The National Order of Veterinarians, “organization empowering the exercise of the veterinary profession in France [and] the guarantor of the competence of professionals and their ethics”, takes a stand in the fight that leads One Voice to release wild circus animals, including elephants Maya and Lechmee and hippopotamus Jumbo.
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Maya the elephant is at her end!
Maya the elephant is at her end!
Maya the elephant is at her end!
10.10.2017
France
Maya the elephant is at her end!
Exploitation for shows
Will it be that Maya collapses one day so that the public finally grasps the horror of her situation? A recent veterinary report tells us that this old elephant is now exhausted. One Voice files a complaint for acts of cruelty.
Will it be that Maya collapses one day so that the public finally grasps the horror of her situation? A recent veterinary report tells us that this old elephant is now exhausted. One Voice files a complaint for acts of cruelty.
Born in freedom 54 years ago, Maya has gone from circus to circus and from trailer to marquee throughout her life. But it is likely to end soon, according to the report of a Veterinarian consultant for One Voice, who considers her condition extremely alarming. This weekend, our investigators were on site. Despite our cry of warning, nothing has changed, except two jailers who now monitor her…
Her thinness is scary to see. Her limbs have become so thin that they hardly seem to be able to support her. Her limbs supporting her weight are in terrible pain, by adopting these aberrant postures to make children laugh. Many wounds cover her head and shoulders. Blows from billhooks during training? Finally, while elephants love to be in a group, in large families, Maya is isolated in a tiny pen. The circus claims she is in heat, but that seems unlikely at her age. On the other hand, her mental distress has clearly worsened. More than ever, Maya suffers from violent stereotypical disorders. She « senses » the air and surroundings without end the emptiness with her trunk. How could it be otherwise? Nothing distracts her from her abysmal boredom, except for a bundle of straw and tarmac floor soaking in urine under her chained legs.
The Veterinarian concludes: The conditions of Maya’s detention are animal cruelty. This elephant must be placed urgently in a sanctuary adapted to her needs, as the law and ethics require. If not, she will die.
From this alarming observation will soon come the previous reports of the Veterinary Inspection relating to Maya. The Administrative Documents Access Commission will allow us to access them soon, following our request dated May 15th, 2017.
Together with a complaint of cruelty, One Voice also filed an application to the Administrative Court concerned, to request that the Prefect be summoned, under penalty of 1000 euros per day, to withdraw Maya from the circus and hand over to the association the last three reports concerning the elephant’s state of health.
Maya is exhausted; One Voice will do everything to save her! Already, we have reserved her place in the Elephant Haven sanctuary that is ready to receive her in any emergency.
One voice in legal action for the release of the elephant Maya
One voice in legal action for the release of the elephant Maya
One voice in legal action for the release of the elephant Maya
06.10.2017
Agen
One voice in legal action for the release of the elephant Maya
Exploitation for shows
The One Voice association lodges a complaint with the Prosecutor of Agen for acts of cruelty to an animal held in captivity. It also files a reference « appropriate measures » to the Administrative Tribunal of Bordeaux, to request that the prefect of Lot-et-Garonne be summoned, under penalty of 1000 euros per day, to withdraw Maya from the circus and to hand over to the association the last three reports about Maya’s obviously alarming state of health.
One Voice is holding a press conference at Elephant Haven Elephant Sanctuary on Monday, October 9th at 11.00 am 1 to report on the release of the detained circus elephant Maya and her urgent transfer to the sanctuary.
Following numerous reports about Maya, one of the elephants from a « traditional » circus, the association asked a veterinarian to make an assessment of the animal from several videos taken by investigators. This sounded the alarm bells: « (…) the conditions of detention in which Maya is maintained are totally inadequate and fall well within the title of animal cruelty. Her health is extremely alarming and increases the urgency, and should be evaluated by a team of independent and specialized elephant veterinarians, appointed by the authorities to establish urgently a therapeutic and nutritional plan to improve her condition. If not, I think Maya’s chances of survival in the short term are greatly compromised. (…) »
Faced with this overwhelming report the association One Voice immediately filed a complaint to the Public Prosecutor for an act of cruelty, and also asked the administrative court to order the Prefect to fulfil its mission of protection of animals.
If these steps do not succeed, the association considers other actions because it is just inconceivable that the basic rights of this elephant are so flouted.
Finally, in the perspective of her rescue, the association made the decision to reserve a place for Maya in the Elephant Haven, whose team said it is ready to welcome the elephant as soon as it is released, even in the case of an emergency.
