In addition to AIA’s proactive advocacy work, outlined in its five year strategy 2022-2026, we also react to current situations of animal cruelty .
AIA’s International Campaigns Secretary, Marian Hussenbux is responsible for AIA’s global animal advocacy work. This involves writing to people of influence about animal suffering and cruelty around the world, often in support of campaigns run by other organisations.
AIA’S CAMPAIGNING ACTIVITY
February 2025 – May 2025
BRITAIN
-We begin with the badgers: we asked DEFRA Minister Steve Reed for wildlife groups to be part of badger killing consultations – we do not want only the views of farmers to be considered.
-We received news in March by way of a petition about equines kept in appalling conditions in the Warrington area. The horses were getting injured on barbed wire, escaping onto a main road and the owner was breeding and buying in more animals.
According to the petition, complaints had been made since 2018 with no action taken, neither by the RSPCA, nor World Horse Welfare, nor by the local Council. We wrote to them and received a prompt reply from the Leader of the Council and later from the Animal Health department, who said no horses had been found on the site at the time of their visit.
We found this quite odd, so tracked down the Warrington Guardian and found this, dated Feb. 18 – a month before we had contacted them!
“PC John Teasdale, of the rural crime team, said: “Yesterday, we assisted colleagues from the RSPCA in executing a warrant on land adjacent to Alder Lane, Burtonwood.
“Joining us were representatives from World Horse Welfare, British Horse Society, and Horse and Ponies Protection Association.
“The warrant was executed under the Animal Welfare Act following reported concerns for the welfare of the horses and ponies on site.
“A vet was present and, as a result of their advice, one horse was taken into the care of the RSPCA.
“The remaining horses and ponies were healthy, but due to the conditions on site, they were rehomed within the wider equine community.
“The RSPCA has issued an improvement warning notice. Until such time as the stipulations within the notice are met, the land cannot be used to graze or stable horses.
“The owner is positively engaging and working with the RSPCA and relevant agencies.
“As this is an ongoing case, I would urge people to refrain from commenting or speculating further.”
So, a positive outcome, but with some question about the matter.
-Stag Hunting on Quantock SSSI: this is possibly the most cruel of hunts as it can be prolonged for many hours until the stag collapses. Now, hunt followers using motorised transport are churning up land and the area permissible has even been extended. We wrote to Natural Landscapes, the National Trust, Natural England and Forestry England.
We received only one reply, from the National Trust, which seems somewhat lame – but at least they replied.
Dear Marian,
Thank you for contacting our Director General, Hilary McGrady. Hilary has asked me to respond on her behalf.
In the UK using vehicles to chase or hunt stags (or any wild mammal) is illegal under the Hunting Act 2004: National Trust land is no exception. The law does allow what is known as trail hunting to continue, but we no longer licence this.
Hunts do not require a licence to cross our land if they use bridleways or other rights of way, however. We are aware of reported incidences of trespass by hunt groups on National Trust land and we do take this very seriously.
Due to the amount of land we care for it is impossible for us to monitor everywhere at all times, we wish we could. We do our best and appreciate those who report incidents when they see them. We have made good progress with this in recent years.
I assure you we do investigate all reports of trespass or illegal activity. We are in regular contact with hunt groups and always follow up with those found to have trespassed.
If you become aware of any other incidences of illegal activity, we ask that reports are passed to the police directly, etc. etc … We will continue to work with our partners in the police to ensure incidents on National Trust land are appropriately investigated.
Steve Lawrence Supporter Relations Officer
– There were report of foxes being shot at Enfield Golf Club. This was apparently not sanctioned by the Committee. We wrote to the Council, asking them to desist.
– Enfield Council again: there was much media coverage of the felling of a 400 yr. old oak at the Toby Carvery – contractors said it was diseased.
A Tree Protection Order was imposed on the stump, which seems to indicate the tree was healthy. We thanked Council Leader Ergin Erbil for reporting the felling to the police.
-An issue we deem very important as it impacts upon the mental welfare of young children as well as the animals is the practice of egg hatching in schools. We wrote to Minister of Education Bridget Phillipson asking for this to be banned.
