Auckland Animal Action

Auckland Animal Action (AAA) was formed in August 1996 by a small group of people seeing the need for a grassroots activist group that promoted direct action against all forms of animal abuse. Since then, AAA has run campaigns against all forms of animal abuse, most notably the Fur Free Auckland campaign.

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The 'Fur Free Auckland' Campaign Tactics

*Stores are checked and if identified as stocking real fur items, action is taken.
*Stores are contacted via formal letter and are given information packs about the fur industry and purported animal abuse. This is sometimes enough to make them remove the items.
*If the shop refuses, a Fur Free Auckland campaign is launched, which involves regular protests outside the premises. Protestors carry signs, shout slogans, distribute leaflets and, if allowed by the police, whistle and drum.
*Once the store agrees to pull all real fur items the protests cease. But Auckland Animal Action continue to do spot checks to insure fur is not sold in the future, as some stores may only remove fur for a brief period to dispel protestors.
*Since beginning their campaign against the fur industry in 2000, at least 60 stores have permanently stopped selling real fur and have adopted fur free policies

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Factory Farming

AAA has also been active against factory farming. Actions have included investigations into alleged factory farms, protests outside these farms and campaigns against companies, including Tegel Foods Limited.

AAA also promotes and does media for investigations carried out by underground groups. In January 2007 AAA received nation wide media coverage for an investigation and release of animals carried out by the Animal Liberation Front. This included the following news items:

[http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411416/958611 - Top story on TVNZ's One News on January 13th 2007]

[http://www.95bfm.co.nz/default,81465.sm;jsessionid=61D33969165C8317FED6035370670614 - An interview on BFM radio on January 22nd 2007]

And the following media releases sent out by Auckland Animal Action:

12th February 2007 - [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0702/S00136.htm SPCA Footage confirms animal cruelty]

17th January 2007 - [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0701/S00060.htm - MAF failed to act on Battery Hen Farm]

13th January 2007 - [http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/72275/index.php Activists liberate 25 Battery Hens from convicted animal abuser]

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Tegel Chicken

During November and December 2003, Auckland Animal Action conducted an investigation into a Tegel broiler chicken farm in Helensville, north of Auckland, New Zealand. Following is the Auckland Animal Action report:

We spent over five weeks documenting the growth of these chickens - from their first week until depopulation. Each time we entered the sheds, we were confronted once again with the horror that is the life of these broiler chickens. The sea of thousands of birds jostling roughly against each other, struggling for space in the crammed conditions and the incessant blur of noise, was always newly overwhelming to us. We had to cover our faces and breathe through scarves because of the acidic, burning ammonia fumes. The heat in the sheds was almost overwhelming at times. How these sickly baby birds managed to exist in these conditions for weeks on end with no reprieve was almost unfathomable to us.

Throughout this investigation, we saw many, many chickens that struggled to walk or that could not even stand - their soft baby bones folding under the weight of their huge, adult sized bodies. We saw chickens with one or both of their legs splayed out completely under the weight of their bodies. Chickens in this condition had no hope at all of reaching the food and water trays which rise up automatically over the weeks - they would slowly die of dehydration and starvation.

We saw countless dead and well-decomposed chickens. Live chickens would walk over them, standing, and even sitting, on the corpses as the lack of space made it impossible for the living to move away from the dead.

We rescued five chickens from this farm during this investigation. Three of which had to be put to sleep due to leg problems of such a severe nature that they were constantly suffering and in pain.

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Civil Disobedience

AAA was the first animal liberation group in NZ to start using civil disobedience (CD) in campaigning against what they believe is animal suffering and abuse. CD can be an effective tool for raising public awareness and placing pressure on other parties. Direct action and CD are strategies that have been utilised by other groups from the Suffragettes to Greenpeace. Around the country there is a movement of activists who are organizing CD protests for animal rights.

