Cyprus-Forum.com

[Oracle]

Dozens of dead animals discovered on farm

Owen Bowcott

The Guardian, Monday September 29 2008

The rotting carcasses of scores of pets and other animals have been discovered on a Northern Ireland farm regularly visited by children, the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) revealed yesterday.

Welfare officers who raided the Littleacre Open Farm, in Loughbrickland, County Down, found the rotting bodies of dogs, miniature goats, hamsters, chickens and geese, some of which were decomposed almost beyond recognition.

The death toll reinforced urgent calls by the USPCA for the updating of animal cruelty legislation in Northern Ireland, which provides animal welfare inspectors with fewer powers than those in England and Wales.

The organisation's chief executive last night told the Guardian that had his staff been operating under English and Welsh legislation they would have intervened far earlier at the farm.

Martin Dobbin, a welfare officer with the charity, said: "We were horrified by the number of dead and decomposing animals. Some of the animals we saw were unrecognisable.

"This would be one of the worst cases I have seen."

The USPCA was alerted by visitors who noticed dead animals lying on the ground. When officials forced locked doors they found more than 60 bodies. Nobody has been arrested but police are aware of the matter.

More than 100 living creatures were taken away. Roosters, pheasants and a llama were among those being transported to USPCA shelters.

Dobbin added: "It was the sheer volume of calls about these animals that alerted us."

The attractions of the Littleacre Open Farm are listed on one website as: "Small pets to touch and feed (chicks, lambs, rabbits); rare breeds, waterfowl, birds, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, poultry, ponies, donkeys, alpacas, deer and lots more. Play area, shop/tearoom, picnic area and old-tyme cottage. Wheelchair friendly."

No one from the farm could be contacted yesterday.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that it had attended the farm to assist the USPCA but said there had been no arrests or charges. The USPCA has for several years been urging ministers in the Northern Ireland assembly to change animal welfare laws so that inspectors can intervene at an earlier stage.

[Bubble 'n' squeak]

Oracle why is it when anyone posts anything derogatory about Cyprus you have to then find something about the UK?? Just face it Cyprus is not perfect either!

[Oracle]

Oracle why is it when anyone posts anything derogatory about Cyprus you have to then find something about the UK?? Just face it Cyprus is not perfect either!

This is not derogatory about Cyprus .... unless you are a "racist" and think it does not happen anywhere else and is specific to Cypriots!

I care equally about the suffering of all the animals of the world.

We have to open our eyes to this wherever we are. Too many people in the UK etc are poorly educated to the horrors that happen so close to home ... or turn a blind eye, preferring to believe it only happens elsewhere.

I particularly support the anti-vivisection lobby even though I worked in establishments where animals were used ... but I was still vocal, and demonstrated how you could use alternative models to animals for conducting scientific experiments.

[Bubble 'n' squeak]

Oracle why is it when anyone posts anything derogatory about Cyprus you have to then find something about the UK?? Just face it Cyprus is not perfect either!

This is not derogatory about Cyprus .... unless you are a "racist" and think it does not happen anywhere else and is specific to Cypriots!

I care equally about the suffering of all the animals of the world.

We have to open our eyes to this wherever we are. Too many people in the UK etc are poorly educated to the horrors that happen so close to home ... or turn a blind eye, preferring to believe it only happens elsewhere.

I particularly support the anti-vivisection lobby even though I worked in establishments where animals were used ... but I was still vocal, and demonstrated how you could use alternative models to animals for conducting scientific experiments.

You know what i mean . Animal cruelty goes on all over the world which is totally appauling, but why do you have to turn everything around and have a dig about the Brits!? This thread is to do with the cruelty in Cyprus!

[Oracle]

Oracle why is it when anyone posts anything derogatory about Cyprus you have to then find something about the UK?? Just face it Cyprus is not perfect either!

This is not derogatory about Cyprus .... unless you are a "racist" and think it does not happen anywhere else and is specific to Cypriots!

I care equally about the suffering of all the animals of the world.

We have to open our eyes to this wherever we are. Too many people in the UK etc are poorly educated to the horrors that happen so close to home ... or turn a blind eye, preferring to believe it only happens elsewhere.

I particularly support the anti-vivisection lobby even though I worked in establishments where animals were used ... but I was still vocal, and demonstrated how you could use alternative models to animals for conducting scientific experiments.

You know what i mean . Animal cruelty goes on all over the world which is totally appauling, but why do you have to turn everything around and have a dig about the Brits!? This thread is to do with the cruelty in Cyprus!

Well just think about what you are doing right now! You don't like the reminder that animal cruelty occurs in all places :roll:

Are we to keep quiet about animal suffering around the world? ... or are we going to attack the very nature of Humans which perpetrate such acts? ... or are you going to continue to be "racist" and only remain happy if we close our eyes, and say it is only Cypriots that behave in this way?

We either try and solve the global problem .... or pretend it only happens in one small area!

