Animals are living creatures, not gadgets, toys or accessories and no products or means to entertain people. Animals deserve proper protection. This starts with the recognition of their rights and respect for their own nature and needs. It defines the limits of the purposes for which animals may be used.
We want to move away from the automatic assumption that animals can be used for just any purpose. Entertainment, sports, advertising purposes and fashion are not good reasons to use, harm or kill animals.
The welfare of animals is in peril due to the manner in which they are bred, traded, held and slaughtered. Any abuse or neglect of animals by humans calls for immediate and strong action.
Summer has really started in the Netherlands. Many people enjoy a cold drink or a dive in the water to cool down, but millions of animals in the livestock sector are kept locked in stables, without any fresh air. We see trucks packed with animals on the road, being transported in the burning heat to slaughterhouses, sometimes dying of misery even before reaching their destination. A heart-br...