Animal Welfare Groups protest National's cruelty to pigs and chickens

There will be a public demonstration at noon tomorrow (Wednesday, September 22) on Parliament grounds protesting National's decision to vote against the first reading of Sue Kedgley's Animal Welfare Ammendment Bill. A focal point of the demonstration will be a sow crate which will be available to be "tried out for size" by all MP's.

Several MP's from Labour and the Greens have indicated they will get in the crate. The demonstration will feature speakers, including actor Loren Horsley (Eagle vs. Shark) as Sue Kedgley and figures from national animal welfare groups A petition to Parliament to ban the use of sow crates will also be presented.

Ewan Kingston, a spokesperson for Standing for Welfare in Farming Techniques (SWIFT) said the demonstration was a chance for Wellingtonians to show their dissappointment at National's decision to effectively remove the issue of sow crates and hen cages from the public forum, and an opportunity for decision-makers to get a real sense of the grim living conditions many farm animals in New Zealand are currently subjected to.

"There are tens of thousands of sows and millions of hens in unacceptable living conditions in New Zealand right now. They suffer but they can't take part in the political process. It's the duty of every New Zealander to ensure that their interests are perceived and protected" he said.

ENDS

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