Blog

Over the weekend Network for Animals had a stand at Discover Dogs 2011 to promote our work on the dog meat trade in the Philippines, talk to supporters and get people signing our postcards to the Filipino Ambassador in London. 

It was a busy weekend at Earl’s Court, with thousands of people and dogs pouring through the doors to find out about our canine friends.  There were plenty of animal welfare groups in attendance, ensuring that the event had an animal-friendly feel to it and lots of information available about responsible pet ownership, rescue dogs and healthy breeding standards.  As well as our campaign against the dog meat trade being highlighted, groups such as the Kennel Club were encouraging visitors to sign petitions against puppy farming and informing people about where not to buy their new pet from.  Pets as Therapy were also promoting their great work, along with many shelters and charities specialising in animal rescue. 

Visitors to the Network for Animals stand could browse merchandise, ask us questions about our campaigns and, most importantly, sign postcards to the Filipino Ambassador in London asking for urgent action on the dog meat trade.  In total more than 200 people signed postcards at our stand, with many more taking extra cards to give to their friends and colleagues.  We were delighted with the positive response to the campaign and hope that people continue to send these cards after the event. 

Many people asked us whether or not we felt postcard campaigns had an impact.  Our response to this question is to highlight how a campaign needs to be multi-faceted; therefore we undertake a number of approaches, from our work on the ground in the Philippines, to government outreach, to petitions to the British government and Foreign Office and also additional pressure on the Philippines Embassy in London.  The postcard campaign is another way to keep the issue on people’s minds, ensuring that the Embassy recognise how important this issue is to British people. 

Thanks to everyone who came to our stand and spoke to us.  We relished the opportunity to speak to the dog-loving public about our work in the Philippines and have gained some wonderful new supporters.

On April 22nd 2011 in a joint operation between Network for Animals and Malasiqui Police in the Philippines, 43 dogs were seized on their way to slaughter.  Before their rescue, these dogs were collected off the streets south of Manila, muzzled with plastic string and sent on the start of their grim journey to restaurants in Baguio City in a cramped, overheated van.  Following tips offs and an investigation, NfA and the local police were able to raid the slaughterhouse and halt production.  A cursory look at the pictures we obtained at the slaughterhouse show the horrific fate in store for dogs there; unsanitary conditions, rudimentary equipment and inevitable anguish. The dog meat trader responsible for this, who owns a private illegal slaughterhouse for dogs and a storage area for live dogs in the province of Pangasinan, north of Manila, is currently facing prosecution for violations of the Animal Welfare Act and Anti Rabies Act.

Over the years Network for Animals has told many similar stories to this one, often emphasising that while we work tirelessly to rescue dogs from the dog meat trade, the stories do not always have a happy ending. However, on this occasion a rare bond was formed between some of the police officers working on the case and one of the seized dogs.  The dog, now named Vilma, was adopted by an associate of the police officers and was successfully re-homed in a supportive family environment.  The NfA representative in Manila, Mel Alipio, writes about his visit to Vilma’s adopted home, “…[the owner] has a family with three children, he has a house within his two and a half hectares of land planted with various fruit trees such as mangoes, star apples, guavas and other local oriental fruit-bearing trees.  Yesterday I took photos of the dog playing with the children. While they were playing with the dog he was happily licking the face of the young children…”

We feel it’s important to celebrate every success story in our campaign against the dog meat trade in the Philippines.  Vilma’s peaceful new life with a loving family is something we want to see more of and we will continue to rescue as many dogs as is possible to ensure we can continue telling stories like this.

Lots of people have been in touch asking what they can do about the proposed plans for a pilot cull of badgers in England due to begin next summer.  Network for Animals has been working closely with the Badger Trust and liaising with campaigns groups so that together our voices can be heard in unison on this issue.

In order to have the greatest impact on the government's decision whether or not to go ahead with their controversial plans, we recommend that you visit the 38 Degrees website and register your opinion there.  This website has had great success in forcing the government to make U-turns on controversial policy decisions and we feel has the strongest chance of attracting attention. 

By writing to your MP you can also make your opinion heard.  A short message outlining why you are opposed to the plans can make a big difference.  If they haven't already, urge them to sign Early Day Motion 1591, which is an EDM against the badger cull. Visit They Work for You to find and contact your MP easily. 

To keep up to date with all our latest campaigns news and calls to action, please sign up to our e-mail list.

On 26th May I traveled to St Ives to visit Cornwall Badger Rescue and deliver our Network for Animals grant.  While there I had the opportunity to meet two lively badger cubs who were being reared in Bob’s living room.  Winnie and Wanda, as I was told they were called, had been rescued after their mother was killed by a car.  It was hard to imagine these excitable cubs in the dreadful state Bob described, but here they were, healthy and approaching a time when they could successfully be rehabilitated into the wild.  In the following extract Bob describes the process of rescuing and caring for the two badger cubs. 

WANDA
8th May. Penryn.

The RSPCA responded to a call at the Tremough Campus where three badgers had been seen in some difficulty.  However, by the time we were involved only one was still present, found hiding under some shrubbery.  We agreed to take it into care and the officer kindly brought it over to us.  On arrival, this casualty proved to be a cub, 10-12 weeks old.  She was in very poor condition, every inch of her full of fleas, her skin dry and scaly, her face covered with scratches and a cut on one ear.  She was quickly sprayed to solve the parasite problem, which made apparent just how thin she was beneath her fur.  We settled Wanda in a cosy bed made up in a puppy crate and gave her the time to recuperate.
 
WINNIE.
12th May. Penryn.
Gardening staff in the grounds of Tremough Campus found a second cub, also in a very bad way.  In the interim, the staff had found the mother badger who had sadly been killed after being struck by a car.  The cub was treated for fleas then reunited with her sister.  Winnie developed an abscess in her paw from a puncture wound into the pad which needed antibiotics, then suffered a tummy upset which was also treated by the vets.  Despite these setbacks, the cubs did really well, gaining weight and improvement with the skin and coat.  They soon transformed into lively, naughty little badgers - just how we like to see them!  Once recovered, arrangements were made for the cubs to have blood and faecal samples taken at the vets to be analysed in the lab.  The tests checked for Bovine Tuberculosis and Coccidia, which thankfully both cubs came back negative for.  The all clear meant that on June 11th we were able to take Winnie and Wanda to commence their rehabilitation into the wild at Secret World wildlife rehabilitation centre.