Animal rights group PETA Asia has called on Scotland’s Government to make closed-circuit television mandatory in all sheep-shearing sheds in the country following an investigation that uncovered alleged abuse on a number of farms.
In a letter to Mairi Gougeon, Scotland’s Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, PETA Asia said abuse was documented on 24 farms in Scotland.
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An eyewitness for the human rights group documented “rampant cruelty and horrendous abuse” – including “workers violently punching sheep in the face, stamping and standing on their heads and necks, and beating and jabbing them in the face with sharp electric clippers” – earlier this year.
“The wool industry is trying to dismiss accusations of cruelty after workers were caught violently abusing sheep, but don’t be fooled by its crocodile tears,” says PETA Asia senior vice president Jason Baker. “This is the second wool investigation we’ve conducted in the UK this year, and what we’ve found is standard practice. The industry simply can’t justify or even explain away the documented abuse. It’s vital that this cruelty not be allowed to continue out of view of the law.”
The group says putting CCTV cameras into shearing sheds may stop “some of the most egregious mistreatment that these sheep endure.”
“If the wool industry won’t support the installation of cameras, it’s not serious about adhering to even the most minimal animal-welfare standards.”
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By GlobalDataPETA Asia uncovered similar abuse on 25 farms in the UK earlier this year. The group filed a 15-page complaint with the RSPCA and asked it to launch an investigation and, if appropriate, file criminal charges against the workers for apparent violations of laws prohibiting cruelty to animals.
