SAFE Animal Squad
SAFE to launch petition to parliament at their rally to end live export
June 13th, 2019International Awareness Day to Stop Live Transport on June 14, 2019, saw caring Kiwis outside Parliament, speaking out against the cruelty of the live export trade. Animal rights organisation SAFE and more than 50 animal groups globally were highlighting the cruelty of live export, marking the anniversary when 13,000 sheep died on board a harrowing journey of the Trust1 ship.
The rally, coordinated by SAFE, launched the organisation’s petition to Parliament. They are seeking to ban the live export of animals to countries with lower animal welfare, transport and slaughter standards than New Zealand.
SAFE Head of Campaigns Marianne Macdonald said help is urgently needed for New Zealand animals in the live export trade.
“Animals who survive live export from New Zealand often face a life of suffering in their destination country,” said Ms Macdonald.
“Once those animals leave our legal protections, their fate is out of our control and they may endure treatment and slaughter too cruel to be considered legal in New Zealand. By allowing animals to be sent to countries with lower animal welfare standards, the Government is undermining our animal protection laws.”
On June 11, 2019, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced the Government was considering a range of options, following a review of the live animal export trade. The Minister ordered this review three months after SAFE contacted him in January 2019 with evidence of the severe suffering of New Zealand cows in Sri Lanka. One of the options the Government is considering is a ban on the export of live cattle. SAFE insists this will not go far enough.
“New Zealand exports millions of animals each year, not only cattle but also sheep, goats and chicks. 99.9 per cent of the animals exported, go to countries whose animal treatment and slaughter methods would be illegal here,” said Ms Macdonald
“We’re urging all caring Kiwis to sign our petition to Parliament, demanding a total ban on the export of live farmed animals to countries with lower animal welfare, transport and slaughter practices.”
Take Action
- Sign the petition urging the Government to prohibit the live export of farmed animals to countries that have lower animal welfare, transport and slaughter standards than New Zealand.