World Horse Welfare urges vets to support campaign
World Horse Welfare (WHW) is urging vets to add their names to an open letter that is being sent to the EU commissioner, to call for an end to long-distance live horse transportation.
Veterinary nurses and students are also encouraged to sign the document.
WHW and its veterinary advisors are acting as part of their campaign against the transportation of 65,000 horses for slaughter in Europe every year. The charity is asking the commissioner to propose an amendment to EU transport rules, in light of evidence it has collected, along with recommendations by the European Food Safety Authority and scientific advisors.
If the campaign is successful, it could see the introduction of a maximum journey time of 12 hours for live horses.
Roly Owers, WHW chief executive, said: "Despite recognising severe welfare problems persist and being presented with clear evidence showing how these horses are suffering, changes to legislation have not been proposed by the commission. I therefore urge my veterinary colleagues to sign the letter requesting that the commission make good on its commitment to policies informed by scientific evidence and introduce a short, maximum journey limit."
Click here to add your name to the letter.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
