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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 10th May 2013
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Thousands of ducks die on farm
Image: PETA
PETA calls on chefs to swear off foie gras

A factory farm in New York, which calls itself the "premier producer of foie gras", is estimated by its own calculation to lose 15,000 ducks a year before they make it to slaughter.

As part of a new US investigation, PETA has released video footage showing inhumane practices being carried out at the Hudson Valley Foie Gras farm.

The footage shows workers overfeeding the ducks through steel tubes three times day for several weeks in order to enlarge the animals' livers, as well as inhumane slaughter practices.

According to experts, such force-feeding leads to oesophageal tears and splits, liver rupture and failure, heat stress and aspiration pneumonia.

As a result of the recent investigation, PETA is calling on chefs to cease selling foie gras in their restaurants.

Mimi Bekhechi, associate director at PETA UK said: "Every exposé of foie gras farms has revealed how grotesquely cruel it is to jam pipes down birds' throats and force-feed them until they sicken and die." 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.