The Review – Issue 26

Welcome to the Review – Issue 26

It was a challenging year for animal welfare but also one that gave us many opportunities to improve the lives of animals. At the centre of our campaigns and achievements in 2016 were our wonderful supporters, volunteers, partners and collaborators, who united in a collective power for positive change. We are immensely proud to welcome Wendy Turner Webster and Anneka Svenska as patrons – two wonderful people who care about the issues we are addressing and are keen to work with us in our quest to end animal suffering. Our success last year reinforces our conviction that making change happen is not only possible for animal welfare professionals, but also within everyone’s reach. You have more power than you think and we hope you will continue to help us save the lives of animals. Whilst we’ve had to be extremely selective about what to feature in our Annual Review due to restricted space, we hope that it provides a reflection of our progress during the past year.

become Christmas Canine Campaigners forward to redoubling our efforts in 2017 Puppy Farming and, with the help of new celebrity patron as we get ever closer to the day when Wendy Turner Webster, were able to reach every puppy farm is shut down for good. After an Olympic year of intense even more people with our campaign and campaigning, puppy farmers must now promote dog adoptions as an alternative be shaking with fear – much like the to buying a puppy. dogs they abuse for profit. Amongst other achievements this year, We began 2016 with the publication of a notorious pet store in London was The Great British Puppy Survey, a joint banned from selling puppies following report compiled in collaboration with a our investigations. And, after submitting coalition of anti-puppy farming groups objections to council licensing applications that illuminates British puppy buying for two puppy farms in Scotland, we behaviour. The survey was launched at a are pleased to report one application parliamentary reception in Westminster was withdrawn and the other rejected and survey data was used as evidence in – potentially sparing hundreds of dogs our submission to the Environment, Food from lives in confinement being treated as and Rural Affairs Sub-Committee ‘Animal breeding machines. It’s all thanks to your Welfare in England: domestic pets’ inquiry. support that we were able to achieve so much for UK dogs this year, and we look The EFRA report on the domestic pets inquiry was published in November and offers many opportunities for lobbying to “Dog ownership is a protect dogs from unscrupulous breeders, huge commitment including recommendations to reduce and should be the threshold of litters dog breeders need to be licensed from five to two per year, given as much modernization of the current licensing consideration as regime, and improved enforcement inviting someone new measures. to become a member Of course, strengthening of legislative of your family. We protections for dogs and puppies can take need to stop retailing years, but puppy farmers and their traders would be out of business tomorrow were puppies as though there no consumer demand for their they are tables or ‘products’. This is why we ramped up our chairs, available at the public campaigning this year, seizing on Puppy Farm Awareness Day in September click of a button, and and employing digital campaigning tactics we need to end puppy to reach over 70,000 people with our farming forever.” educational messages. In December, we again reached out to you, our supporters, Wendy Turner Webster and to our social media followers to

Patrons: Pollyanna Pickering Chris Packham Hayley Mills Jenny Seagrove Wendy Turner Webster Anneka Svenska The Late Princess Elisabeth De Croÿ The Late Alexandra Bastedo 49 Rodney Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1HX Tel : +44 (0)1242 252871 e-mail: [email protected] www.naturewatch.org Successful launch of our film:Compassion Over Cruelty Animal Experiments In October, Naturewatch Foundation against the use of animals for cosmetic of the lucrative and rapidly developing In a year when a Yorkshire facility was many alternatives already available. exit from the European Union. Will we launched ‘Compassion Over Cruelty’ testing, but many shoppers still buy into Chinese market. They offer luxury given the go-ahead to breed beagles seize our chance to be a global leader and – a film to defy expectations around cruelty by purchasing cosmetics from products that are perceived as being for experiments; latest Home Office We attended the 2016 Lush Prize Awards respond to the demand to replace the use cruelty-free cosmetics. companies that also manufacture and sell superior, and they rely on customer statistics reported over 4 million live and Animal Replacement Science of animals in experimentation, or will we products outside the EU in countries such loyalty. But it’s the animals who pay the true animals used in scientific procedures; conferences, and met with a world of bend to trade agreements and rescind Many animals outside the EU are still as China, where testing on animals still cost – and it’s completely unnecessary. and the due date to review clause 24 of experts leading the way in human- the limited protections granted to animals subjected to painful tests in the name of takes place. By purchasing these brands, the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, relevant, animal-free science. Knowing under EU Directive 2010/63? beauty and, once used, their bodies are well-meaning, compassionate shoppers So we decided to put genuinely cruelty- the so-called Secrecy Clause, came and there are so many champions for research discarded like rubbish as more animals are are inadvertently funding animal testing. free cosmetics to the test. How would they went with no action from Parliament… without outdated and unnecessary animal While the future for animal use in scientific bred to take their place. hold up against the less compassionate it’s easy to feel disheartened, but we testing prompted our renewed calls for procedures remains unknown, history Many of these companies are large players in the cosmetic industry? will never give up on our ultimate transparency in scientific procedures in has taught us that when people care The British public is overwhelmingly multinational labels taking advantage aim of ending the use of animals for the UK, joined by a community that wants change inevitably follows. For this reason, experimentation. to see validation of non-animal testing we continued our call for everyone to methods as quickly as possible. use their purchasing power and choose An Ipsos MORI poll revealed that the household cleaning and personal care majority of Brits (71%) accept the use of In 2016 we also looked to the future and products for which no animals were animals for research where there is no asked what challenges and opportunities harmed in order to demonstrate public alternative. The good news is there are lie in wait for Great Britain pending our demand for a cruelty-free world.

