Animal Rights ... Human Wrongs?

The Real Source Of SARS?

First, as reported in this feature last month, it was thought that intensive farming of chickens was responsible for SARS. Now it is emerging that whilst it is farming that has caused the largest health crisis in years, SARS has spread to humans from cats eaten in China. The coronavirus, which causes the disease, came from wild masked palm civet cats, which are bred to be eaten. Civets are a particular delicacy in the Guangdong province, where SARS first struck. Dr Yuen Kwok-yung, who made the discovery at Hong Kong University, said: “It is highly likely that the virus has been jumping from civets to humans.” He said people could have been infected as they raised, killed or prepared the animals for meals. The Southern Chinese have a particular penchant for eating wild game, including civet cats, endangered snakes and turtles, but such practices have come under increasing scrutiny because close contact between animals and wild game may help animal viruses jump the species barrier to humans. Yuen said civet cats carried huge amounts of the virus in their stools and respiratory secretions but remained unaffected. However, anyone who reared or slaughtered the animal risks infection if they come in contact with the feces or respiratory secretions of the mammal, which is a native of Africa and Asia. "If you touch a surface that is contaminated with the virus and you transfer it to your mucous membrane, there is a high chance you will be infected," he said. While it is illegal to sell and consume endangered species in China, authorities have long looked the other way. These animals are kept and sold openly in markets in southern China, and subsequently butchered often in very unsanitary conditions.

Chicken And ?

The chicken you eat in Europe could have been injected with beef or pork protein. The claim that was made by BBC Panorama programme after a six month investigation into the chicken processing industry in Holland. Tests carried out for the programme reveal that beef or pork DNA has been found in chicken, including products, which are being sold as Halal meat. It also revealed that meat processors have been deliberately pumping chicken full of water, and even beef protein in an effort to make them look bigger, with some Dutch sourced chicken fillets containing as much as 50% added water. The practice of injecting chicken with water and proteins is not illegal, as long as it is accurately labelled. It is also not illegal to inject beef and pork proteins into chicken, as long as they are labelled as "hydrolised proteins". These proteins are added to the chicken to allow the meat to retain more water. All of the companies featured in the film deny using beef or pork protein in this process, with some denying they use additives, and the rest insisting they use hydrolised protein made from chickens. However, one German protein company has been caught on film boasting about how it has developed a method of breaking down the DNA in the proteins so that no traces of beef or pork can be found.

Vegetarianism Growing

All Britons could be vegetarian by 2047 as 2,000 people a week stop eating meat, a study has claimed. Already 40 per cent of Brits avoid eating meat at least once a week with six per cent of the population totally vegetarian. Britain has the second largest number of vegetarians in Europe after Germany. The study, released for Vegetarian Week, estimated that a lifelong vegetarian saves 760 chickens, five cows, 20 pigs, 20 sheep and half a tonne of fish. And the average non-meat eater visits hospital 22 per cent less often. Supermarkets have had a positive impact on the numbers of people becoming vegetarian in the last 50 years, especially by increasing the variety of products available

Cat & Dog Fur Farmed In EU

Since the U.S. banned the trade of cat and dog skins, the European market has expanded. A recent video expose showed a Belgian furrier displaying a blanket he says was made from cats farmed in Belgium, he also says that stray cats and dogs are rounded up and skinned. That would seem to contradict the assertion from EU officials at the European Commission that there is no cat or dog farming inside the EU. The Commission says that a ban on the trade is not really in their power and it would be better left to national governments. So far, though, only Italy has brought in such a ban. It is thought that tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of cat and dog skins are traded in Europe each year. Campaigners say that now is the time for national governments or the European Commission to act. Europe, it seems, is a magnet for cat and dog fur. Cat blankets, so the aficionados claim, are good for rheumatism. Dog pelts are often labelled misleadingly and sold as the fur of some exotic animal. Campaigners claim 2 million cats and dogs are slaughtered worldwide every year. 12 to 15 adult dogs are needed to make a dog fur coat, up to 24 cats are needed for cat fur coat. Cat and dog fur is also used in hats, gloves, shoes, blankets, stuffed animals and toys. Dog fur is sometimes labelled as: Gae-wolf, sobaki, Asian jackal, goupee, loup d'Asie, Corsac fox, dogues du Chine, or simply fake or exotic fur. Cat fur is sometimes labelled as: house cat, wild cat, katzenfelle, rabbit, goyangi, mountain cat.

