29 August 2013

Our chance to get animal welfare right for animals

The Green Party has supported the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill at its first reading today but made it clear that further support relies on the Bill being improved at select committee.

“This update of the Animal Welfare Act gives us a rare chance to address the exemptions that allow animals to be kept in cruel conditions,” Green Party animal welfare spokesperson Mojo Mathers said today.

“We have supported the Bill at its first reading so that the public will get their chance to have their say and make this Bill a real, meaningful change to animal welfare in New Zealand.

“The Bill as it stands, however, doesn’t tackle the big issues around the use of animals in primary production and animal testing. We need to close the loopholes in the law that allow animals to be kept in horrible conditions, like cruel cages, indefinitely,” said Ms Mathers.

“It is a national disgrace that as a country we allow animals to be kept in cruel conditions for economic gain.

“We also need a clause that prohibits animal testing of cosmetics and recreational drugs. Such testing causes very high levels of pain and suffering and is both unnecessary and unethical.

“Animal cruelty is animal cruelty whether it happens to a pig or a cow or a dog.

“I have launched my Action for Animals campaign to empower New Zealanders who care about the welfare of animals to take part in making our animal welfare laws all they should be.

“Animals don’t have a voice so the Government needs to listen to those people who speak on the behalf of animals.

“This Bill is our chance to have a world leading piece of animal welfare law that leads to genuine improvement in the paddock and in the lab.”

Action for Animals Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/actionforanimalsNZ

ENDS

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