Cruelty-free Shopping • The Handbook of Homemade Thanks to the wonderful efforts of In the meantime, our cruelty-free Personal Care (£5) compassionate shoppers, campaigning endorsement criteria for the Compassionate • The Handbook of Homemade activities of Naturewatch Foundation Shopping Guide is the strictest in the world Household Cleaners (£5) and other charities, the EU Cosmetic and we will continue to use it effectively Testing Ban has had a snowball effect. until animal testing is banned globally As of the end of 2016, thirty-five for cosmetics and household cleaning countries around the world have products. Animals should no longer be stopped animal testing for cosmetics enduring horrific experiments in the name since 2013. of vanity or just to keep our houses clean!

We believe the same restrictions should To make it easy for cruelty-free shoppers apply to household cleaning products to remain up to date with changes to and have called on the UK Government the Compassionate Shopping Guide, we to close the legal loophole that enables publish regular updates on our website household product testing on animals to and in our quarterly e-newsletter. If you Later in the year, we launched our cruelty- continue. would like to receive our e-newsletter, free eco bag. If you don’t have a bag yet, The film, presented by Anneka Svenska please sign up on the home page of the why not join Vicki Michelle, Wendy Turner and produced by GreenWorld TV, proves Naturewatch Foundation website. If you Webster, model Daryna, Rula Lenska, Olivia that you can choose compassion over do not have internet access, please feel Cox (below) and a host of well-known cruelty and look fabulous in the process! free to call us on 01242 252871, or send a faces in promoting cruelty-free shopping stamped addressed envelope for updates. while you’re out and about? ‘Compassion Over Cruelty’ was launched at a select gathering of journalists and At our office in Cheltenham, we receive If you would like to order a Compassionate animal-loving celebrities such as Rula daily phone calls, emails and letters from Shopping Guide, Homemade Booklets or Lenska, Nicky Campbell, Vicki Michelle, Jilly concerned members of the public asking Eco Bag, please go to our website or call Johnson, Cindy Jackson, Dan Richardson, for clarification and advice on how to shop us on 01242 2527871. (The guide is now on and Matt Johnson at the beautiful cruelty-free. We welcome these queries sale for only £3! RRP £5.) Sanctum Soho Hotel in the heart of as the research that is often required We recruited top hair stylist Daniel Field The ‘stars’ of the film are pictured below: London. The event was a huge success. increases our knowledge of the many new and makeup artist Alexa Riva Ravina to test brands on the market. our cruelty-free products, all of which are This great event would not have been endorsed in the Compassionate Shopping possible without the support of the Due to popular demand, in April Guide. We found willing volunteers in actress compassionate and highly-skilled we launched two new booklets to Rula Lenska, model Daryna Milgevska, and people who willingly gave their time complement the well-established comedian Jake Yapp, who put their faith and expertise, cruelty-free companies Compassionate Shopping Guide. If you – and faces – in Daniel and Alexa’s hands. who generously donated their products, would like to be sure that your products And the results were astonishing - you refreshment sponsors and the Sanctum are completely cruelty-free, why not make might even say the results were stunning, Soho Hotel and Daniel Field Salon, who them yourself? gorgeous, cheeky… amazing! kindly provided the venues free of charge. Anneka Svenska and Cindy Jackson with a copy of the Compassionate Shopping Guide www.naturewatch.org www.naturewatch.org Lutsk Animal Rescue Educating Ukraine’s Younger Generation Throughout 2016, Naturewatch practice has been transformed with state- Management Programme, we conducted Foundation was able to provide of-the-art equipment. a second stray dog population survey to Care for Animals further funds for the Laska animal that revealed a huge 45% decrease in shelter to buy four crucial pieces of In addition to purchasing life-saving the number of dogs counted from the “Our school education program continues seminar about the success of the humane in January 2016. In May we held a two- diagnostic equipment and medicines equipment, we also held a six-day training previous year. This proves the success to grow from strength to strength. education lessons that have now been day teacher training course during for the veterinary clinic, together workshop that was not only attended of the city’s programme, and Dana Educating the next generation of pet incorporated into the region’s primary which delegates: received the necessary with additional humane catching by Laska employees, but also delegates Novarchuk and her compassionate team carers ensures the sustainability of school curriculum. materials to enable them to introduce equipment and cages for their new from three other city councils who are of animal rescuers are doing an excellent our program to reduce stray animal our program, participated in practical animal ambulance. keen to introduce a humane stray animal job for the residents of Lutsk, both human populations in Ukraine for the long-term.” Lviv tasks and discussions, were introduced to management programme. The training and furry! Caroline Ruane, Chief Executive In order to continue expanding our various methods of integrating humane The dedicated team at Laska now have all covered capture techniques using their Naturewatch Foundation program, in April we held a further education into lesson plans. the equipment they need to rescue dogs new catching equipment, correct and seminar which focused upon the inclusion and cats from the streets of Lutsk and safe animal handling, dog behaviour, and Young people are being taught to be of lessons for secondary school children. During 2017, our education program in safely transport them to their shelter. If the shelter management. responsible pet owners and to respect all As in Kiev, some of the teachers we are Ukraine will continue to grow, but the animals require veterinary attention, their animals as sentient beings. Throughout already working with made interesting speed at which this happens is reliant condition can be diagnosed immediately In order to monitor the effectiveness 2016, Naturewatch Foundation developed presentations during this event about their upon available funding. and treated swiftly now their veterinary of the Lutsk Municipal Stray Animal and expanded its program which is now experiences introducing the program to active in the following cities and regions: the children. This programme is conducted by our representative Oleksandr Bogachyk, with the Kiev Mikolaiv support of Olena Melnichenko and Natalie In March 2016 we held another seminar Our first teacher training conference in Sorokopud. and workshop which was attended 2014 was supported by key people by new delegates from Post Graduate from the Ministry of Education and Teacher Training Institutes in the region resulted in our program being and other cities, and some who are already formally added to the region’s involved with our program and wanted to primary school curriculum. In June share their positive experiences with new 2016, we held a second seminar, this colleagues. time in the city of Koblevo, which focused upon the inclusion of Lutsk preschool age children. A representative of the city’s education department and the head of the Volyn Melitopol Society for the Protection of Animals We launched our program in gave inspiring presentations at the Kiev this region at a conference held

