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Vegan activists are urging the Scottish Government to install mandatory CCTV in sheep shearing sheds across the country.
The calls, from vegan charity PETA, follow the organization’s exposé of 24 Scottish wool farms, which revealed workers violently sheep in the face, stamping and standing on their heads and necks, and beating and jabbing them in the face with sharp electric clippers.
Now the group has written to Scotland’s Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, Mairi Gougeon asking her to ‘stay true to the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, specifically Section 19, by making the installation of CCTV cameras in sheep sheds compulsory’.
Cruelty accusations
“The wool industry is trying to dismiss accusations of cruelty after workers were caught violently abusing sheep, but don’t be fooled by its crocodile tears,” PETA Asia Senior Vice President, Jason Baker, said in a statement.
“This is the second wool investigation we’ve conducted in the UK this year, and what we’ve found is standard practice. The industry simply can’t justify or even explain away the documented abuse.”
PETA adds: “It’s vital that this cruelty not be allowed to continue out of view of the law…introducing CCTV cameras into shearing sheds may very well stop some of the most egregious mistreatment that these sheep endure. If the wool industry won’t support the installation of cameras, it’s not serious about adhering to even the most minimal animal-welfare standards.
PETA’s investigation revealed animal abuse
‘Shocked and saddened’
The newest investigation follows earlier undercover footage taken in English wool farms, which British Wool issued a statement in response to, saying: “We are shocked and saddened by the behavior of the (two) contractors filmed secretly.
“As a farmer-owned organisation, British Wool collects and sells the wool on behalf of British farmers. We are passionate and committed to continuously seeking to improve shearing skills and good practice in the UK.
“We would like to point out that the vast majority of the thousands of shearers in the UK operate to the highest standards of animal welfare, which is an integral part of all our shearing courses.”
Plant Based News has contacted the office of Mairi Gougeon for comment.
