RSPCA Endorses Cruelty

Inside “RSPCA Endorses Cruelty”

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RSPCA accredits farmers who raise battery hens and breach welfare regulations

freedom from fear and distress

IN ALL of the farms visited, one of more of these freedoms were in violation. To date, the RSPCA have consistently failed to prosecute egg producers despite extensive evidence that RSPCA sponsored egg producers fail to meet the RSPCA's own accreditation guidelines.

Animal Activists entered a number of accredited farms over a twelve month period and recorded:

Inadequate fire-fighting equipment

A depopulation (emptying of battery sheds) was filmed showing aggressive, and brutal handling of hens into a truck at a Millandii shed.  Clusters of hens held by their legs were thrown into a 50cm square opening.  The force in which this took place could only result in broken bones, stunned, dead or badly cut animals.  A senior person watched on during the depopulation and did not appear concerned about the welfare of the birds.  This footage was supplied to the RSPCA in 2002, who found "no illegal practice."  Owner of the Millandii shed, Doug Hall, also owns an intensive piggery.

An ex worker from Woodlands Enterprises Pty Ltd, a farm accredited under the RSPCA's 'Freedom Foods' program, claimed that workers were asked to redistribute hens in the battery section to ensure they met RSPCA guidelines and clean up before RSPCA scheduled inspections.  She also stated that the RSPCA never checked the battery caged section during her time of employment at the farm.

The video evidence substantiates our claim that the RSPCA is breaching it's constitution and has a conflict of interest as long as they endorse eggs produced from farms owned by McLeans, Halls and Woodlands.

Spokesperson for Animal Activism QLD states that:

"Given that the RSPCA cannot adhere to even their own guidelines, they should sever all business arrangements and endorsements with companies and individuals involved in the business of raising and killing animals.

"There is overwhelming public support to phase out the battery system.  The evidence of cruelty within these farms indicates the public cannot depend on the RSPCA to facilitate the humane treatment of animals when enterprises that they themselves accredit are observed to be contravening their own rules."

An Article by Jason Gregory in The Courier-Mail Saturday February 1 2003 reported that Ipswich City Council became the first local authority in Australia to ban battery hen farms under it’s town plan.  RSPCA Queensland CEO Mark Townend stated that: ‘The battery-caged layer hen is the most compromised of all animals In Australia, millions of battery-caged hens are housed in conditions that would be unacceptable for any other species of livestock.’ Ipswich City Council Planning and Development Committee chairman Paul Tully says the council is sending a very clear message that battery hen farms are not welcome.

Inside “RSPCA Endorses Cruelty”

Learn more about the “RSPCA Endorses Cruelty” campaign (links to these pages can also be found in the left navigation column):

Introduction to “RSPCA Endorses Cruelty” (Campaign overview on this page)

AAQ Investigates AAQ has investigated three RSPCA endorsed enterprises in South East Queensland and uncovered numerous cruelties and breaches of the Animal Care & Protection Act and the Model Code... (cont'd) -Alpairs (McLean Farms) Cruelty Investigation -Woodlands Enterprises ‘Mountain View Egg Farm’ -Doug Hall Farms – ‘Malandii Poultry’ -Doug Hall Farms – Investigation of Depopulation AAQ Correspondence Following the investigations into RSPCA endorsed farms, Animal Activism Queensland contacted the RSPCA as well as the DPI outlining the breaches of the Poultry Code of Practice, RS... (cont'd) -Poultry Code of Practice Breaches Video Footage Undercover Investigations of enterprises owned by RSPCA Accredited Farmers Photo Gallery How You Can Help · Don't buy Battery OR "Barn Laid" eggs. · Inform your friends, family and colleagues about the cruelties of "Barn Laid" egg farming. · Write a letter to the editor or speak on... (cont'd)