Across the EU many cows suffer from painful and debilitating illnesses such as lameness and mastitis. Inadequate care and poor living conditions are all too frequent because there are no rules in place to protect dairy cows. We need to act now to protect dairy cows from this suffering.

Unlike pigs and hens, the EU has no specific legislation covering the welfare of Europe's 23 million dairy cows -- leaving them unprotected and at risk.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is calling for new rules to protect dairy cows across Europe. We will be bringing this issue to the attention of the Commissioner, Members of the European Parliament and the Agriculture Ministers of the EU Member States.

Please sign our petition today and tell the European Commission to start protecting dairy cows.

To EU Commissioner,

Europe's 23 Million cows don't have specific rules to protect their welfare as there are for pigs and hens. I think it's unfair and I believe we need to show our hard-working dairy cows some love.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has joined forces with Compassion in World Farming and ice-cream makers Ben & Jerry's to campaign for better dairy. I support them in calling for an EU Directive to improve the welfare of Europe's 23 million dairy cows.

[Your comments will be inserted here]

I want you to use your influence to introduce a specific EU Directive to protect dairy cows. The campaign Supporting Better Dairy has a full proposal on the Directive content that I believe you should consider. You can view it at http://www.happycows.eu/EUDirectiveContent

Thank you,
[Your name here]