Help the Lakesland 13
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The Lakesland 13 refers to 13 activists who made an open rescue attempt to free the Hens from a free range egg facility in Lakesland NSW Australia. NSW Hen Rescue and Legion Dx Sydney received anonymous footage that showed these hens in deplorable conditions. They decided to take action when they were not satisfied that the hens best interests were at the forefront of the pending investigation by the RSPCA.
This campaign is to assist rescuers who were charged with a range of offences including animal cruelty for attempting to rescue the hens from starvation, with their legal costs. Any remaining funds will be directed towards NSW Hen Rescue so they can continue their tireless work liberating Hens.
THE STORY SO FAR ...
BREAKING: CAUSE OF LAKESLAND HEN SUFFERING IS ILLEGAL FORCED MOULT
According to information Mark Pearson (Animal Justice Party NSW) received from Steve Coleman, CEO of the RSPCA NSW, the farmer of 220 Mowbray Park Road, Lakesland, was found to be conducting an illegal forced moult. This is when someone purposefully causes immense stress to laying hens by starving and withholding water to force them into a moult. Many will die but the aim is to increase egg production overall at the end of the process.
Where it all began:
Following an anonymous tip from a member of the public, footage has been released of thousands of hens struggling for life in a free-range egg laying facility in Lakesland, NSW. The footage highlights the appalling conditions in which the hens live, without food or water, lying amongst the bodies of those already deceased.
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The whistle-blower that discovered the gruesome scene immediately contacted the RSPCA who informed them that there was nothing they could do. They were referred to the local police, who also failed to arrive at the site.
"I was shocked to see the appalling state of these hens and the piles of dead bodies”, stated Catherine Kelaher of NSW Hen Rescue. “I was unable to approach the facility without feeling the cracking of bones underfoot as there were so many dead. Although this footage is particularly heinous, this type of scene is common in the egg industry where hens such as these are treated as nothing but a commodity”.
Catherine is requesting that all who see the footage contact the RSPCA (02 9770 7555) and demand action to be taken. The footage has been released on NSW Hen Rescue's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/NSWHenRescue/videos/2124469210914703/
Isy Veira from the animal liberation group Legion DX Sydney, is demanding that the facility be shut down immediately, the owner prosecuted and for all hens to be rescued and given medical attention. NSW Hen rescue made it clear they were able to provide all of this as they are a registered charity. "Free range does not mean free from cruelty or harm” Isy clarified.
On Thurs 21 June over a week after the original complaint had been made and after the failure of RSPCA to respond to the plight of the Lakesland Hens, up to 30 members and supporters staged a protest outside the Lakesland Farm. RSPCA inspectors were on site and when seen leaving the site and questioned by rescuers on the state of the hens they refused to offer any information on the hens or release them to the care of the rescuers. At this point negotiations failed and an open rescue attempt was made to release these hens from the horror of this farm.
Watch the rescue attempt here: https://www.facebook.com/NSWHenRescue/videos/2131089770252647
13 people were arrested and charged with animal cruelty. Police have falsely claimed that rescuers killed hens despite the fact these girls were found drowning in their own excrement and gasping for breath as clearly demonstrated in the footage.
The RSPCA has allowed the farmer to continue operating despite the atrocities and neglect to these hens. They have instructed him to depopulate the shed by 1500 birds, meaning that they will be sent for slaughter. Negotiations were started by the RSPCA with the farmer however he has refused to allow the hens to be rescued. The RSPCA are not using their powers to seize these birds and instead are allowing this monster to continue.
We implore the RSPCA to stop the PR spin and do the right thing by the Lakesland Hens by allowing them to be released to safety with NSW Hen Rescue.
For Further Comment:
Catherine Kelaher
NSW Hen Rescue
Email: [email redacted]
Isy Veira
Legion DX Sydney
[email redacted]
This campaign is to assist rescuers who were charged with a range of offences including animal cruelty for attempting to rescue the hens from starvation, with their legal costs. Any remaining funds will be directed towards NSW Hen Rescue so they can continue their tireless work liberating Hens.
THE STORY SO FAR ...
BREAKING: CAUSE OF LAKESLAND HEN SUFFERING IS ILLEGAL FORCED MOULT
According to information Mark Pearson (Animal Justice Party NSW) received from Steve Coleman, CEO of the RSPCA NSW, the farmer of 220 Mowbray Park Road, Lakesland, was found to be conducting an illegal forced moult. This is when someone purposefully causes immense stress to laying hens by starving and withholding water to force them into a moult. Many will die but the aim is to increase egg production overall at the end of the process.
Where it all began:
Following an anonymous tip from a member of the public, footage has been released of thousands of hens struggling for life in a free-range egg laying facility in Lakesland, NSW. The footage highlights the appalling conditions in which the hens live, without food or water, lying amongst the bodies of those already deceased.
------------------------------ ------------------------------ ---
The whistle-blower that discovered the gruesome scene immediately contacted the RSPCA who informed them that there was nothing they could do. They were referred to the local police, who also failed to arrive at the site.
"I was shocked to see the appalling state of these hens and the piles of dead bodies”, stated Catherine Kelaher of NSW Hen Rescue. “I was unable to approach the facility without feeling the cracking of bones underfoot as there were so many dead. Although this footage is particularly heinous, this type of scene is common in the egg industry where hens such as these are treated as nothing but a commodity”.
Catherine is requesting that all who see the footage contact the RSPCA (02 9770 7555) and demand action to be taken. The footage has been released on NSW Hen Rescue's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/NSWHenRescue/videos/2124469210914703/
Isy Veira from the animal liberation group Legion DX Sydney, is demanding that the facility be shut down immediately, the owner prosecuted and for all hens to be rescued and given medical attention. NSW Hen rescue made it clear they were able to provide all of this as they are a registered charity. "Free range does not mean free from cruelty or harm” Isy clarified.
On Thurs 21 June over a week after the original complaint had been made and after the failure of RSPCA to respond to the plight of the Lakesland Hens, up to 30 members and supporters staged a protest outside the Lakesland Farm. RSPCA inspectors were on site and when seen leaving the site and questioned by rescuers on the state of the hens they refused to offer any information on the hens or release them to the care of the rescuers. At this point negotiations failed and an open rescue attempt was made to release these hens from the horror of this farm.
Watch the rescue attempt here: https://www.facebook.com/NSWHenRescue/videos/2131089770252647
13 people were arrested and charged with animal cruelty. Police have falsely claimed that rescuers killed hens despite the fact these girls were found drowning in their own excrement and gasping for breath as clearly demonstrated in the footage.
The RSPCA has allowed the farmer to continue operating despite the atrocities and neglect to these hens. They have instructed him to depopulate the shed by 1500 birds, meaning that they will be sent for slaughter. Negotiations were started by the RSPCA with the farmer however he has refused to allow the hens to be rescued. The RSPCA are not using their powers to seize these birds and instead are allowing this monster to continue.
We implore the RSPCA to stop the PR spin and do the right thing by the Lakesland Hens by allowing them to be released to safety with NSW Hen Rescue.
For Further Comment:
Catherine Kelaher
NSW Hen Rescue
Email: [email redacted]
Isy Veira
Legion DX Sydney
[email redacted]
Organizer
Isy Veira
Organizer
Rossmore NSW
