Animal welfare voices their concerns at protest
Concerned residents gathered outside an animal farm in Assagay to voice their concerns.
FOLLOWING numerous reports about cases of alleged animal abuse and neglect at the Duck and Deck Farm, representatives from the Triumphant Animal Welfare Fund and concerned residents protested outside the farm recently.
The recent incident regarding an untreated pig sparked the protest and led to members of the fund personally visiting the premises to assess the living conditions of the animals.
The fund’s Clair Cook, said, “The idea to protest came about when there was yet another case of animal abuse and neglect reported against the Duck and Deck. This being the article about the untreated pig that was given away and then killed. We went to the farm to see for ourselves. We were horrified at the conditions.
“The aim of the protest was to create further public awareness of the treatment and neglect of these animals, in the hopes that with enough pressure, the owners will start to take responsibility for these animals that they have taken in and generate an income from, and give them the correct care that they require. Cleanliness is not expensive.
“The animals on this farm are living creatures with a beating heart, same as us, they feel pain, suffering, neglect, loneliness and compassion just as we do. They deserve to be treated with kindness, respect and dignity. The owners of the farm need to create a friendly environment for their animals as well as their patrons, teaching children at the same time, the correct way to treat animals.”
Owners of the Duck n Deck farm, Geoff and Cheryl Evennett, said, “Reference has been made to charges for animal cruelty having been laid. We have never received any charge from any authority. We do not abuse our animals! We are also farmers, so these animals are not all pets and we often sell some animals to third parties. We do not screen our buyers. This was the case when we sold two pigs, and one with mange (it was not sick). He has purchased animals from us in the past to feed his family. In fact, this is what he did with the pig that had the mange. Regrettably, when he was contacted, he was so intimidated and thought that he had done something wrong that he lied by telling the officer the pig died. “We have invited the ‘animal activists’ to the farm for inspections and they have ignored this request and chosen their own view as the only view,” they said.
