabbit-sized handful of washed dark leafy greens such as cabbage, broccoli, kale and herbs such as parsley

● A small amount of good quality commercial rabbit pellets or nuggets (no more than 25g per kg of body weight)

● Constant access to fresh, clean water

Don’ts:

● Despite popular belief, a rabbit’s diet shouldn’t include too much lettuce. Iceberg lettuce is not suitable

● Carrots and apples are high in sugar and should only be fed as an occasional treat

● Fresh clean grass is great, but not lawnmower clippings! They can upset a rabbit’s digestive system and make them ill

“No-one likes a grass!”

Further information and links:

http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/companion/rabbits/-/article/CAM_Pet_rabbits_June12

http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/companion/rabbits/hayfever

Want to raise money for the RSPCA every time you talk? Rabbit on with RSPCA Mobile! http://www.rspcamobile.co.uk/

(*Study commissioned by the RSPCA: ‘Assessment of the state of rabbit welfare in the UK and prioritisation of issues’, an investigation of husbandry, housing and health (and other key issues) by a team of welfare scientists, behaviourists and vets at Bristol University in a 16-month study.)

Infographic shows pesky pedigree problems

Following up on a previous post I wrote about the dangers of breeding pedigrees, a new infographic has now been released, highlighting the issue.

As aforementioned, breeding pedigrees can cause severe health problems and can give animals a poor start in life. The RSPCA have been campaigning to encourage dog buyers and breeders to consider the health risks where pedigrees are concerned.

The latest development is an infographic which details problems dogs can suffer from due to breeding, such as the effects of having large heads, heavy-set bodies, squashed noses and folded skin.

The RSPCA hopes that the latest visual campaign will cause people to realise that beauty isn’t everything.

Take a look at the image below to see what different dogs suffer from due to pedigree breeding.

The Born to Suffer infomgraphic

Dangerous dogs? More like dangerous owners

The RSPCA have issued a new campaign called 42 Teeth to change current legislation to protect dogs from irresponsible owners

Join the campaign and stop the abuse

 

A maimed puppy, an Alsatian that’s been bottled and numerous Staffordshire and pit-bull breeds with cigarette burns and broken bones are just a few of the thousands of animals that suffer at the hands of irresponsible pet owners, as shown in the campaign video below:

The RSPCA told the government that the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 wouldn’t be enough to stop the cruelty.

There have been numerous reports over the last couple of decades concerning people baiting their dogs, or children being attacked in the streets by ‘violent’ breeds. The Dangerous Dogs Act was brought in to deter people from obtaining certain breeds of dog, such as staffies for example, and using them for status symbols.

It has been obvious to the RSPCA’s eyes however, that the problem is not the dogs themselves but the person at the other end of the lead.

The RSPCA’s online community manager Helen Coen explains, “We think The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 has failed, and any new legislation has to move away from demonising certain breeds. Instead it should focus on targeting irresponsible dog owners, who allow and even encourage their dogs to be aggressive and abuse or abandon their dogs.” She continues, “Dog owners need to be held accountable for their actions, including taking responsibility for their dogs’ behaviour and training.”

There is currently a reform being discussed but Helen said that the new proposals look set to be flimsy and could potentially be a weaker form of legislation.

This has led to the charity’s latest campaign, 42 Teeth, so called because ‘all dogs have 42 teeth but only some have irresponsible owners’.

The RPSCA’s suggestions for improving the Act are as follows:

● Most dog attacks happen in the home, but current legislation doesn’t cover private property, so many irresponsible owners are not held accountable for attacks.

● Emphasis on prevention by education and engagement.

● Compulsory micro-chipping and dog registration are vital, but details must be held in a centrally held government database which is kept up to date if it is to be effective.

● A comprehensive approach to tackle irresponsible dog ownership that prevents serious incidents from occurring rather than waiting for them to happen before action can be taken.

● Measures to improve dog welfare – especially for those that are seized as part of investigations.

● The abolition or phasing out of Breed Specific Legislation.

Owners should to be educated so that dog baiting and extensive animal cruelty can be stopped.

If the 42 Teeth Campaign sounds like a good idea to you then Happy Tails urges you to join the campaign and clear the name of good dog breeds and bring the real criminals to justice and safeguard future animals by following the link below:

http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/companion/dogownership/takeaction

New Puppy Information Pack to be launched

The RSPCA and the BVA Animal Welfare Foundation have teamed up to launch their new Puppy Information Pack (PIP) to educate and protect puppy-buyers

Puppies, breeders and owners could all benefit from the new contract

What’s it all about?

The PIP contract has been designed to assist puppy-buyers in ensuring they are getting a healthy and happy puppy from a breeder that meets animal welfare standards.

It also helps breeders ensure that the owners their puppy go to are suitable for caring for the animal and that their lifestyle can accommodate a puppy.

The contract has been endorsed by other animal welfare organisations such as Advisory Council on the Welfare Issues of Dog Breeding, British
Veterinary Association (BVA), Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC),
Dogs Trust, PDSA, Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW).

Breeders

Any breeder or seller can apply for the contract. The information pack will include relevant information about the puppy, its parents, all before it’s sold.