[Bubble 'n' squeak]

Oracle why is it when anyone posts anything derogatory about Cyprus you have to then find something about the UK?? Just face it Cyprus is not perfect either!

This is not derogatory about Cyprus .... unless you are a "racist" and think it does not happen anywhere else and is specific to Cypriots!

I care equally about the suffering of all the animals of the world.

We have to open our eyes to this wherever we are. Too many people in the UK etc are poorly educated to the horrors that happen so close to home ... or turn a blind eye, preferring to believe it only happens elsewhere

I particularly support the anti-vivisection lobby even though I worked in establishments where animals were used ... but I was still vocal, and demonstrated how you could use alternative models to animals for conducting scientific experiments.

You know what i mean . Animal cruelty goes on all over the world which is totally appauling, but why do you have to turn everything around and have a dig about the Brits!? This thread is to do with the cruelty in Cyprus!

Well just think about what you are doing right now! You don't like the reminder that animal cruelty occurs in all places :roll:

Are we to keep quiet about animal suffering around the world? ... or are we going to attack the very nature of Humans which perpetrate such acts? ... or are you going to continue to be "racist" and only remain happy if we close our eyes, and say it is only Cypriots that behave in this way?

We either try and solve the global problem .... or pretend it only happens in one small area!

Your missing my point! I agree it happens all over the world and i am not racist and never said it is only Cypriots that behave in this way! They are your words not mine! I just asked why you always have to turn any derogatory comments about Cyprus towards the Brits!? Why are you so bitter all the time?

[Oracle]

Since we are highlighting animal cruelty in this thread, this is highly topical, and I support PETA which has made great strides in this area ...

UK's Guards in fake bearskin test

Animal campaigners oppose the use of bearskin fur.

Trials are under way to test whether artificial fur can be used to replace bearskin fur on ceremonial caps worn by Britain's Foot Guard regiments.
The use of bearskin fur, which has been worn for nearly two centuries, has angered animal rights campaigners.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said it is "too soon to draw firm conclusions about the outcome of the trial".

The Guards have been accused of being party to the culling of thousands of bears in Canada each year.

It is outrageous that bears continue to be killed in Canada for a ceremonial hat in Britain.

Animal welfare groups estimate that around 40,000 black bears are killed every year, which they say is far more than is needed to control their numbers.

Andrew Butler, campaign co-ordinator for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), told the Times newspaper: "It is outrageous that bears continue to be killed in Canada for a ceremonial hat in Britain."

However, the Household Division has stressed that none of the bears culled have been killed because of an order for bearskins from the Army.

And the MoD told the Times: "Bears are not shot for their fur. Bearskin is used from animals shot by Canadian Rangers or licensed hunters."

Previous trials

The Household Division says previous trials on artificial fur, made from such materials as nylon, have proved to be unsuccessful as it either soaked up water or became discoloured.

But, outlining the reasons behind the latest trial, the MoD said it "does appreciate how strongly some people feel about this issue and remains keen to reduce the requirements for new caps where possible".

A Peta campaigner is planning to demonstrate against the Queen during her official visit to Canada on 17 May by dressing as a bear and following her during her engagements.

[CBBB]

Just to be a bit a unpopular, I will get back to the original posting about the demonstration.

It doesn't seem to have made much of an impact as I heard nothing on the news (Greek) last night and there was nothing in the Cyprus Mail this morning.

SO WHERE WERE ALL THESE ANIMAL LOVERS?

[Oracle]

Just to be a bit a unpopular, I will get back to the original posting about the demonstration.

It doesn't seem to have made much of an impact as I heard nothing on the news (Greek) last night and there was nothing in the Cyprus Mail this morning.

SO WHERE WERE ALL THESE ANIMAL LOVERS?

Well this is precisely why I am so concerned about the British turning this into an anti-Cypriot bash, politicising the whole lobby. When the animals should come first, and not their self-righteous "We are here as colonialists to teach the natives how to behave". No one will rally round such a sentiment.

In the UK there are demonstrations against fox hunting, badger culling, vivisection, pet cruelty etc but none of them make out it is exclusive to English people ... so why do these retired do-gooders think it is more important to bash the Cypriots and bash the RoC?... instead of concentrating on helping the poor animals.

Also, by accepting there is a sub-element of Humans who are still aggressive (who cannot communicate effectively verbally, but resort to physical aggression) ... and they occur in equal numbers in every nation you analyse ... then the problem is pinpointed and action can be directed to the root cause (which is present in Humankind ... or not so kind!)...

Obviously a lot of domestic issues need to be addressed also, such as funding and welfare officers ... but these can only be achieved if the "racist" insinuations are removed.

So a final appeal to all those Brits ... think about the animals, accept it happens everywhere and let us tap into the existing organisations which can really make a difference ... PETA, WWF etc.

[purdey]

I am going fox shooting this weekend, followed by a walk round the boundries of our pheasant shoot. Pheasant for lunch on Sunday..lovely.