We had a reply saying there is in fact no requirement to teach students using egg hatching projects:
Viz: “The Department for Education and the national curriculum do not require schools to teach using egg hatching projects. Under the notes and guidance for the Year 5 programme of study it is mentioned that students ‘might observe changes in an animal over a period of time (for example by hatching and rearing chicks)’. However, it is made clear in the guidance that this is non-statutory, so schools don’t have to facilitate an egg hatching project and can achieve the same learning via other methods…”
We replied to say that the fact that they mention this project is enough to encourage schools to begin to use it, or to continue using it.
However, we are relieved that the Minister adds:
“The department also points schools towards free resources like those from Oak National Academy, which cover the life cycles of animals without the need for live hatching projects. Oak’s Year 5 lessons on Reproduction and life cycles: animals: https://www.thenational.academy/teachers/programmes/science-primary-ks2/units/reproduction-and-life-cycles-animals/lessons suggest alternative, non-invasive activities, such as carrying out research, watching time-lapse videos, farm visits, and using photographs of real examples…
…These approaches allow pupils to learn about life cycles safely and in line with good animal welfare practices.’
We reminded her: ‘The RSPCA opposes breeding programmes in schools. This concern includes the use of incubators and artificial environments for animals. It is difficult to guarantee the welfare of breeding animals under school conditions and the RSPCA believes that such programmes of study do not promote responsible attitudes to animal care and husbandry.’
Animal Aid, which initiated the open letter to you, produces a fact sheet.
This is an extract from the Ministry’s second reply:
“I understand why you have contacted the Secretary of State again about egg hatching projects. However, I can only reiterate our previous response to you and explain that the government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering ages 5 to 18, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The Review is looking at all subjects, including science, and wants to ensure a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum. The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in autumn with the government’s response.”
-Slaughter of pigs by gassing – we wrote to Daniel Zeichner and Baroness Sue Hayman, who have the portfolio of animal welfare in both Houses. We had no reply from either.
-Bob Elliot, previously CEO of the excellent Scottish AW group OneKInd, has taken over as CEO from Dr. Mark Avery of the equally excellent conservation and animal welfare organisation Wild Justice. Bob had also done good work at the RSPB and we congratulated him on his new post. He is happy we are working with them.
-A million elvers (young European eels) who are endangered, were being kept unfed by the exporter to Russia who was allowed no permit; we asked the Environment Agency to release them into the Severn before they starve.
UPDATE: the majority of the elvers held in Gloucester were to be released to restock the River Severn and the River Parrett, which is where they were caught. The elver fishing season is over for 2025 and no elvers have been sent to destinations of which we would not approve.
-The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021. Helped by our friends at Wild Justice, we submitted our document to this Consultation. In essence, the burning of the moors – mainly to create new heather growth for grouse to feed on, after which the Driven Grouse shooters will kill them – causes often irreparable damage to the environment, drying out the land, making flooding more likely, damaging our precious and rare peatlands, and obviously killing all animals, reptiles and birds who cannot escape the flames.
-We have signed the Rewilding Nature Charter established by The Scottish Rewilding Alliance.
They say: “This is your opportunity to show your support for rewilding in Scotland by urging the Scottish Government to declare Scotland a Rewilding Nation, committing to nature recovery across 30% of our land and seas to benefit nature, climate and people.
“There are now over 150 rewilding projects across Scotland, from community woodlands to landscape-scale partnerships. Communities, charities, farmers and landowners are restoring woodlands, peatlands, wetlands, rivers and seas – and saving wildlife, from red squirrels to bumblebees to wild cats. But we need to do much more to reverse nature loss and tackle climate breakdown – let’s grow this groundswell of hope…”
We can all sign this Charter as individuals – please go to:
-In Northern Ireland a ban on hunting with dogs has been proposed. The Alliance Party’s John Blair’s Bill should be re-introduced in 6 months. It was blocked in 2021 by Sinn Féin and the DUP. We wrote to these leaders and to MLAs of both parties. We received replies in favour of the Bill from MLAs Phillip Brett DUP and Deborah Erskine DUP.
We have no news of progress, if any.