Information such as the puppy’s health and the recorded health of its parents is key to the information pack. The pack will also include information about how well the puppy has been prepared for a new life in a new home.

Buyers

The contract is then signed by the breeder to say that all information contained in the pack is correct.

The buyer then signs the contract to say that they accept the information given and that they will continue to give the puppy a good and healthy lifestyle for the rest of its life.

The reasoning

Helen Coen, Online Community Manager for the RSPCA said, “The concept of a standard puppy sales contract was identified in three major reports on dog breeding as a key tool. They said it would improve dog welfare as it would allow the public to make properly informed decisions when buying a puppy.

“So we’ve created an industry standard puppy contract and information pack that empowers the ordinary puppy buyer and allow them to demand puppies that are happy and healthy and suitable for their intended lifestyle” she explained.

More information and a downloadable copy of the PIP and contract is available here

Do you think the contract is a good idea? Answer the puppy poll below.

 

Dog poo bags, a step forward but now they’re creating new problems

There was a huge problem with people leaving dog mess all over the streets, leading to fines being enforced to urge dog owners to clean up after their canine friends. It was encouraging when people began putting the mess in bags but the problem arose that there were not enough bins handy in which to leave the bags.

Bags of mess just get dumped everywhere instead

From one problem to another

I began to notice that more and more bags were appearing on the streets, slung into corners, dumped outside parks and bizarrely hanging from the branches of trees. The trouble is, yes the poo is in a bag and not being trodden into the pavement but leaving it in bushes and parks wrapped in a bag means it can’t be broken down. I’ve also seen children throwing them at each other and whether or not they know just what they are throwing is another matter.

When walking our own dogs, their poo is put into a bag and then carried until we either find a bin or we empty it into the toilet at home. This way the poo is cleared up and the bags aren’t left to rot or pollute. We took the dogs to the sand dunes close to where we live and I counted at least 3 bags that had been thrown into bushed or left in the sand. They can be harmful to other wildlife and to be honest their not the most pleasant thing to see out on a walk.

Vote in the poo poll

Vote in the poll below as to what you think the government or council should do.

Clumsy camera-man causes bunny death

Just a quick post to highlight some news that is circulating like wildfire. If you’ve been out of the loop then here’s the story about an earless bunny in Germany who got crushed to death when a camera-man stood on him during a press shoot.

Would-be star rabbit killed by film crew

By Ceri Roberts, Mar 15, 2012

Filed under: In the news

AOL

PA

A rabbit born with no ears at a zoo in eastern Germany was destined for global fame – until a cameraman who had come to film him accidentally stepped on him and killed him.

Til the rabbit was just three weeks old.

The Times reports that a press launch was planned for today, and baby Til was set to take centre stage.

But a clumsy cameraman, who was trying to get a close-up of the rabbit playing with his siblings, stepped back and trod on him.

Uwe Demplewolf, director of the Limbach-Oberfrohna Animal Park in Saxony, told Spiegel online:

“During the filming, the cameraman took a step back and trod on the bunny. He was immediately dead, he did not suffer.

“It was a direct hit. No one could have foreseen this. Everyone here is upset. The cameraman was distraught.”

He added: “We had planned a news conference and we wanted to market it via the media because rabbits without ears are pretty rare.”

Til’s body has now been frozen, while the zoo decides whether to have him stuffed.

 

Now, what I don’t understand is how the man managed to step on the rabbit, who was the star of the photoshoot. Why was no one’s attention on the animal around which the whole shoot was centred? It’s beyond belief.

Emergency! Please help.

A ship carrying cattle is in danger between Egypt and Brazil. Many cattle have died already but they need your help to persuade the countries to let the ship dock so that the remaining animals can be saved or humanely euthanised.

Read the article below for the full story and then please sign the petition from the link.

Thousands of dying cattle on the Gracia Del Mar

Dying cattle are stranded at sea; more than 2750 are already dead. We must take urgent action now to end this welfare disaster.

The Gracia Del Mar set out from Brazil, bound for Egypt with thousands of cattle on board. It is currently in the Red Sea area, near Eritrea. The ship has had an engine failure which has led to a failure in the ventilation system.

Reports suggest that more than 2,750 cattle are already dead, and the situation is worsening with every hour that passes. The ship has attempted to dock at a number of ports, including its destination port in Egypt, but has been turned away due to the number of dead and dying cattle. Reports suggest conditions on board are desperate.

The Brazilian and Egyptian authorities must take urgent action today to end this major welfare disaster. Not only is it their responsibility to do so, but they have the resources to provide the support and veterinary expertise so urgently needed.

Please send the email below to the Brazilian and Egyptian Agriculture Ministers calling on them to fulfil their responsibilities. They need to get the ship docked, get treatment to any surviving animals and bring this disaster to a close.

TAKE ACTION:

Fat possum!

Here’s another one of the stories that just makes us smile

It can feel like too much doom and gloom in the world of animal welfare news sometimes. This photo I came across put a smile on my face this morning. It seems a cheeky little possum bust into an Australian bakery and gorged itself on as many baked goods as it could manage. However, it turned out it couldn’t quite manage it though, as the possum ate so many that it literally could not move. Busted.

That's one round possum! (photo from http://imgur.com/PJsRg)