Many pens found empty - A result of the countless
reports made to the police?
During the conflict surrounding the nationwide
animal protection act in Austria in 2004, it
soon became clear that there were plans afoot
to exempt pheasant rearing from the act. Even
though pheasants are raised for shooting intensively,
just as pigs or chickens are. As a result VGT
started a campaign to make sure pheasants would
not be excluded from the act and succeeded in
achieving a ban on beak mutilation, minimum
space requirements for each animal and a minimum
height for pens. In addition, pheasants must
be freed from the pen for a certain period of
time before shooting begins.
Since that time there has been routine checks
by animal campaigners which have resulted in
countless reports of illegal rearing. However,
recently campaigners are finding more and more
pens empty. The most recent check revealed one
pen which was over crowded and this was duly
reported. It should also be mentioned that the
animal welfare ombadsman for the area has constantly
supported VGT in this issue.
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