1 Press conference at Elephant Haven – Monday 9th October at 11am with:
- Muriel Arnal, president of One Voice
- The Elephant Haven Sanctuary Team
- Arielle Moreau, lawyer for One Voice
- Pierre Gallego, wildlife Consultant Veterinarian for One Voice
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40 legalized killings of wolves: One Voice opposes this
40 legalized killings of wolves: One Voice opposes this
40 legalized killings of wolves: One Voice opposes this
03.10.2017
France
40 legalized killings of wolves: One Voice opposes this
Wildlife
The list of slaughtered wolves continues to grow. 40 is the quota authorized by the government: we are at 19 today. One Voice no longer supports the announcement of all these deaths: stop the massacre of a species already too fragile and put in place solutions respectful of these beings and that of the environment.
The institutionalized death of 40 wolves
Wolf are you there? Can you hear me? Not sure he is still around, if we take the path of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Solidarity, who authorizes in the decree of July 18th, 2017 the « levy » of 40 wolves without distinction of age or gender within French territory. In other words, the annual measure makes it possible to kill indiscriminately about forty individuals of this species in order not to hinder pastoral activities. 19 have already paid the price, there are only 21 left! But finally, what about the 40 or so of an entire population, will you tell us about this?
Wolves: a species to protect
Many, knowing that 300 is the estimate of the total number of wolves in France and has been so for three years.It’s enough that the species passes the 34% mortality mark to stop its population from growing and to begin a downward trend towards its disappearance. And of course, it is to count these deaths without considering the natural and accidental deaths (accidents of the road) of these magnificent animals. Obviously, protecting them should be a priority, but the government does not see it that way.
An ineffective method to protect herds
The ministry preferred to focus on pastoral activities and this is not the first time. Culling wolves is supposed to reduce the damage caused by these predators on sheep flocks. However, today, no figure allows to affirm that the method is effective. According to the ESCo reports, the impact would even be counterproductive. So even if killing a wolf reduces the size of a pack, it does not diminish its hunting territory. And, as a result of the instability generated by the death of one of their own, wolves live in search of empty spaces and form new groups. The damage caused by them is undeniable, but have we thought of more effective solutions?
Alternatives to unjustified killings
Alternatives exist, but before being implemented, they imply « to consider animals other than interchangeable representatives of a species considered homogeneous ».
To be clearer, it is essential to study wolves not only in packs but also as individuals in their own right. These sentient animals also have an intellectual complexity and a variety of behaviours with their peers. The size of the territories, the survival of the litters, the dispersion rate of the wolves differs from one group to the another. If we took the time to observe them, it would be possible to learn to send them intelligible messages or to carry out a targeted and non-violent sampling of threatening individuals after a rigorous surveillance.
In the short term, proven prevention methods can be used. They consist of setting up guarding and enhanced surveillance of herds, or investing in equipment for restraint pens.
Wolves: benefactors for the benefit of the ecosystem
In the collective imagination, wolves are associated with animals arousing dismay and fear. However, for those who want to take a closer look, these are beautiful animals with a sense of smell 20,000 times greater than ours, defending their family and managing to unify their pack with nothing but their howling! Wolves are an integral part of our ecosystem and help maintain its balance. On the other hand, pastoral activity is far from being beneficial for the ecosystem: it causes the degradation of high-altitude grasslands, and contributes to the impoverishment of the fauna and flora. Not to mention that it perpetuates the exploitation of cattle, sheep and goats …
Stop the slaughter of wolves and find more respectful solutions! But before being able to implement alternatives, One Voice appealed to the State Council to demand right now the cancellation of Article 1 of the decree, namely the slaughter of 40 individuals from July 2017 to June 2018.
Jo and Liberty: two cows, two destinies
Jo and Liberty: two cows, two destinies
Jo and Liberty: two cows, two destinies
02.10.2017
France
Jo and Liberty: two cows, two destinies
Other campaign or multi-campaigns of One Voice
They both felt fear. Coming from this windowless hell were cries, noise, and screams of pain mixed with the odour of blood and entrails. Jo and Liberty didn’t want to go in. Jo fell, Liberty fled…
Jo fell from the van. Just a calf, he broke his pelvis falling on the floor. He was then pulled across a « rough surface, » he had to get up. But how can you when your tendons are broken, and your muscles torn? No-one bent down to help him, support him, speak to him, or to shorten his suffering. So Jo stayed on the bare concrete, in the pouring rain for almost two days. The abattoir’s neighbour, the Society for the Protection of Animals, was helpless. The management ignored the societies request to act. The manager of the establishment was taken to court. We are waiting for the judgement at the end of June.