FRANCE
-We submitted to a French Consultation on extending the killing of deer from September to June when mothers have nursing fawns. Judging by reports from France over a long time, hunters are far too powerful in France anyway.
-There was a corrida show in the Arènes de Lutèce in Paris. We wrote to Anne Hidalgo, Mayor and her Deputy for Animal Welfare.
Florence Berthout, Mayor of the 5th arrondissement (District) of Paris, is opposed to the corrida but does not have the power to stop this. It is aimed at promoting a cruel activity that is not legal in this part of France anyway.
-We contacted French parliamentarians, members of the Berne Convention and ministers of Agriculture and the Environment, asking them not to declassify the wolf, making that wonderful species’ lives that much more dangerous in Europe.
Update from Eurogroup for Animals, May 28: hunting wolves is now legal again in Europe. The European Parliament approved a reduction in the animals’ protection status, after a long legislative process. This decision is in direct contradiction with the EU’s conservation mandate, and we now call on Member States to do what they can to protect these endangered animals in their own countries.
On that subject, there are 2 unrelated wolves in Limousin threatened by shooting. The previous lone male was shot. We wrote to the Prefect of Corrèze to object. They do not seem to be able to co-exist with two wolves.
-Pigs intensively farmed in France: we wrote to the company Leclerc which is receiving much attention from demonstrators. We appealed to the firm to ban mutilations and sow stalls – and at least to work to the Pig Minimum Standards.
-We joined with the organisation Wild Bretagne and several other French wildlife groups in opposing the demands of hunters to make killing animals of all ‘game’ species much easier.
This is the background: the FNC, the national hunting federation, invited all its members, everywhere in France, to meet the mayors of their communes on May 17 and give them a Manifesto for French Hunting “with 11 crazy demands,” amongst which are, and I am abridging them:
-Recognition of hunting as a UNESCO cultural heritage ;
-No ban on lead ammunition when there is no realistic alternative ;
-Defence of ‘traditional ‘ hunts like snaring and digging up animals (such as badgers);
-Support for farmers, breeders, faced with pressure from wolves – well, they’ve just got that now!
-And of course freedom to hunt weekends, holidays, feast days…
There are over 20,000 signatures on La Nature en Ville’s own petition, plus 167 detailed commentaries against these nonsensical demands, and these were delivered to the Rennes regional authorities.
AIA signed too and our name and logo accompanies the 7 French organisations on the document.
SPAIN
-We signed a Feline Declaration which aims to reach a consensus which will help citizen coexistence and acceptance of cat populations. There have been worrying signs of attempts to be rid of community cats in Ibiza and the Canaries.
-Cat Luisa in Alcañiz, Catalunya, had been imprisoned in an empty building. We asked the authorities for permission for colony carers and experts in feral colonies to attend and catch her, as they have the skills and experience to help feral cats.
UPDATE from FAADA: “After 5 weeks of her being trapped and much hard work by the AW groups, including specialists in the management and rescue of community cats, Luisa was rescued in not too poor a condition. “
PORTUGAL
-The Vaca das Cordas – in which a cow is tied up by 2 ropes, dragged through the streets of Ponte de Lima and generally terrified, should not be considered a Cultural Heritage.
A reply said that our objection would be taken into account, which pretty well means nothing.
GREECE
-We have written several times to the Mayor of Volos about the street dogs abandoned on Mount Pelion in the snow. A kind Greek contact translated our letters and they were sent in Greek and English via the Mayor’s web form, with copy to the Governor of Thessaly and the Ministry responsible for Animal Welfare and Panhellenic Animal Welfare & Environmental Federation, the largest animal welfare organization in Greece, bringing together 66 Member Organizations.
Panhellenic said they wish to work with us and we hope that will happen.
We heard from a local resident that the collection of dogs had been suspended, so wrote again to the authorities above to ask for this to be made permanent – again with no responses at all.
-Again in Greece, it was proposed that 5 dolphins should be transferred to Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida. We asked the authorities to expedite the issue of permits for the Aegean Sanctuary. The first ever seaside dolphin sanctuary is close to opening in Lipsi.
However, the Greek government has failed to issue the needed permits—leaving the sanctuary and several animals in limbo. The stress of sending these dolphins more than 6,000 miles only to live in another concrete tank and be exhibited for tourists is wholly unacceptable.
