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June
5. 2006
LIVESTOCK
AND LIVE EXPORT AGENTS ROBERTS ON ANIMAL WELFARE CHARGES AGAIN!
Livestock and
live export agents Roberts Limited will once again be facing Court on
Tuesday (June 6) on charges under the Animal Welfare Act, claims Against
Animal Cruelty Tasmania. Both Roberts and its Livestock Manager Christopher
Taylor were convicted on various animal cruelty charges in 2002 and Roberts
itself in 1997.
Live Export Campaign Co-ordinator
Suzanne Cass said:
“We understand that
Roberts has been charged once again under the Animal Welfare Act, this
time Section 7, which relates to “mismanagement” in saleyard
practices at Bridgewater. We have a statement from an unidentified witness,
who visited the saleyard late in January on a Sunday when it was 41
degrees Celsius. The witness found two pens of calves confined, with
absolutely no water, and could find no outlet to provide them with any
water.
“Our witness says that
the animals were terribly distressed. The RSPCA Cruelty Line does not
operate on a Sunday, so the witness, who was also quite distressed,
asked the Police to attend, which, thankfully they did. We understand
that this incident is what the current charges relate to, and we believe
that the charges should really have been under Section 8, the Cruelty
provisions of the Act. But we are very pleased to see that charges have
indeed been laid”.
Roberts’ Bridgewater
saleyard operates on Mondays, which are its sale days. AACT maintains
that the witness who provided the statement regularly monitors practices
at the saleyard, and routinely finds animals left by transporters in concrete
sale pens on weekends, where there is no provision for food, water or
shelter. The animals remain there until they are collected after the sales
on Mondays, which could be as late as the Tuesday or even Wednesdays.
“The ‘Standard
for the Welfare of Animals – Animals in Saleyards’ Number
6, states that animals become “footsore” if they are left
on concrete for extended periods, and that this shouldn’t happen
- but the standard is voluntary and unenforceable” continued Ms
Cass. “The RSPCA has put signs up there warning of consequences
in these cases, but the practice continues. Now Roberts has put up a
sign stating that it is not responsible for the welfare of animals left
at the saleyard outside operating hours, and we doubt if this is legal,
since the animals are on its property and Roberts therefore has a duty
of care in relation to their welfare. It is not negotiable, and Roberts
is aware that it is under scrutiny, because our witness has been harassed
on several occasions now”.
For more information,
please contact Live Export Campaign Co-ordinator Suzanne, 0414 726935
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