Fish Do Feel Pain

The first conclusive evidence of pain perception in fish is said to have been found by scientists. This complements earlier findings that both birds and mammals can feel pain, and challenges assertions that fish are impervious to it. The scientists found sites in the heads of rainbow trout that responded to damaging stimuli. They also found the fish showed marked reactions when exposed to harmful substances. The research team from the Roslin Institute and the University of Edinburgh said the profound behavioural and physiological changes shown by the trout after exposure to noxious substances are comparable to those seen in higher mammals. Dr Sneddon of the research team said the results fulfil the criteria for proof of pain".

Dosha’s “Nine Lives”

A dog called Dosha may have as many lives as a cat. Dosha's story began one morning when she slipped out of her owner's property in Clearlake, California. She was hit by a car and was left lying at the side of the road. Police were called but no one knew if the dog, which was not wearing a collar, was someone's pet or a stray. The Officer thought Dosha had been fatally wounded and shot her below her right eye to save her from more pain. Animal control staff later took away what they thought was a carcass and put it in a freezer at the dog pound. Two hours later, the pound's director was told of the incident and decided to check on Dosha. She went to the freezer and found that Dosha was alive and cold. The 10-month-old mixed-breed dog was then taken to vets who found she had hypothermia and a gunshot wound, but apparently no broken bones from the initial car accident. Bullet fragments were removed from her head, and she has now started eating on her own and is recovering well from her several ordeals. Police authorities defended the action of the officer, who feared the injured dog would become aggressive. But animal welfare groups are questioning the shooting.

Philippines Conference Recognises Importance Of Animal Welfare

The first step towards establishing an international agreement recognising the importance of animal welfare was taken at an inter-governmental conference hosted by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines in Manila (25-26 March 2003). Government delegations have, for the first time at an international conference, recognised the importance of animal welfare and their responsibility in developing humane standards. Twenty-two government delegations agreed a proposal for a Declaration on Animal Welfare arising from the Manila Conference. This will now be taken back with a view to being signed by individual governments, and will also be circulated to those governments worldwide that were not in attendance at the Conference. The Manila Conference agreed to recognise that "animals are living, sentient beings and therefore deserve due consideration and respect", and that the "welfare of animals shall be a common objective for all nations". The agreed Principles state that, "All appropriate steps shall be taken by nations to prevent cruelty to animals and to reduce their suffering". The Manila Conference was sponsored jointly by WSPA and the RSPCA. The full draft Declaration introduced at the conclusion of the Conference, endorsed by over 300 animal welfare societies from 80 countries, will be the next stage toward the long-term aim, which is to develop it into a Universal Declaration accepted by the United Nations. The Manila Conference on Animal Welfare was attended by government delegations from Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Czech Republic, European Commission, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Saipan, Singapore, Switzerland, Spain, Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Festa Fireworks

Finally it’s that time of year when loud fireworks and petards arrive as part of the many local festas. If you find the loud and continuous noises and flashes irritating or frightening, just think how animals must feel. They cannot understand what is happening and the effect on their sensitive hearing can be severe. The obvious solution is to regulate the many firework displays and put the emphasis on colourful spectacle rather than loud explosions. Until the authorities take action to protect us from this arial bombardment, you need to think about protection for your own animals. The obvious way to do this is keep your pet inside the house and if you have the TV or music on this can mask some of the background explosions. If you know your animal is frightened, staying with it can provide some calming comfort, but if he or she is still traumatised it may be best to speak to your veterinarian who could prescribe a mild tranquiliser to ease the animals distress.