Spay/Neuter Clinic, Kharkov It has been yet another busy year in “We receive 5 to 10 requests every Kharkov, with 355 pet dogs from low- week for pets to be spayed and income families now spayed/neutered, neutered. As there is currently a putting a stop to them contributing to financial crisis in our country, many the city’s stray dog population. people cannot even dream about affording such expensive surgery. We think £3,200 is a small price to pay If we continuously support these to prevent the suffering of potentially people, we will stop Kharkov’s stray 2,000 unwanted puppies abandoned on dog problem at its source. We really Kharkov’s streets in 2016 alone. Since this appreciate your help in this, both project started in 2012, your generosity the people and animals of Kharkov has allowed us to fund approximately benefit greatly from your help. 1,200 procedures costing around Thank you very much!” £10,000. This has prevented in excess of Natalie Sorokopud, 7,000 puppies from being born, many of Project Co-ordinator, Kharkov which would have lived a life of suffering on the streets, if they had survived.

www.naturewatch.org www.naturewatch.org Celebrating World Animal Day From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, World Animal Day (4 October) was celebrated with a huge variety of inspiring events throughout the globe. Thanks to our wonderful team, including colleagues in the USA, Ambassadors worldwide, volunteers, and YOU, animal welfare issues made front page news in all corners of the world. A few examples are featured on these pages. World Animal Day: • Was the number 1 trending topic worldwide on Twitter and Facebook - even the media commented on its popularity on social media! South Africa - In Kwa Zulu Natal, Funda Nenja organised a Taiwan – A huge celebration was attended by the Mayor who • Gained immense celebrity engagement. Thank you to all the compassionate celebrities who used this special march to draw attention to the value of animals in our lives and encouraged the public to help make Taipei a city that treats its opportunity to speak up for animals. the need for them to be treated humanely. animals kindly. • Swamped the media - Pickup around the world was unbelievable. • Continues to bring about a significant and lasting contribution towards advancing animal welfare standards. • Now has a team of 95 Ambassadors representing 75 countries who help ensure the influence of World Animal Day continues to grow towards raising the status of animals.