Liberty was luckier. In June 2005, this beautiful blonde cow from the Aquitaine region, distraught at the odour of blood, jumped over the barriers to escape from the Auch abattoir, then ran as fast as she could, as far away as possible from this house of horror… Hungry, she found herself in a much appreciated lush green garden. She hoped for a bit of peace but it is not easy for a cow to hide! Her executioners managed to find her and took her back to the abattoir but upon examination the vet said she was too stressed – adrenaline ruins the taste of meat. So her slaughter was delayed to the next day. For One Voice, it was the beginning of a fierce battle. Here followed twenty-four hours of tough negotiations, intense pressure, and an interview with Arthur
(a well-known French TV and radio presenter) and Muriel Arnal! Thanks to media and public support in a time when social networks did not exist, Liberty was saved. For ten years, she lived happily in one of the member’s sanctuaries. She died peacefully from old age at the end of a happy life.
The real taste of meat is the taste of fear. Whether the cow is brought up in a field, treated well, nurtured, fed on the best grains, or has lived the nightmare of industrial farming: the issue remains the same. From birth, the calf is condemned to death on a precise date, determined by its race or function, milk producer, steak or pale child flesh. No other destiny is possible other than to finish on death row, at the end of a more or less short life. When a cow escapes, as Liberty did, the law refuses her the right to live out her life in a welcoming sanctuary. She must die, because she has been born for that, she has been fed for that and she cannot represent a loss on an investment.
Today, French consumers are more and more affected by the question of animal well-being. Certain people refuse to go to a dolphinarium, because of the suffering of the dolphins there. Others refuse to consume palm oil, because orangutans die for it to be produced. Without doubt it is time for us to confront another truth which is just as cruel and is much closer to home: meat is the remains of an assassinated animal person. These muscles are taken from a cow with big soft black eyes, who would also have loved to graze with his friends in a big field, or play childhood games, where death will only befall naturally. « Everyone is scared of death », said the Buddha, « everyone wants happiness ». This is also true for cows!
Respect for dogs: A nonviolent education is possible – Testify!
Respect for dogs: A nonviolent education is possible – Testify!
Respect for dogs: A nonviolent education is possible – Testify!
28.09.2017
Respect for dogs: A nonviolent education is possible – Testify!
Domestic animals
A call for Witnesses: One Voice invites you to share your experience of nonviolent education. Dogs are not weapons!
A respectful dog training
A positive and non-violent education, provided by professionals, exists. And it is happy and fulfilled that these dogs live their lives. Our companions are not weapons, and One Voice is formally opposed to training so-called defence dogs. But the association does not tar all with the same brush, many great educators implement methods that respect dogs and allow humans to live with them a relationship of complicity and harmony.
Testify!
With us, show that, without blows, shouting or domination the dogs flourish with us. The fulfilling game and the complicity can only exist with respect. So that the caring education of our canine companions becomes the norm, share your testimony! Whether you are an educator yourself or have chosen this path for the dog (s) with whom you share your life, send us your photos and videos, we will pass them on to our blog or our networks.
Together, let’s get to know the positive methods for good and happy dogs. Let’s refuse the violence. Respect for our canine companions!
Discover below a list (not exhaustive) of canine educators who put into practice non-violent methods to accompany very gentle dogs:
Circuses with animals : the municipality of Tours slams the door in the face of the association One Voice
Circuses with animals : the municipality of Tours slams the door in the face of the association One Voice
Circuses with animals : the municipality of Tours slams the door in the face of the association One Voice
27.09.2017
France
Circuses with animals : the municipality of Tours slams the door in the face of the association One Voice
Exploitation for shows
Unexpectedly, One Voice was refused by the city of Tours to attend the veterinary visit of circus animals participating in the circus festival on Saturday, September 30th, 2017 following the invitation it had made to the opponents of captivity. One Voice has again asked the Mayor to review her copy and allow them to speak for captive animals.
The response from the Town hall of Tours amazed us: « We already have a person who will represent all of the associations ». To summarize: « Move on, there is nothing to see … » One Voice is not satisfied with such an answer. The cause is important enough that this visit – which must determine whether the captive animals are happy or not – this is open to a large majority. Unless the invitation was just a sham?
One Voice, we recall, is a voice for animals, and has been for over twenty years.
As a reminder, since 1991, One Voice has been fighting against the exploitation of animals in circuses. The first in France to have filed complaints against circuses with animals and to have obtained liberation², One Voice has never stopped fighting to save these animal victims of the captivity, the methods of training and the stress of the performances as well as transportation.
