New Undercover Investigation Reveals Cruelty Inside Rabbit Farms Linked to the UK
Today, Animal Equality has been featured in The Sunday Times where it reveals the shocking findings of its latest investigation. Two of the farms investigated are linked to an English distributor and restaurants such as the Terrace at the National Theatre in London. For over a period of 2 years, Animal Equality investigators infiltrated the Spanish rabbit meat industry. A total of 72 farms and 4 slaughterhouses have been investigated.
Findings of this investigation:
- Animals killed by blunt force trauma. Furthermore, our investigators have been able to report that this is a common practice within rabbit industry.
- Workers throwing live rabbits into the waste containers, due to over-production.
- Animals with open wounds or infections were left in the cages and had no veterinary treatment.
- Cannibalism amongst certain animals provoked by over-crowded conditions.
- Farms selling rabbits to restaurants without them first meeting health and safety requirements.
- A vet smashing a rabbit against the ground whilst acknowledging, to the camera, that this constitutes animal abuse.
- Farms which had never received health and bio-security inspections
- Dead animals left to rot in cages next to live animals.
Animal Equality has already taken legal action against the farms and slaughterhouses investigated. Administrative sanctions on those responsible may vary from 60,001 to 1,200,000 euros in the case of very serious offenses and fines from 600 to 3,000 euros for minor offenses.
Animal Equality is launching an international campaign, in order to make public the suffering that animals endure in these breeding facilities.
“We are shocked by these images, where farm workers kill young rabbits by blunt force trauma, and sick animals are left for days crammed inside filthy cages with no veterinary treatment. We as a modern and civilised society, should not tolerate these abuses.” ~ Matteo Cupi, Head of Investigations UK
“We are glad to hear, that a respected institution such as the National Theatre has taken a stand against needless cruelty to animals, deciding to remove rabbit meat from their menu, and to break their relationship with Spanish distributors.”
“Animal Equality has already taken legal action against 70 farms and 2 slaughterhouses, will continue to shed light on the cruelties inflicted upon animals in factory farms." ~ Laura Gough, Spokesperson
