UPDATE - France Votes on Animal Welfare Improvements

​www.rfi.fr/en/france/20201002-french-parliament-rejects-ending-battery-farming-of-animals-cruelty-rabbits-cages-circuses-cedric-villani

Earlier in the week I shared a story with you guys about France and some animal welfare improvements they would be voting on throughout the country. These improvements included ending mink fur-farming, wild animals in circus', and using dogs to hunt smaller animals like foxes and badgers. It has now come to light how the France government voted and while it isn't a sweeping victory, some very necessary changes were made to improve the lives of animals.

BANNING MINK FUR-FARMING
APPROVED

The French government voted to end mink fur-farming in the country within the next 5 years, slowly phasing out operations allowing for fur-farmers time to adjust and reformat their farms for other operations. While this is great news, it was not a blanket ban on fur-farming with specific breeds of rabbits left out of the ban. 

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BANNING WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUS'
​APPROVED

The French government voted in favour of ending wild animal servitude in circus', phasing out animals within the next 5 years. It is my hope that these animals will be retired to sanctuaries and not sold to other circus' outside of the country which has been documented to happen in other instances. It is imperative that these animals are retired to sanctuaries so that they may live out the remainder of their lives with at least some of the things that come naturally to them after however many years of being forced to perform. Sanctuaries MUST be the only option for these animals.

BANNING WHALE, DOLPHIN, and CETACEAN CAPTIVITY IN MARINE PARKS
APPROVED

France approved a ban on the captivity of cetaceans within marine parks. A much need provision for cetaceans who have spent countless years isolated in tanks comparable to bathtubs for humans. These beautiful creatures spend their entire lives in the tiniest of enclosures, forced to perform tricks their entire lives for humans. Their lives are miserable and marine animals have been documented showing serious signs of boredom and mental / emotional distress. 
Once again, these creatures MUST be retired to sanctuaries or released, there is no other option.

ENDING BATTERY FARMING
DENIED

The French government rejected a proposal to end battery farming by 2040 citing that increased production costs would inflate costs of products for customers. Whether we're talking about geese being force fed in tiny crates until their livers nearly explode or sows being kept in tiny gestation crates with no room to move or even turn around, it's clear that these practices are immoral and undeniably cruel. While costs would increase for said products, perhaps we'd see an increase in plant based product sales which would definitely work towards the vegetarian / vegan agenda.

HUNTING WITH DOGS / HUNTING IN UNDERGROUND FOX / BADGER BURROWS
DENIED

The French government rejected proposals aimed at banning hunting with dogs and hunting in fox and badger underground burrows. Using dogs is undeniably cruel and causes immense mental and emotional stress to animals like foxes and badgers leading up to their death. Allowing for hunting in burrows is especially cruel as burrows are safe havens for these animals and entire families of animals are caught off guard and slaughtered. This kind of cruelty should have been banned so it's super unfortunate that the government voted against these provisions.