Media Release Media Release Media Release

26 December, 2006

Left to die on the Midlands Highway

A breach of the Code for the Welfare of Animals in Transport results in a fall from a truck and the subsequent death of a sheep on the Midlands Highway.

Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania was recently informed about a distressing incident which resulted in the death of a sheep on the Midland Highway last week. The death came about as a result of a livestock transport truck being seriously overloaded. The witness noticed that the three-tiered transport truck was overloaded and that sheep on the top tier in particular were in danger of falling
out as the truck banked around bends in the road.

A spokesperson for AACT, Ms Emma Haswell, said

“This is yet another instance of the flouting of already minimal animal welfare regulations
in the agricultural industry.

The overcrowding clearly breached the Code of Practice regulations on the transporting of livestock.
A short time later the witness saw a sheep lying injured on the side of the road who had clearly
fallen out of the top tier of this transport truck. The animal was still alive but had sustained serious
injuries with his intestines hanging out of his rectum, and eyes rolled back into his head. The sheep
was removed from the road by the witness and taken to be euthanased as he was clearly beyond
help.

“ The inadequate sentences recently imposed on two Tasmanian farmers who were both
charged with cruelty to animals offences gave the message that it is OK to ignore basic
animal welfare regulations. For example, the penalty imposed on one farmer for allowing
the slow and painful death by starvation of 150 sheep in his ‘care’ was a woeful one month
fully suspended sentence. That’s not much of a deterrent to those who ignore even the most
basic animal welfare regulations.

The incident of the injury and death of an animal due to overcrowding on the truck during
transport will be followed up by Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania and we are hopeful that
charges will be laid and a proper penalty imposed on those responsible.” Concluded Ms
Haswell.

For more information:
Emma Haswell, mob 0408 970 359