News from around the world, provided by ICFAP
The International Coalition for Animal Protection (ICFAP) was founded on the One Health principle that advancing the well-being of animals is critical not just for the animals but also for humans and our shared environment.
ICfAP Global News, 20 December 2024
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Animal Protection and Welfare |
New Zealand to ban greyhound racing New Zealand has announced plans to ban greyhound racing, citing an “unacceptably high” rate of injuries. The sport has long faced criticism in the country, with some breeders accused of mistreating or doping the animals. The government plans to wind down the industry over the next 20 months, to allow time for the rehoming of racing dogs. Apart from New Zealand, commercial greyhound racing is allowed in Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. “Despite significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high and the time has come to make a call in the best interests of the animals,” Racing Minister Winston Peters said in a statement. The government introduced a bill on 3 December to prevent the unnecessary killing of racing dogs, which “will be passed under urgency”, said Peters, who is also New Zealand’s deputy prime minister. In 2021, 232 racing greyhounds died and 900 suffered injuries. The industry was placed "on notice" by the government in September that year, but the deaths and injuries continued. Animal rights group Safe logged more than 2,500 injuries and nearly 30 deaths in the two-and-a-half years since then. A key task now is to rehome the estimated 2,900 racing greyhounds that remain in the country. New Zealand's oldest animal welfare charity, Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said it is "ecstatic" at the move and called on other countries that allow greyhound racing to follow suit. | 9 December 2024
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More than 60 pets receive free veterinary care in Tortuguero, Costa Rica Humane Society International (HSI)/Latin America recently provided free veterinary care to dozens of dogs and cats in Tortuguero. The examination and treatments were carried out as part of an initiative intended to strengthen Tortuguero’s status as an animal-friendly community. Over two days, 63 pets, including 44 dogs and 19 cats, received essential veterinary services including examinations, vaccinations, deworming and microchipping. According to Andrea Borel, executive director of HSI/Latin America, the event marked the vast activity of the year in Tortuguero under a pilot project aimed at empowering the community to become animal friendly. “Excellent results were achieved in both animal health campaigns, as well as in the other approaches taken throughout the year, mainly due to the high level of commitment from the community and the work of our Animal Ambassadors committed to leading animal welfare initiatives, and helping make them sustainable over time,” Borel said. | 9 December 2024 |
No ban on ‘Frankenchicken’ breeds, court rules The Court of Appeal, once again, dismissed a case calling for fast-growing breeds of poultry, so-called "Frankenchickens", to be banned in the UK. The Humane League United Kingdom (THLUK) had challenged a decision by the High Court in 2023 that ruled the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) was not breaking the law by allowing their continued use. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)nonetheless described the ruling as "a significant and vital step” in improving the welfare of chickens that lived "short, brutal lives.” Lord Justice Snowden, one of three judges ruling on the case, said that animal welfare could not be “traded off against the economic interests of farmers.” Managing director of THLUK Sean Gifford said the "historic ruling" paved the way for the private prosecution of poultry farms. Undercover footage recorded in 2023 showed the condition of birds in a legally compliant poultry unit. According to the RSPCA, 90% of all supermarket chickens were “Frankenchicken” breeds, genetically selected for their rapid growth rate. It said it was “delighted” that the ruling stated that it was unlawful to farm animals who suffer because of their genes but added that it wanted to see fast-growing breeds phased out. Emma Slawinski, director of policy, advocacy and campaigns, said: “Fast-growing breeds often struggle to stand, suffer from heart defects, and even sudden death.” According to THLUK, more than one billion chickens are slaughtered for meat in the UK each year. Mr Gifford is now calling on Defra to “work with farmers” to end the use of “Frankenchickens”, which he said represented “the biggest animal welfare crisis of our time.” Defra, which had defended the legal challenge, said it did not have to set law on keeping particular breeds. A Defra spokesperson said: "We welcome the judgment. Our farm animals are protected by robust animal health and welfare laws, which includes detailed requirements on how meat chickens should be kept, any potential breaches of these laws are taken very seriously, and we will continue to work with all stakeholders to maintain and enhance our high standards." | 13 December 2024
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New animal protection regulation to enhance public safety in Türkiye The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has officially introduced a comprehensive set of regulations regarding the adoption of pets and the rehabilitation of stray animals. The Animal Protection Regulation aligns with changes outlined in the recent Law on Amendments to the Animal Protection Law and covers several critical aspects, including the management of stray animal populations, the operation of shelters and the responsibility of pet owners. The regulation specifies the methods for capturing stray animals, their care in shelters and the steps to be taken before they can be adopted. It also outlines the responsibilities of local authorities, particularly municipal councils, who are now entrusted with the task of managing stray animal populations in their jurisdictions. A notable inclusion in the regulations is the adoption of the “catch-neuter-return/adopt” method, which municipalities are now required to follow. This strategy emphasises the ethical treatment of animals while controlling their numbers. Stray animals will be captured, neutered and rehabilitated in accordance with animal welfare principles. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli emphasised that the new regulations will also improve public health and safety by reducing the number of stray animals in urban areas. He noted that the focus on sterilisation and rehabilitation will prevent the spread of diseases and decrease the risk associated with uncontrolled animal populations. The regulations introduce a three-year adoption ban for individuals who abandon or neglect their pets, aiming to discourage irresponsible ownership and ensure pets are adopted by responsible caretakers. | 13 December 2024 |
