Sentient, The Veterinary Institute for Animal Ethics

16/11/2024

Sentient supports this petition to the NSW parliament to advocate that rodeos no longer be exempt from animal cruelty legislation. This month, the University of New South Wales Law Journal published a paper highlighting the discrepancy between the treatment of racehorses and horses used in rodeos in regard to the use of electric devices. While race horses are protected from such treatment, electric prods can be used on horses in NSW rodeos and these cause pain, fear and suffering. This is just one of the welfare problems faced by rodeo animals. Please sign and share.

End Rodeo Cruelty in NSW

14/11/2024

Former live export vet Dr Lynn Simpson's latest article explains why it is fruitless to fight the upcoming ban on live sheep exports by sea, which will come into effect in May 2028. The reality is, the live export trade is dying a natural death. Australia now has 17 live export ships, down from 80 in the 1990s, and these are already in use for the short-haul beef cattle trade, so will have to be shared with live sheep exports until the ban takes effect. With an increased uptake of refrigerated meat, it is unlikely the current fleet will be replaced as it ages. Globally, live export ships will increasingly be on the scrap heap due to structural or mechanical failures or failure to meet regulatory guidelines. Live export is a poor investment. 90% of the live sheep trade from Australia has disappeared over the last 20 years. Well and truly time to move on.

What happens to a live export trade when the ships don’t return? Dr Lynn Simpson, a well-known former live export veterinarian, makes her Splash return today. In the age of refrigerated sea and air cargo, how long will modern-day practices condone mass numbers of live animals becoming unwitting se...

13/11/2024

We agree with MP Emma Hurst, the chair of a NSW upper house inquiry into the aerial shooting of feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park that its final report is "biased". The committee's main recommendation was for the aerial shooting of brumbies to continue "to protect the natural environment". Sentient's concern is the overt cruelty involved, particularly with horses being shot in the chest, which does NOT cause an instantaneous loss of consciousness. The commitee failed to acknowledge this, despite numerous representations by veterinarians and other animal advocates of evidence to the contrary. This is all about the NSW government reaching their 'legislated target' to reduce the number of horses to 3,000 by mid-2027.

A NSW inquiry into the aerial shooting of wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park has recommended the practice should continue, but the chairwoman who led the inquiry's committee says the final report that has been released is "biased".

13/11/2024

In October 2023, Sentient submitted to the inquiry into the 'Proposed aerial shooting of brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park' and our committee member Dr Catherine Tiplady presented strong evidence against this proposal at the hearing. The Committee's Animal Welfare Commitee has just released its report, which supports ongoing aerial shooting, despite evidence that most horses receive chest shots and are at risk of a death that is painful and far from instantaneous. This decision was a majority one and we commend Emma Hurst, Chair, for her dissenting report. The Committee did recommend that the National Parks and Wildlife Service further investigate the effectiveness of fertility control as a control method, which we support, but this is a longer term solution and will require significant funding. The Government's response is due in February 2025 but no doubt, this brutal practice will be supported, all to meet the NSW Government's self-imposed target of reducing brumby numbers in the park to 3,000 by 2027. This is all about politics, not science, and certainly not animal welfare.
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=2991 -reportsandgovernmentresponses

05/11/2024

We love this posting on Nup to the Cup. Please share.

Last season, at least 151 racehorses died on Australian racetracks.
That's why we’re saying
Today in Mumbrella, Seven Communications' Patrice Pandeleos reported that, ‘By supporting movements like ‘Nup to the Cup’ and exploring alternative events, companies can not only strengthen their brand loyalty, but resonate with a new generation of conscious consumers, contributing to a more ethical and inclusive society.’
So, where does your workplace stand? Will it say 'Nup to the Cup'?
https://bit.ly/40xkoi6

04/11/2024

Tomorrow is the Melbourne Cup, so yet again we are bracing ourselves and hoping that no horse will be seriously injured or killed. This is also a good time to educate ourselves about the everyday lives of racehorses. This excellent article explains the difference between care, such as being housed, fed, access to veterinary treatment as needed etc and actual welfare, which is about how an animal feels, and the verdict is very poor for the welfare of racehorses. They are largely kept isolated in stables for up to 23 hours per day, have very little chance to express natural behaviours such as grazing, exercising of their own volition or socialising with conspecifics, are fed a concentrated diet that leads to gastric ulcers, are exposed to whipping, the pain of bits, tongue ties and nosebands, and the risk of serious injury when racing, and often develop stereotypic behaviours due to stress. These horses need more than good care - they need choices and the freedom to lead a more natural life. We say no to horse racing and definitely NUP TO THE CUP.

Racehorses take centre stage during the Spring Racing Carnival but how exactly are they treated during their daily lives?

03/11/2024

Leading up to the horrendous Melbourne Cup, we recommend this great podcast from RSPCA Australia about the risks to racehorses, especially the practice of racing young Thoroughbreds who are skeletally immature.

31/10/2024

A group of animal welfare organizations have written an open letter to Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, asking her to stop the live export of cattle to war zones. There have been over 100 shipments of cattle and sheep from Europe to Israel so far this year and an unknown number of livestock exported to Lebanon since the fighting expanded in that region. Ethical Farming Ireland says sources at Haifa port have informed them that every day barrages of rockets fall on the port and surrounding areas where the quarantine centres and fattening farms are. The rockets are mostly intercepted by the dome, but some of the rockets also get through, risking injury and harm to the animals and port workers.

