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ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS

MONTH: May 2006

RSPCA of Australia wins big case but loses face with activists

 

“Two months after opposing Australia’s live animal export trade for slaughter, the Royal SPCA has endorsed a large shipment of dairy cattle from the Port of New-castle bound for Japan,” the Australia Broadcasting Corporation revealed on April 25, 2006.


Explained Bernie Murphy, RSPCA chief executive officer for New South Wales, “I need to emphasize the difference between live export for breeding, and the RSPCA’s stated and continued opposition to live export for slaughter. We consider that totally unnecessary,” Murphy said. “We think the animals should be processed in humane conditions in Australia.”


“I’m perplexed and utterly stunned that they have made this exception and are supporting Live-corp,” the exporter, “when Live-corp are also responsible for the transport of thousands of animals to be slaughtered,” said Lynda Stoner of Animal Liberation Australia.


The controversy overshadowed the April 10, 2006 neglect conviction of Tasmanian sheep farmer Josef Gretschmann, recently honored for operating the best organic farm in Australia. Gretsch-mann, of Elizabeth Town, avoided using chemicals to prevent flystrike by allowed his flock to grow two years’ worth of wool between shearings instead of just one.


“The RSPCA brought charges of management likely to cause pain and suffering, saying 25 sheep were found dangerously laden with wool,” the Australian Broad-casting Corporation reported. “The RSPCA alleged that one sheep had fallen over and could not move, and that Gretschmann ignored an order to shear his flock within 14 days.”


The Devonport Magistrates Court fined Gretschmann $200 (Australian funds).