This news came from World Animal Protection US.
TURKEY
-Together with Animal Save Movement, we wrote to the Turkish Ambassador in London about the killing of street cats and dogs.
You can take action here: https://thesavemovement.org/act-now-to-save-turkeys-dogs-cats/
UNITED STATES
-We have written repeatedly to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioners in Florida, to state legislators and the Governor about the horrific black bear hunts they are proposing should be extended. You may remember that from a previous news report of ours.
-Elephants in captivity, another very long term issue: The United States Department of Agriculture recently uploaded an inspection report for the Commerford Zoo– the Connecticut-based traveling circus where elephant Minnie has been held in captivity since 1976.
Minnie is still alive, but legally speaking, the USDA, the most powerful of the agencies tasked with oversight of her welfare is again signing off on Minnie being deprived of her freedom.
Minnie–along with Beulah and Karen, two other elephants held captive with her on the Commerfords’ property – was the Non Human Rights Project client in their first elephant rights case.
They concluded this litigation in 2020 because of the Connecticut courts’ complete unwillingness to engage with the substantive issues of the elephants’ case. The courts’ unwillingness continued even after Karen died prematurely at age 38 and Beulah collapsed and died at a fair as a result of a uterine infection the Commerford Zoo was aware she had when they transported her there.
To date, the powers that be have done nothing to help Minnie. Similarly, the Commerford Zoo’s words and actions over the years seem to indicate that they’re not at all interested in giving Minnie a better life.
Minnie has not been seen in public for 4 years.
Please see: http://www.nonhumanrights.org
-Jett, a 14-year-old dolphin, died on March 1 this year at Gulf World Marine Park in Florida. Jett jumped on command during a show and slammed his head into a shallow concrete platform in the tank, dying of acute head trauma as per necropsy reports.
Within the last 6 months, four dolphins – Jeff, Gus, Turk, and Nate – have died at Gulf World and since opening, at least 81 dolphins are known to have died there. Presently, the facility holds 12 bottlenose dolphins captive as well as penguins, flamingos, sharks, seals, and sea lions.
Last week, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation investigators were denied entry to the park by Gulf World staff.
We wrote to the FWC in Florida and received this reply:
“The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission takes the health and welfare of all wildlife, including Florida’s marine mammals, very seriously. Due to growing concerns about the sanitation and condition of aquatic enclosures, as well as the well-being of captive bottlenose dolphins at Gulf World Marine Park, FWC has joined (local and state) partner agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of the facility. The Commission will continue to engage with our partner agencies in this investigation and will provide all necessary resources to resolve this matter.
The safety and humane treatment of these animals are of the utmost importance, and we remain committed to ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to protect them. At this time, we have no further information to share, but we will provide updates as they become available.”
-Hawai’i: we appealed to the Hawai’i Senate President Ron Kouchi to appoint conferees for Bill HB 698 Relating to Cruelty to Animals – this would affect companion animals only. The House of Representatives had already appointed them. Senate Conferees were in fact appointed two days later, but the update is that the motion was refused, a big disappointment in Hawai’i as they have brilliant animal advocates there and we have supported them for some years on their Bills.
– New Jersey: geese were again being gassed at the airport – we repeated our requests to those contracting the killers to use humane deterrence. Nature abhors a vacuum and once a niche is empty, other geese will fly into it and the killing never ends.
-Elephants Tina and Billy in LA Zoo. The zoo planned to transfer these aged elephants to Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma, which breeds elephants. We wrote to Mayor Karen Bass and her Deputy Mayors to stop this and have them transferred to sanctuary. The Council said it was up to the zoo to take the decision.
An update revealed that they were spirited away at 1 in the morning and are now at Tulsa.
CANADA
-Animal Justice reported on the live horses transported to Japan – this is yet another long standing issue and there were more horrifying investigations.
We asked the federal Minister of Agriculture, Lawrence MacCaulay, despite prorogation for the elections, to expedite a ban. Later, we wrote to him as he was leaving his post of Minister, asking him to implement the trade while he could.
