20 May 2009
MEDIA RELEASE

Legal Pig Cruelty Sickens Nation

Group calls for whistleblowers to ‘dob in’ pig abusers

New Zealanders have been left angry and in total disbelief after MAF animal welfare investigators yesterday cleared the intensive piggery at the centre of a national pig cruelty debate. The MAF ruling has disgusted animal advocates but they say the announcement comes as no surprise.

National animal advocacy organisation SAFE said today it has no confidence in New Zealand’s animal welfare legislation process when it fails to consider science and humane principles and totally ignores the collective opinion of the New Zealand public.

“Almost every New Zealander who has viewed the disturbing footage of these pathetic incarcerated pigs condemns this as pig cruelty. There are ample scientific reports that support this view. That is why the UK and Sweden have banned sow stalls. What the hell kind of conditions do pigs have to live in before a pig farmer breaks the law in this country? As of today, we may find out,” says SAFE campaign director, Hans Kriek.

SAFE is calling for whistleblowers from within the pig industry that have concerns about farming practices within the industry, but don’t know who to speak to.

“SAFE is appealing to farm workers, drivers, packers, and others employed within the pig industry to come forward and blow the whistle on their troubled industry. Confidentiality will be assured. It is clear this industry is in serious trouble and can no longer be trusted with the welfare of its pig population. If you know of a pig farm that you believe is hell on earth for pigs I want to hear from you,” says Mr Kriek.

SAFE has already received sensitive information about other pig farms since the exposé on the Sunday programme. The group wants information identifying pig farms where there is extreme animal cruelty or neglect that is likely to result in MAF taking legal action once a complaint is made.

“SAFE will be making official complaints to MAF in the coming weeks for them to investigate each and every one of these horrific farms. Since the Minister of Agriculture and the New Zealand Pork Industry Board have publicly admitted being completely unaware of industry practices we are appealing to those on the ground who actually know what’s going on.”

“New Zealanders were almost convinced by the New Zealand Pork Industry Board that this ousted farmer was a rogue, now they know he is one of the country’s leading pig farmers. This demonstrates just how bad the situation is within the pig industry.”

Whistleblowers
People with information can phone, email, fax or post information to SAFE. Details are online at http://www.lovepigs.org.nz/Latest-news/Mike-King-story/Whistleblowers/

ENDS

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