World News Roundup: August 18, 2017

Closed Circuit TV Coming to English Slaughterhouses (Standard Republic)

In an effort to be seen as a “global leader on animal welfare … slaughterhouses in England will be mandatorily fitted with CCTV when new plans to safeguard animal welfare and reassure consumers come into effect.” This following a pledge by the Conservative Party to ensure transparency and unrestricted access for veterinary officials to all areas where live animals are kept.

Pet Insurance Premiums on the Rise in Australia (NewsMail)

Pet owners in Australia need to prepare for an increase in pet insurance premiums as animals age. “Most insurance is risk-rated, whether it’s your house or your life insurance or your pet insurance,’ says an executive at Canstar, Australia’s financial comparison website. Full coverage for a 7-year-old dog may exceed $1100, while a policy for a 4-year-old dog falls under $800.

Protesters Claim Abuse at Ottawa Zoo (CBC News)

“Ontario's minister of community safety says she is ‘very concerned’ about a new video allegedly showing animal abuse at an Ottawa-area zoo after protesters rallied outside her office on Monday. But despite Marie-France Lalonde’s public comments this week, there is still no clear sign that zoos will be regulated in the province any time soon.” Alleged abuse includes violence against sheep and lions.

MarineLand Canada Villified for Death of Young Beluga Whale (EuroInvestor)

The director of investigations at Last Chance for Animals had this to say about the death of a beluga whale at MarineLand Canada: “LCA documented her decline over five months in 2015 and reported the neglect that led her to become undernourished, emaciated, and isolated from her pod to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals—but no action was taken. Gia is another casualty of the ongoing failure of Marineland Canada to meet the most basic standards of care for their animals.” The official cause of death was reported as intestinal torsion.

Chinese Officials Crack Down on Illegal Dog Meat Trade (Xinhuanet)

Last week, police raided a suspected illegal meat distribution center in Beijing and confiscated 34 dogs, 1 of which was microchipped. This comes on the heels of multiple other police raids on stolen pets destined for the illegal meat trade. “According to Chinese law, those producing and selling toxic or hazardous food can face the death penalty. Stealing pets and working animals, as well as unlicensed keeping of dogs of unknown origins are felonies.”

Pakistan and United Arab Emirates Universities Join AAVMC (AAVMC)

Two affiliate members have joined the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges: Pakistan’s University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, which has about 5000 students, and United Arab Emirates University, which has about 14,000 students. “Affiliate membership in the AAVMC provides institutions with a variety of benefits, including access to important data and analytics, meetings and events, advocacy and international engagement programs.”

IOE Releases Report on Worldwide Antimicrobial Use (Food Safety News)

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has released its first overview of the use of antimicrobials in animals. Of the 180 member nations, 130 contributed to the report, which includes data from 2010 to 2015. Among the findings: 96 of the reporting countries (74%) don’t allow the use of antimicrobial agents for growth promotion in animals.

300 Tons of Marine Animal Remains Discovered on Chinese Ship (ABC News)

“Authorities in Ecuador have detained 20 Chinese crewmembers on a ship found near the Galapagos holding 300 tons of frozen marine animals—some from species in danger of extinction.” Among the animal parts found on board were frozen shark fins and hammerhead shark remains.

Tiger Undergoes Dental Work in Denmark (Euronews)

After being shot with a tranquilizer gun and carried to an exam table, a 14-year-old Sumatran tiger underwent treatment for a toothache. According to the chair of the Animal Ethics Council in Denmark, “In the last 6 years the zoos around Denmark have hired increasing numbers of animal doctors” who are “able to intervene at an earlier stage than before … and that has resulted in a higher level of animal welfare in the zoos.”