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports rise in number of neglected pets The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said it had seen an increase of 19% in the number of neglect incidents it had dealt with in Devon between January and September this year and a 14% increase in Cornwall during the same period, compared to 2023. The RSPCA said it believed the increase in incidents was due to a rise in pet ownership during Covid-19, combined with current financial difficulties faced by many pet owners. The neglect figures were released after the charity announced that 20,999 abandonment reports were made to its national emergency line in 2023, compared to 16,118 in 2020 – a rise of 30% in just three years. In Cornwall, the number of incidents has increased from 494 in the first nine months of 2023 to 1,038 in the first nine months of 2024. The RSPCA released the statistics as part of its Join the Christmas Rescue campaign. RSPCA superintendent Jo Hirst said: “To help more neglected animals we must work together.” | 14 December 2024 |
Environmental protection
Humane Society International supports Guatemalan authorities with training for their fight against wildlife trafficking Responsive to the threat that illegal trafficking poses to wildlife in Guatemala, Humane Society International (HSI) and its local partner Asociacion Rescate y Conversacion de Vida Silvestre (ARCAS) recently provided training on proper handling of confiscated animals to wildlife technicians from the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) and delivered specialised equipment to support their work. The equipment includes kennels, humane cages for birds, mammals and snakes, herpetological bags, gloves and digital scales to help authorities to safely and properly manage wild animals. At ARCAS, participants received training on the current regulations in Guatemala regarding wild animals, human-wildlife interactions and coexistence, and the biology and management of reptiles, primates and Psittacidae (birds such as parrots and macaws). Andrea Borel, executive director of HSI/Latin America said “Wildlife trafficking represents a serious threat to animals who are removed from their habitat and illegally sold. That is why HSI supports the work carried out by CONAP in Guatemala, providing equipment and training to its officials so that they can safely and humanely care for confiscated wild animals.” According to CONAP, illegal wildlife trafficking in Guatemala ranks third among environmental crimes for the period 2014-2019. The animals most affected by illegal trafficking are birds, spider monkeys, white-tailed deer, as well as the green iguana and the Jicotea turtle. | 12 December 2024 |
Pandemic prevention |
United Kingdom secures HS Influenza vaccine to boost pandemic preparedness The UK Government has agreed a contract for more than five million doses of human H5 influenza vaccine to boost the country’s resilience in the event of a possible H5 influenza pandemic. The vaccine, based on a current H5 avian influenza virus, will be manufactured by UK based healthcare company Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) Seqirus UK. The purchase has been made as part of long-established plans to boost the UK’s access to vaccines for a wider range of pathogens of pandemic potential. The influenza A(H5N1) virus has been causing a prolonged global outbreak, primarily in birds, over the past few years. It is only if this virus were to start spreading among humans, of which there is no evidence at this stage, that the human H5 influenza vaccine would be used. Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne said: “Together with the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), we are committed to ensuring that the UK is prepared and ready to respond to any current and future health threats. Adding the H5 vaccine to our stockpile is one part of our preparedness plans, improving our readiness to respond to a range of emerging health threats and protecting people’s lives and livelihoods.” Marc Lacey, Global Head of Pandemic Preparedness and Response at CSL Seqirus, said: “This agreement with the UK government demonstrates the ongoing importance of partnership in developing strong preparedness plans and ensuring rapid response capabilities against these health threats.” Dr Matt Chinn, Director of Scientific Operations at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) said: “APHA’s influenza teams have been at the forefront of the UK’s response to avian influenza viruses through sampling and testing both wild and farmed birds at the National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza at Weybridge. This work is of vital importance in preparing and responding to emerging pathogen threats to the UK, helping us to contribute to a better understanding of the disease and offering reassurance to the public.” | 9 December 2024 |
Diagnostic accelerator launched to speed up pandemic preparedness A specialist team, created to rapidly boost the country’s ability to diagnose and test for new and emerging infectious disease threats, has been announced by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA), strengthening the UK’s pandemic preparedness and response. The Accelerator will improve the speed at which new and existing types of tests such as lateral flow tests (LFDs), molecular point of care tests and polymerase chain reaction tests can be made ready at a rapid scale for a wider range of different pathogens. UKHSA will be creating new partnerships with industry, academia, non-government organisations and other government bodies to prioritise the development of tests for pathogens with the greatest pandemic and epidemic potential, ensuring we have accurate diagnostic tests ready for infectious diseases that pose the greatest risk. Dame Professor Jenny Harries, UKHSA Chief Executive, said: “We are working constantly to ensure the right defences are in place for when the UK faces the next pandemic threat. Having world leading testing and diagnostic infrastructure in place is a critical part of this.” Dr Isabel Oliver, UKHSA Chief Scientific Officer, said: “The Diagnostic Accelerator is a vital part of our pandemic and epidemic preparedness, ensuring we have the diagnostic capabilities and tests ready to go when new infectious diseases begin to threaten the safety of the country.” Through the Diagnostic Accelerator, the UKHSA will be conducting extensive surveys of diagnostics available for a wide range of pathogens with pandemic and epidemic potential. This will help to determine which tests would be a good starting point for new, potentially unknown, pathogens, and rapidly evaluate mpox LFDs, clinical performance and whether these easy-to-use tests could be used by the public in the event of a wider outbreak. | 12 December 2024 |