A group of animal welfare organizations have written an open letter to Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety…

30/10/2024

151 thoroughbred racehorses died on Australian racetracks in the 2023/24 season. This equates to at least three horses being killed on track every week – and these are only the deaths that the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses can confirm. Is this really worth it?

CPR DeathWatch Report reveals that 151 thoroughbreds died on Australian racetracks in the 2023/24 season. This equates to at least three horses being killed on track every week.

30/10/2024

Sentient supports RSPCA Victoria in calling for a ban on jumps racing. The falls, injury and fatality rate for horses in jumps racing are unacceptable and cannot be prevented by any measures the industry introduces. Victoria is the last state in Australia to allow this cruel form of 'sport'. We have submitted to the Victorian Government's current inquiry into jumps racing by advocating a legislative ban and we hope that by circulating the RSPCA's petition, you will help with their important advocacy to end jumps racing.

𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻: 𝗥𝗦𝗣𝗖𝗔 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴

Did you know that RSPCA first advocated for a ban on steeplechasing in the 1920s?

RSPCA Victoria is strongly opposed to jumps racing and has been trying to obtain a ban due to the human and animal welfare risks since at least 1927.

Sadly, despite significant efforts to improve the activity over the past decades, the fatality rate for horses competing in the 2024 jumps racing season is no better than it was before safety measures were implemented.

Victoria is the only state or territory in Australia where jumps racing continues.

We need your help to make this happen! We're calling on the Victorian Government to ban jumps racing.

Show your support by signing up to our call today: rspcavic.org/jumps-racing

Article: 1927 ‘OVER THE FENCE?’, The Sun https://bit.ly/4dbtQud

29/10/2024

New data showed about a 10% mortality rate during the rearing process of salmon farmed in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. The released information was limited to weight statistics, and did not include the number of fish that had perished, nor the reasons for their deaths, but these figures certainly raise alarm bells.

Environmentalists have raised concerns after new data showed about 10 per cent of salmon farmed in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour died during the process.

28/10/2024

It appears we're going backwards: the "XL Bully cat" is bred by mixing the mutant gene that causes hairlessness in Sphynx cats with the gene responsible for the short legs of Munchkin cats. These dual mutations interfere with normal physiology of the cat, including its skin health and ability to regulate body heat. Originating in the US, they unfortunately now appear to be for sale in Australia and the UK as well.

The XL Bully cat, a crossbreed of Sphynx cats and Munchkin cats, is causing global concern due to its rising popularity.

27/10/2024

Rare clusters of Australia’s largest gliding marsupial have been found in forests earmarked for clearing, and in three times the numbers detected during mandated surveys conducted by the loggers. Conservationists are now calling for the strongholds to be immediately protected.

Rare clusters of Australia’s largest gliding marsupial have been found in forests earmarked for clearing, and in three times the numbers detected during mandated surveys conducted by the loggers. Conservationists are now calling for the strongholds to be immediately protected.

24/10/2024

The Mount Isa Rodeo, the largest in the southern hemisphere, has gone into voluntary administration! The board approached the state government last month hoping for a $500,000 bailout, but whilst Tourism Minister Michael Healy acknowledged the rodeo's role as a tourism icon, he stated: "we can't keep pumping money into things that don't work". Sentient opposes all rodeos and we would welcome support for the Mount Isa Community to replace the cruelty of rodeos with a community event that is more inclusive and does not cause harm to people or animals.

The cost of living and a downturn in ticket sales have led to the collapse of the board that runs the famed Mount Isa rodeo.

23/10/2024

In August 2023 Sentient presented evidence at the Inquiry into the veterinary workforce shortage in NSW. The Goverment's response to the committee's recommendations has been released. Whilst we were disappointed that our advocacy for a Medicare system for animals was not recommended, some great recommendations have been supported. These include the NSW Government to advocate the Australian Government provides incentives to attract and retain vets, particularly in rural and regional areas; to align visa requirements for vets with those of the human medical field; to increase funding for veterinary training and specific funding for large animal clinical training; and for the NSW Government to provide incentives for vets to take up NSW Local Land Service roles and to advocate for a nationally consistent registration scheme for veterinary nurses and technicians. Excellent recommendations that were supported 'in principle' (depending on funding) include: the NSW Government to amend the Companion Animals Act 1998 to ensure local government authorities collect stray animals from licensed veterinary clinics; to consider funding the AVA to support its work developing mental health programs for veterinarians; to explore the establishment of veterinary social work; to provide financial incentives for veterinarians who work with livestock; to provide funding for targeted grants to enhance mentoring for first year graduates; to introduce a regulatory framework for veterinary nurses and veterinary technicians in NSW; to investigate strategies to best ensure veterinary care for pet owners, particularly low income earners, can be made more affordable; to investigate providing subsidised vet care to low-income earners, pensioner and animal rescue groups; and for The Minister for Mental Health, in conjunction with the Minister for Agriculture, to ensure suicide prevention programs are made available which are specifically targeted at veterinarians.