Collectives of hunters, ca eivissenc breeders, fishermen and dog agility practitioners took to the streets on Saturday morning in Vila against the measures planned for the future Animal Welfare Act, which, they warn, would mean the end of hunting and would endanger the continuity of some breeds. In addition to the restrictions on hunting, the text of the preliminary draft of this Animal Welfare Act prohibits the participation of animals in parades, nativity scenes and processions.
“It will not be possible to celebrate the blessing of animals on the day of Sant Antoni or the festivities of Sant Joan with horses in Menorca”, criticized the secretary of the Ibizan delegation of the Balearic Federation of Hunting on Ibiza, Vicent Torres. The main concern of the hunters of the Animal Welfare Act who concentrated in s’Alamera yesterday are the restrictions foreseen for the breeding of dogs, since it will be vetoed to individuals and only professionals who are registered as breeders will be able to practice. “We hunters have lines of dogs that we have been crossing with the good specimens for decades”, reminded Torres.
Animal Welfare Act and Ca eivissenc
Similarly, the Association of Breeders of Ca Eivissenc fear for the future of this native breed if the Animal Welfare Act text prepared by the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030 goes ahead. “We will not be able to breed among each other and we will have to castrate them”, regrets Dioni Saborido, member of the board of this association.
Not only animals for hunting, but any dog that goes outdoors or that may come into contact with specimens of the opposite sex will also have to be sterilized. Similarly, the sale and exhibition of animals in stores would also be banned.
“We are facing policies of the Walt Disney and Bambi era, with children who think that chickens come out of supermarkets”
A large number of demonstrators have come to the meeting with their pets, such as Elsa Planells and her dog Peny. “She is spayed, but I come here because I want to defend my right to have my dogs,” she has stressed. Alongslide her, her father Joan from the Society of Hunters of Sant Josep has expressed his frustration with the Administration: “They only want to prohibit, just as they are already doing with marine reserves, because you will not be able to go fishing anywhere”.
“We are facing policies of the Walt Disney and Bambi era, with children who think that chickens come out of supermarkets,” said the president of the Ibizan delegation of the Balearic Hunting Federation, Toni Reyes.
Animal Welfare Act could affect hunter’s forest care
“It is already difficult to find a generational replacement, but with this law, hunting will no longer be viable,” said Reyes. “The only objective they have is to annoy people so that they do not have animals and so that we do not go hunting or fishing,” added Vicent Torres.
Some 200 people demonstrate on Ibiza against the Animal Welfare Act being prepared by the Government | JOSEP ÀNGEL COSTA
“In the preserves, we clear the forest, open firebreaks and sow grain that benefits all the animals”
Both representatives of the group have warned that, with their activity, an important forest mass is maintained, with the consequent prevention of fires. “In the preserves, we clear the forest and open firebreaks, we sow grain that benefits all the animals, not only the birds, as well as maintaining drinking and feeding troughs”. Likewise, both the delegation of the Balearic Hunting Federation and the Society of Hunters of Sant Josep have hired people who, in addition to taking care of the preserves, are responsible for catching snakes with traps.
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