Ilshofen/Stuttgart (dpa/lsw) - After several animal scandals in Baden-Württemberg slaughterhouses, allegations are being made against a cattle dealer from the Schwäbisch Hall region of animal cruelty. Hidden camera recordings are said to show how injured pigs are herded to transport or dragged with ropes. According to the SWR, the video recordings were made by the Soko Tierschutz association with a hidden camera. According to the public prosecutor's office, they have started investigations, and the Ministry of Agriculture is also involved. The operation in Ilshofen has been closed for the time being, said a spokeswoman for the veterinary office.
In the company, bought animals are reloaded and transported to slaughterhouses. The recordings show, among other things, that pigs are being pulled with a shrill squeak or being dragged on ropes.
According to the Schwäbisch Hall district office, the authorities are already aware of the operation: At the beginning of July, similar animal rights violations were identified and prosecuted, said the head of the Schwäbisch Hall district veterinary office, Werner Schreiber. "Similar violations were found during this inspection, as can now be seen in the film recordings," he said. "But the most recent video sequences brought to light more details, especially when dealing directly with the animals, which now even suggest that a crime has been committed." Such behavior cannot be justified and must be punished.
However, Soko Tierschutz criticized the fact that they had already informed the responsible veterinary office about the conditions in the company in February. Two other warnings in July also went unanswered.