This summer, we launched a massive campaign³ to save animals that « live » in circuses. We even went to court for Jumbo4 the hippopotamus, as well as for four old elephants like Maya5, whose situation continues to worsen, Lechmee (blind and disabled), Kamala and Mina. But also, for Samba6 and the lion Sultan.
We also remember all those we saved from these places of boredom and constraint for wild animals: elephants, lions, tigers, monkeys … and to whom we were able to offer a retreat away from human constraints.
We are taken aback to still have to justify today our legitimate place on this issue with the public authorities !
The Circassians are well aware, they who launched a group attack against One Voice this summer, after we wanted to improve the living conditions of the animals they own.
2 The presentation of our fight for animals held in circuses
3 Our campaign site against circuses with animals
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One Voice responds to the Central Society for Canines
One Voice responds to the Central Society for Canines
One Voice responds to the Central Society for Canines
26.09.2017
France
One Voice responds to the Central Society for Canines
Domestic animals
One Voice has taken note of the position of the Central Society for Canines, denouncing the behaviour of the trainers that they have filmed and being ready to punish their heavy handling of dogs.
One Voice welcomes this commitment even if it seems difficult to talk about simple excesses when this type of phenomenon is so widespread. This type of training favours a hierarchical type of relationship with an animal that will only too often be trained by means of violence and domination, to the detriment of the real needs of the dog.
Fortunately, there are more and more animal-friendly methods of training for defence than others. One Voice however condemns the very principle of using these dogs as weapons, believing that they are companions of life that deserve another destiny.
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Say No to animal testing on Paris’ rats
Say No to animal testing on Paris’ rats
Say No to animal testing on Paris’ rats
25.09.2017
Paris
Say No to animal testing on Paris’ rats
Animal testing
On 25th September 2017, a program will be potentially validated: it concerns the fight against rats and mice in the capital. Captures and experiments are on the program for small rodents in Paris whose reputation has never been good. One Voice opposes this and calls for the implementation of innovative and painless methods to put an end to violent practices on animals!
A plan of action against rodents and mice
On September 25th, a research and development agreement between the Paris City Hall and the VetAgro School must be voted for. At the request of the city, the Department of Wildlife and Sanitary Action (DFAS) of the Parisian Department of Environmental Health (SPSE) is putting together a plan of action against rodents and mice. Captures limited to rats will be made in two districts of Paris in order to test their resistance to anticoagulants and drastically reduce the rat population of Paris.
One Voice is against it!
At the announcement of a program where the experimentation of extremely powerful products is the key part, One Voice takes its pen to defend the cause of these little beings, victims of so many prejudices! We sent a letter to Mrs Hidalgo asking for the implementation of more respectful solutions, stating that the regulation on the reaping of wild animals in the wild is strictly regulated. In any case, they cannot be tested unless it is a scientifically proven necessity, which remains to be demonstrated for these rats!
The rats’ bad reputation: »vermin »
Unfortunately, there are many prejudices about rats. Too often seen as small « dirty », « ugly » animals, rodents are additionally classified as « vermin », a category created by humans and not to hinder human activities. The classification makes it possible to provide a legal framework for hunting and the eradication of certain species that have their place in nature and our ecosystem. And it is sometimes letting one’s imagination run free that man gets to work. As far as rats are concerned, the solution of anticoagulants is suggested to the Paris City Council. Allegedly less cruel, they cause symptoms of rare violence: pulmonary haemorrhages, intracranial or gastrointestinal, etc. The agony meanwhile, can last up to 7 days … Needless to say that the suffering is very real.
Rats, sentient animals
Studies in biology, neuroscience or ethnology show that rats are sensitive. In 2010, in Chicago, researchers highlighted the capacity of empathy in these small rodents. They observed the reactions of two rats: one free, the other locked up. Initially, no reward is planned and yet the free rat finds a way to save his companion by opening the cage. And when a piece of chocolate is available, the release of the companion remains a priority and the reward shared. Empathy is obvious and the intelligence of the animal is remarkable. Are there no other more painless methods to reduce the population of the Parisian rats?
Innovative and ecological alternatives
For we are not convinced of the expeditious methods mentioned in the plan against rodents and mice, we suggest three painless alternatives to Mrs. Hidalgo.
Some ultrasounds may have a contraceptive effect on male rats. Research has also been done on a so-called immune contraceptive vaccine. Its goal is to create a reproductive antigen. Finally, it is possible to turn to low dosage hormonal contraceptives, used on women for many years.
