A documentary using hidden camera showing violations of animals in captivity at Latvian fur farms has set the debate for a ban ablaze. More than 5 000 signatures have now been collected for the support of the ban of fur farms. This is half of the amount need to submit this initiative to the Saeima (Parliament) for review.
The ban to breed fur animals is active in many European countries, including Britain, Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as reported by Dzīvnieku brīvība (Animal freedom) association.
In 2012, this ban was adopted in the Netherlands for ethical reasons, even though the country was one of the leading countries in this field. It has a 12-year transition period – all such farms are to be closed by 2024. Other countries also have partial bans or restrictions: Denmark has a ban on breeding foxes, Sweden’s requirements to hold animals are so strict that breeding foxes for fur is completely halted.
The Animal freedom association has submitted a plea to the State Police in accordance with Section 230 of the Criminal Law. This was done in order to assess whether there were violations noted in the video footage and photos that were recently released into the public. Violations were noted in most of Latvian animal shelters.
The association has also sent an application to the Food and Veterinary Service with a request to evaluate the shelters’ activities in breeding fur animals, and provide detailed information about their [animals] state.
BNN previously reported that the animal rights defenders recently received photos and video footage shot in autumn 2012, depicting shocking animal welfare conditions at six Latvian fur farms.
Source: Baltic news, News from Latvia, BNN.LV, BNN-NEWS.COM, BNN-NEWS.RU