As this did not happen, we then contacted the new Leader of the Liberal Party, Mark Carney, now PM, reminding him that Justin Trudeau had mandated for a ban 3 years ago. Shortly after, we were informed that more Canadian horses had been exported to Japan, so we asked all parties to support the ban. The industry is booming: in 2024, the number of horses exported surged from 2,500 to 3,265—a 30 percent increase in just one year.
-Glue traps, British Columbia; we asked the Minister of Environment and Parks, Tamara Davidson, to ban the purchase, sale and use of this device. It is opposed by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities endorsed a resolution to ban glue traps in their province. We also asked the province of Montreal to stop using glue traps in schools.
We read later that the B C Minister Laanas Tamara Davidson is the first Haida woman to be appointed to government. We congratulated her on this advance for First Nations women and repeated our request to ban glue traps.
-We contacted the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Québec, M. André Lamontagne, and Audrey Bogemans, Iberville MP and government Deputy for Animal Welfare, about a briefing on companion animals entitled: “Tous engagés pour le bien-être des animaux de compagnie de la MAPAQ” (avril 2025). MAPAQ is Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Québec.
9 actions were proposed but the following were not included:
Requirement for a permit as soon as there is any commercial activity, no matter the number of animals held;
Make stricter conditions for awarding and renewing them;
Revision of sanctions;
In Québec, only owners or guardians of 15 cats or dogs or more in commercial breeding enterprises must undergo an annual inspection and have a permit from the province, which is not enough.
AUSTRALIA
-Since kangaroos had been seriously impacted by bushfires in Victoria, we asked Minister Tanya Plibersek and the Victorian Environment Minister to stop the commercial killing which puts such pressure on populations and is extremely cruel.
-Pigs Without Borders in Australia: this campaign, which we joined, was launched on the International Day of the Pig.
Animal Liberation say that in Australia, “the ‘Right to Farm’ system allows the Australian Pork Industry to largely regulate itself and it is upheld by toothless animal welfare, biosecurity, environmental and planning laws.”
-Thankfully, the New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said that shark nets – which can catch all marine life – will be removed and we asked for this ban to be made permanent.
-Koalas – there was general outrage when 700 Koalas were killed in Victoria National Park and the bodies left behind. We were contacted by local campaigners who reported that there was a backburn, the koalas fled, their trees were logged, and they were then shot by officers in helicopters.
We contacted 2 bodies, Environment Protection Australia and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to ask if this could be investigated.
There came a reply from EPA, saying this was not in their province, but nothing from DEECA.
– We made a submission to New South Wales’ updating of their Companion Animals legislation. Significantly, only cats and dogs are protected – so popular animals such as rabbits, rodents et al did not feature.
– Quakers in Victoria contacted us to ask if we could support this serious issue: on the Mornington Peninsula, mistreatment and neglect of horses had provoked great concern about the shortage of funds suffered by the Victorian RSPCA, not enough Inspectors and the terrible stress affected by abuse directed at attending staff. Much more help from the Victorian government is needed so we asked them to take appropriate action and copied in the local RSPCA. We have as yet had no responses.
CROSS BORDER
EU
-Bottom Trawling in Marine Protected Areas; we wrote to Costas Kadis, EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, asking for real protection for our oceans. Over a quarter of a million Europeans signed a petition to the Commission. This is a critical time as the Commissioner prepares the EU Ocean Pact to be announced in May this year.
Good news hot off the press: “on May 26, The General Court of the European Union has upheld restrictions on all damaging fishing practices such as bottom trawling across marine protected areas (MPAs) throughout the EU. The decision reinforces conservation efforts despite opposition from some segments of the fishing industry.”
-Birdlife Europe & Central Asia reported: “On World Migratory Bird Day, we recognise how the health of waterbirds defies borders as they migrate. In Europe, a million birds die every year from poisoning linked to lead ammunition. This year, a ban on lead ammunition across the whole of the EU is on the discussion table — giving us a huge opportunity to get this toxic substance banned across the entire migratory route for millions of birds, including those who visit the UK.
We signed the petition to secure a ban on lead ammunition across 30 countries.
Thank you for your patience!
-Marian Hussenbux May 31 2025
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