The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (AFSCA) and eight animal shelters mobilised on Wednesday and Thursday to save some 200 animals in Wallonia's Tournai and Borinage region.
The animals were destined for illegal slaughter, AFSCA announced, after mobilising over two days alongside the Walloon Region’s Animal Welfare Unit (UBEA), and eight animal shelters to rescue 184 sheep and 10 goats destined for illegal slaughter.
Last Wednesday, two illegal slaughterhouses were identified following checks by AFSCA and the UBEA in the Borinage and Tournaisis areas. A total of 109 sheep and 10 goats were about to be slaughtered illegally. Inspectors took the decision to seize the animals and contact shelters to take them in.
A network of associations was organised to take in such a large number of animals.
The following day, the associations intervened at a farm in Picardy Wallonia where the owners were illegally slaughtering sheep. When the volunteers from the associations arrived, the offal and heads of recently slaughtered sheep had not yet been removed. A check by the authorities enabled 47 young lambs to be evacuated, which will be distributed among the various sanctuaries.
In two days, the eight sanctuaries will take in a staggering 194 sheep and goats.
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Vets assessed each animal, delivering concerning reports. The majority of the flock was suffering from dehydration, emaciation and transport fever, which for some had led to severe pneumonia and life-threatening illness. A large proportion of the sheep are also affected by an infectious skin disease.
After a period of quarantine in the various shelters, these sheep and goats will once again be enjoying the meadows.
