Animals in holiday destinations

Having recently been on holiday to the 'Delhi triangle' in India I must say I was impressed by the condition of the animals we saw, much better than I had expected. They do have a lot of freedom and self determination that we're not used to which meant we did see a puppy that had been killed on the road, but most seemed much better fed than the people in what is a very poor area, especially in country districts. I have however reported the condition of the carriage horses at the Taj Mahal to World Horse Welfare. They were far too ribby and thin. I don't know where/how they keep poultry though, we saw very few. (I always go veggie abroad preferring to know where my meat comes from).

I agree we do have awful cruelty here, but at least we have laws and can report it and usually something is done. A lot of countries don't have laws protecting animals. Face it there are countries that don't have laws protecting their women, but that's another topic...

Daisy you are correct. Such cruelty is abhorrent anywhere.

Yes I did pinpoint holiday destinations in my OP. I didn't mean to imply that there was little or no cruelty to animals here. The evidence is only too clear. A holiday abroad would be ruined for me. My train of thought was that animal welfare might be improved if visitors made it clear why they would not choose certain destinations, and travel writers could influence those choices. But yes - animal welfare begins at home.

It was only 7 years ago that I saw a dancing bear in Bulgaria. I lived there for 5 years and saw some terrible sights.
We were in Greece with our Motohome. We heard a cowbell clanking outside. We opened the door and there stood a Red Setter with a cowbell tied round his neck. I can't begin to tell you how thin he was. It was with a little trepidation that my OH cut the bell off. I then cleared out the fridge feeding him.
I often wonder how he got on. But at least he now had a chance of catching some food.

Granted Gilly it's hard to keep a horse on a reduced income, but to allow it to starve to death? And these horses (almost 140) of them were all on one farm. It's the same with these people who collect loads of dogs and cats and allow them to starve.

I think there was a case recently when a mother and daughter (and their two dogs) were shot and killed by one of these types when they went to remonstrate with him for the condition his animals were in.

My point being the OP talked about holiday destinations when in fact we have ignorance and deliberate cruelty here on our doorsteps.

There is infact a huge problem with abandoned horses here in the UK at the moment. I suspect that this goes hand in hand with the owners losing their jobs or huge reduction in standard of living. My DiL works volunteers at a large stable and is a proper softy when it comes to anyone who can no longer afford to keep their horse. I have often said that she would see my son and the children starve before she stopped feeding the horses.

Just read this

"In 2008 30 dead horses were found on a farm in Buckinghamshire. Over 100 more were in desperate need of help. The scene was truly horrific. The horses were in various stages of emancipation, many were diseased, and most of all, they had completely given up hope."

This is England in the 21st century

So true * BlueBelle* about the British being just as cruel.

Today the GC and I visited a Redwing Horse Sanctuary near us. These are animals rescued in the UK from the most appalling neglect and cruelty. Mainly ignorance, part deliberate cruelty.

I thought this post was going to be about going to B&Bs or self-catering where pets had been staying and the smell/fur/wet patches on carpet/garden fouling still lingered. I have been to a few like that and not been best pleased.

England is no angel either although I agree the problems are with individuals more than society as a whole We eat them, sometimes keep them in poor conditions, watch any RSPCA rescue programme, cut the babies tails off, breed and breed to make them conform to what speciality we want,, cull them when they are a nuisance, declaw cats to keep them as in side 'pets', dress them in stupid clothes, hunt them, train them to kill each other, destroy them if they act as a pack animal around a child overfeed them to obesity So my answer to' is any country free from animal cruelty' is a resounding no As to holiday destinations how many Brits take part in the dreadful bull run and cheer at bull fighting if everyone boycotted them they would fizzle out

Daisy I find it distressing to see animals neglected or cruelly treated anywhere in the world, too. The daycare place where my lucky dog goes twice a week has a charity that links in with Baltic countries and a couple of Greek islands. They raise money to rescue, foster and re-home dogs that have been injured whilst living on the streets, so they can receive treatment before being brought here to waiting homes. Some of the dogs have missing limbs, two were shot, some were so painfully thin that they are unrecognisable now they are at the normal weight. The charity was started in memory of a rescued dog from the dogs' home, who was living in awful circumstances, tied up, near the manager's home - she persuaded the neglectful owner to sell her the dog when she was just a schoolgirl. She deserves a medal for committing her life to the wellbeing of dogs.

No, there aren't dogsdinner. Eating animals is cruelty to me.

Once visited a zoo in turkey. There I saw ordinary dogs on view, in cages, in the most awful conditions.

Wonder if there are any countries where there is no animal cruelty?

Thanks for the replies and for what you are all doing for animals in low-welfare countries. Of course the countries themselves wouldn't draw attention to it because as you say dogsdinner they don't recognise the problem. I was thinking of travel writers in this country recommending holiday resorts. Would it possible for them to mention things that might be upsetting?

It might at least make people think, if they rely on tourism for a living.

And you are right nightowl about it not being a problem only in poor countries. I didn't know about the Central Park carriage horses. How sad that the people taking the rides can't see that the horses are being cruelly treated.

see www.wspa.org.uk

A friend who moved to Mexico a few years back was so upset by this that she now runs a charity providing neutering for cats and dogs, will see if I can find some info.

There are places I will never visit because if this. Seeing the horses and donkeys in Morocco ruined my holiday there almost 30 years ago, and I have no wish to ever return. I have no wish to visit China, the Philippines, or many other countries. Maybe I'm closing my eyes to it but I don't see any pleasure in visiting a country where I will be distressed and powerless to effect any change.

It's not only poor countries where this happens though. I have been very affected by the carriage horse debate in New York and subscribe to their newsletters. The cruelty involved in that trade is unbelievable in such a wealthy country and should certainly make people think before taking that carriage ride round Central Park. I feel pretty powerless there as well but I may be able to take some small action to make a difference.

Well done to you dogsdinner, and I agree that it will never be publicised because the countries themselves don't see a problem.

The travel companies wouldn't mention it as the countries themselves don't see the problem. Most of the rescues are run by other nationalities who do see the problem. I agree I do think seeing the cruelty does put travellers off.
I have six dogs and five cats all rescued from the streets of Greece so I know the problems there very well.