Shelter for all British horses and farm animals
- by: Karen McMillan
- recipient: UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Owning a horse or a farm animal takes hard work to feed them and to care for them. If we are to take the responsibility of working with farm animals and owning a horse or a group of horses there is so much to consider. The five freedoms from the animal welfare act state simply and clearly what must be given to the animals. Freedom from hunger and thirst. Freedom from discomfort. Freedom from pain, injury or disease. Freedom to express ( most) normal behaviour. Freedom from fear and distress. For many horse owners and farmers shelter comes way down on the list on what to provide for their animals. There are many owners who buy a horse or horses and rent an open field/paddock with no man made shelter or natural shelter given and the animals are left outside all day and all night with no chance of rest on dry ground or shelter from the hot weather. There are farmers who rely on their sheep and cows to endure either the very hot weather or the severe harsh cold weather, particuarly heavy rain and strong winds, with no shelter provided and are left out 24'7 in these conditions.
It is natural for all animals to be outside in their natural environment but if we are to keep them confined we must provide all their basic needs. Shelter is of the highest importance so the animals can choose whether they would like to rest on dry, warm and comfortable ground or take shade from the hot sun. Many professional vets, farmers and horse owners agree that shelter must be provided. If shelter is provided it must be safe, positioned well, of good size, dry, warm and comfortable. Freedom from discomfort states that all horses and farm animals must be given shelter. If enough signatures are signed it will be sent to the British government of Agriculture and will speak for those who cannot. Education on shelter instills all of us to care more on the animals who have no choice but to endure our changing weather. It educates our future generations on animal care and how working together makes for a fairer way on animal welfare. It is about the animals and not us. Working together on this is far more productive than the blame game.
No animal whatever the breed deserves to be standing in cold, heavy wet rain and in the bitter cold winds and with rain that go on for more than two or three days. All horses and farm animals deserve a space where they can choose to rest on dry, clean, comfortable, warm ground and safe shelter and protect them from the harsh elements. Feel free to sign petition.
Many Thanks
Karen McMillan.
To whom it may concern
This is a petition and it's signatures from those who also believe that all farm animals and horses must have dry, clean and well sized shelter, no matter what the breed. That all owners who own kept animals must provide shelter for them from the harsh, freezing, wet weather and from the hot heat in the summer months. We have a responsiblity to ensure that every single animal that is kept in an open field all day and night is given the complete five freedoms and that it is for the government and Defra to make sure that their owners are providing this, through simple checks, new education, re-training and with the upmost of compassion for every animal in Britain. These gentle animals deserve to live in comfort and with the upmost respect instead to be left alone in fields, cold, continually wet, with no choice of resting their bodies on dry ground and many who are left neglected from the five freedoms which is happeing all over Britain.
Thank you
Karen McMillan.
Thanks for your signatures.
Karen x
Not far to go, if you can please share, only around 300 more signatures! X
Thanks
Karen x
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