IAR April E-News

[Guest guest]

IAR's April e-newsletter

 

Dear Supporter

 

We have had a busy start to

the month of April: IAR representatives are always active and outspoken in

their defence of helpless animals whenever the need arises.

 

In India,

Dr Deike Schacht has spoken out against the poisoning of stray dogs in the

town of Trichy and is working tirelessly to promote the Animal Birth

Control programme. Read article:

http://www.iar.org.uk/news/2007/apr07.shtml

 

The Animal Tracks centre in

Goa has announced a new campaign to raise awareness and improve the

welfare of Temple elephants endlessly traipsing the hot busy streets

during the holiday season. IAR Goa has started collecting signatures on a

petition calling for better conditions for these poor elephants, and other

activities are planned if this doesn?t bring about significant changes for

the better for them. Read article:

http://www.iar.org.uk/news/2007/apr07-2.shtml

 

In Malta, IAR?s Max

Farrugia is heavily involved in deliberations and discussions over spring

shooting in the country. He has called for clarification from the EU over

whether or not Malta was granted certain concessions on hunting at the

time of accession. At the same time, he has emphasised that International

Animal Rescue is opposed to any kind of hunting and trapping, whether

legal or illegal. Read article:

http://www.iar.org.uk/news/2007/apr07-3.shtml

 

Media coverage of these

activities, and of the appointment of Laurence Van Atten as our US

representative, can be found at: http://www.iar.org.uk/media/coverage/

Finally, all animal lovers will welcome the introduction of the new Animal

Welfare Act in the UK on Friday, 6 April.

 

Until now people have only

had a duty to ensure that an animal didn?t suffer unnecessarily. However,

the new Act keeps this duty but also imposes a broader ?duty of care? on

anyone responsible for an animal to take reasonable steps to ensure that

the animal?s needs are met. This means that a person has to look after the

animal?s welfare as well as ensure that it does not suffer. The Act says

that an animal?s welfare needs include:

 

- a suitable environment (how

it is housed);

- a suitable diet (what it eats and drinks);

- the

ability to exhibit normal behaviour patterns;

- any need it has to be

housed with, or apart from, other animals; and

- protection from pain,

suffering, injury and disease.

 

Only time will tell how effective the

Act is in giving animals in the UK greater protection from cruelty and

neglect. We hope it will result in a greater understanding of the needs of

animals generally and facilitate swift and effective intervention when

there is a failure to meet them.

 

These measures to help animals around

the world will make a real difference to their lives. If you would like to

make a difference too, please make a donation:

http://www.iar.org.uk/donate/

 

Thank you for supporting International

Animal Rescue and helping us to help the animals.

 

Yours sincerely,

Alan Knight OBE, Chief Executive

http://www.iar.org.uk/