In fact, our association presents Paris’ authorities with three solutions, respecting the animals, the environment and responding to the request for the reduction of the rat population; a need when approaching the Olympics maybe?
Unique investigation: One Voice denounces the violence used in the sport of dog obedience training
Unique investigation: One Voice denounces the violence used in the sport of dog obedience training
Unique investigation: One Voice denounces the violence used in the sport of dog obedience training
20.09.2017
France
Unique investigation: One Voice denounces the violence used in the sport of dog obedience training
Domestic animals
The investigators of One Voice have infiltrated a dozen French dog training centres between 2014 to 2017 known as defence for sporting purposes (obedience trials) or security (guarding). The images and proof they have just brought back illustrates the violence used in the training of these dogs, which end up aggressive and dangerous.
This activity, which has nothing to do with leisure, feeds the networks with so called working dogs. It causes the abandonment of dogs that have become aggressive and dangerous. This situation leads to the unfortunate and predictable accidents leading to them being put down. One Voice is calling for a ban on this type of dog training, dog training involving biting and of so-called « defence dogs » that turn them into lethal weapons. It is a question of respect for the dog as a sentient being, but also a question of national security. All dogs are entitled to the respect and warmth of a loving home.
The conditions of the investigation
The ring (obedience trial) is the most popular dog sport in France with over 7000 licensed members and nearly 750 clubs registered in 2016 (1). The dog training community of the Ring in France is a very closed organisation and the trainers are suspicious of any newcomers. In took three years for the investigators of One Voice to be fully accepted, and to be able to film with a hidden camera the activities of several centres, including some very famous ones. Their observations were reported (to read or download the investigation you’ll find it at the bottom of this page).
What is the Ring ?
Considered as a canine sport, training for the Ring consists of obedience, jumping and biting tests in which dogs must, for example, jump fences, bring back objects, refuse bait and attack and bite on command, in different stages. Dogs must obey instantly, without thinking. They must be an extension of whoever controls them (the « handler »). The Ring is reserved for so-called defence dogs, mainly Malinois and German shepherds.
Instead of a fun activity of complicity between the human and the dog, the fusion that seems so perfect during competitions is far from the fruit of a wonderful communication. It is actually based on a violent denaturation of the animal.
A dog « handler » explains: « In the Ring, it is completely robotic, it is a mechanical thing. The dog is just a robot that obeys, we teach it, it learns very quickly. Not so much a robot, since it is learning, but it can only do what it is taught. In the Ring, it has no opportunity for anything else, there is no freedom for the dog, it is completely submissive. »
Unacceptable training conditions, similar to methods of torture
The coercive methods observed are the result of mistreatment or even cruelty: cries, electrocution, spiked collars, choking by hanging, whipping and lashing, brutal hits from whips and cables, deprivation of food, all are common practices from a very young age. The investigators filmed many scenes and discussions which are visible on the site that is dedicated to this campaign.
The behaviour of dogs is irreparably transformed
This type of training does not only treat the dog as an object, it turns it into a weapon. While the authorities established a law in 2008 prohibiting biting, these dogs are transformed into real killing machines for the purpose of leisure.
Muriel Arnal, president of One Voice, says:
« Training dogs for the Ring is not a hobby. It is organized torture, with the sole objective of satisfying the ego and the need for domination of those who orchestrate and publicize it. How many dogs are sacrificed and how many dramatic accidents will it take to put an end to this legalized cruelty, which turns dogs into weapons? One Voice is calling for a ban on this type of dog training and the training of so-called defence dogs. »
These practices are obviously sources of suffering for dogs, who seek only to protect themselves from punishment by submitting to the contradictory orders of their trainer. This violence condemns these dogs to isolation outside of the training: isolation made necessary due the potential danger they pose towards other beings. Trainers « put them away » like equipment into transport crates, into car trunks or in cellars. Deprived of the love of a home, subjected to extreme violence the rest of the time, their confinement, which in itself is a matter of abuse, reinforces their aggressiveness. One Voice recently complained in several cases about dogs detained in this way.
Website for the campaign: dressage-des-chiens.fr
Cases related to security and dressage:
- In July: Echo: https: //twitter.com/onevoicean …
- In August, Amos: https: //twitter.com/onevoicean …
- In February, trial of a trainer: https: //twitter.com/onevoicean …
Articles:
https://one-voice.fr/en/blog/one-voice-demande-justice.html
https://one-voice.fr/fr/blog/clubs-canins-en-perdition.html
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