Bangladesh – To help fulfill the Mission of World Animal Day, Cyprus - Cyprus Voice for Animals and the Environment Veterinary Students held a free vaccination and animal treatment Commissioner organised a fundraising musical event at the camp, and organised a rally and seminar. Presidential Palace under the auspices of the First Lady.

Australia – At Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary, World Animal Day New Zealand – Auckland’s SPCA organised The Great Animal is always a big deal. Every year, farm animals take centre stage and Walk from Victoria Park to St Matthew-in-the-city church where the event is now so popular that tickets sell out in record time. an animal blessing service was held.

Bosnia & Herzegovina – Pupils of Velika Kladusa elementary Egypt – Amina Abaza submitted a Model Animal Welfare Act to the school spoke up for stray animals by creating a video and devoted Egyptian Parliament. Amina says: “Good animal protection legislation, a special edition of the school newspaper to World Animal Day. if respected, will save far more animals than shelters can ever do”.

Italy – In Trieste, during the opening ceremony of a 4-day Spain – In Malaga, the Mayfair International Academy held an Ethiopia – In Addis Ababa, a media forum was held on the Sri Lanka – A series of events were attended by 400 children celebration including talks, demonstrations, excursions, lectures, animal-themed fancy dress day. They shared images using the topic ‘Public and institutional integration for animal welfare where they were taught about the importance of treating children’s activities, information stalls and an animal blessing hashtag #worldanimalday to help raise the status of animals protection’, attended by more than 70 participants from different animals with compassion and kindness, listened to informative service, Alicia Andrews (right) was introduced as the country’s around the globe. government institutions and NGOs. talks by wildlife experts, watched an educational puppet show first Ambassador. and attended an art workshop. www.worldanimalday.org.uk www.worldanimalday.org.uk World Animal Day Grant Once again, we were inundated with In October, to mark World Animal Day, This is the third consecutive year that very worthy project applications from Naturewatch Foundation supporters Naturewatch Foundation has proudly countries such as Honduras, Liberia, committed to supporting an education sponsored this grant which accepts Malawi, Nigeria, Philippines, Serbia, program that will reach thousands of applications from our team of 95 Swaziland and Tanzania. people who make their living from Ambassadors around the world. working with animals in markets, pet After a great deal of careful consideration, shops and abattoirs. it was Dr Sulaiman Tameer Saeed, our Ambassador in Kurdistan, Iraq, who successfully secured the 2016 grant for two projects to be undertaken by The Kurdistan Organisation for Animal Rights Protection (KOARP) during the first few months of 2017.

The welfare of the region’s animals has been largely disregarded by government and there is no legislation in place to help protect them. Most animals are ill-treated, abused and suffer a life of misery at the hands of untrained people who make their living from working with animals, but lack the knowledge to care for them humanely.

The fact that Kurdistan is still developing means the region is at a stage where the people are keen to learn, making the possibilities for improving animal welfare standards huge. Leaving a Legacy And finally… Leaving a gift in your will is an Although standard will-making We hope that you’ve enjoyed reading opportunity for you to continue documents are available allowing this brief overview of our animal welfare supporting our work to end animal you to write your own will, it’s best to work in 2016 to improve the lives of cruelty long into the future. take professional advice to ensure the animals. For more comprehensive document is correctly worded. Many coverage, please visit our websites Previous gifts have helped fund much- solicitors offer a set price for drawing up www.naturewatch.org and needed veterinary equipment, vital animal standard wills. www.worldanimalday.org.uk. welfare training and other essential items that we might not otherwise have been If you don’t have access to the internet able to provide. and would like to know more, please contact our office and we’ll be We do not receive government or delighted to post further information corporate funding and so rely entirely to you. upon the generosity of our supporters to continue our work. All income is used We send you our very grateful to pursue the goals of the charity. We thanks for your wonderful support direct our funds responsibly, keep our during 2016 and look forward to your administration costs to a minimum, design continued assistance in the fight our own campaign literature and have no against animal cruelty in the years to expensive overheads. come.

Warm regards Important information for inclusion in your will: Charity Name: Naturewatch Foundation The Naturewatch Registered Charity Number: 1039679 Address: 49 Rodney Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1HX Foundation Team