In 2003 AAA used Civil Disobedience in their campaign against Harpers Fashion's sale of fur products. Members of AAA chained themselves to the door of the Hartley’s store in High Street. A video of this protest can be viewed [http://www.meatfreemedia.com/Media%20Database/Media/Hartleys%20Cds/Hartley%20cd's_Windows%20Media%20Video%20V8_100%20Kbps%20Video.wmv - here]

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Possum Fur Campaign

AAA oppose possum fur marketed as eco-friendly, even though Possums are not native to New Zealand and cause huge damage to native forests and wildlife. This policy was accompanied by protests at New Zealand Fashion Week. Rochelle Rees from AAA believes: “..the promotion of possum fur would lead to an unsustainable demand, as it had with rabbits and foxes.” [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=42&ObjectID=10350398]

Auckland Animal Action can be mainly credited with creating an environment in Auckland that is hostile to Fur retailers after the [90's] fur clothing revival. [http://www.craccum.com/2005/21newmarket.htm]

In 2005 Auckland Animal Action launched a campaign against possum fur.

Rochelle Rees from Auckland Animal Action says:

Possums were first introduced to New Zealand in 1837 to establish a fur trade. Due to favorable conditions and the lack of predators, possum numbers have amplified to the point where humans now consider them a pest.

DoC says the fur industry kills so few possums that they have little or no effect on the possum population. Fur isn’t used from possums killed for pest control, as bullet holes ruin their pelts, and poisoning gives them time to hide before they die.

Instead the fur industry catches possums using the leg-hold trap, banned in over 89 countries. The device is not limited to possums, and in fact catches many off-target animals including Kiwi, Weka, Cats and Dogs. Animals caught in the traps are left suffering until the hunter returns. Many have been known to chew to their own legs off while struggling to escape.

Irrespective of the killing methods, the use of any fur will lead to a demand for cheaper, factory-farmed fur. There is a huge demand for rabbit fur in New Zealand because they are seen as pests. Due to it being cheaper and more economically sustainable, most rabbit fur is now imported from cruel factory farms in China.

The fur industry is unethically misleading consumers by marketing possum fur as ‘eco-friendly’. They are irresponsibly contributing to the decline in our Kiwi population, and are promoting inhumane practices.

It should be noted that cats and dogs are not native to New Zealand and devastate Native birds such as the Kiwi.

Animal Welfare (Leg-hold Traps) Order 2007 http://www.biosecurity.govt.nzLeg-hold traps have been used in New Zealand for many years to trap pest animals, such as possums, ferrets, stoats and feral cats, to protect our native plants and animals and control bovine tuberculosis.

The traps have metal jaws and are designed to catch and hold an animal by a limb, including the foot. Internationally and within New Zealand, concerns have been raised over the humaneness of leg hold traps. The main animal welfare concerns are injury and distress associated with being trapped, potential for escape of injured animals, and animals suffering if they are held in the trap too long. In addition, leg hold traps set around residential dwellings and in other areas such as public walkways and picnic areas increase the risk of injury to pet cats and dogs.

New standards and a redesign of the leg hold trap have been introduced to improve the welfare of trapped animals. The redesign includes a padded wide flat jaw that spreads the load across the trapped animals leg, minimizing the discomfort to the animal and eliminating the cutting and breaking of bones.

From 1 January 2008:

No leg-hold traps can be used within 150 metres of a dwelling without the express permission of the occupier or in any area where there is a probable risk of catching a pet animal.

The preferred DOC method of possum trapping is the use of a possum box, that traps the possum or pest animal alive - preventing the killing of un targeted animals, or traps it with a humane poison, preventing it from leaving and being eaten by, and killing or injuring a non targeting animal.

The box design has an entrance that deters kiwi and other native birds from entering.

The following press releases were sent out by AAA about the possum fur campaign, and the campaign at fashion week in 2005:

13th May 2006 - [http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/44863 AAA calls for a ban on Leg-hold traps]

21st October 2005 - [http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/38450 - AAA to present award for animal cruelty to Fashion Week Managing Director]

18th October 2005 - [http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/38209/index.php AAA to campaign against Annah Stretton at Fashion Week]

14th October 2005 - [http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/38126/index.php - AAA to launch Campaign Against Possum Fur at Fashion Week]

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Criticism of AAA’s anti-possum fur policy comes from David Farrar who says:

I see the Auckland Animal Action Group justify their opposition to use of possum fur, because "to wear a dead animal's skin is disrespectful to the animal". Well killing our trees is disrespectful also, and the possums started it!

[http://www.tegelchicken.co.nz/ - An AAA Site] [http://www.aucklandanimalaction.org.nz/2/- AAA main site] [http://www.craccum.com/2005/21newmarket.htm- Newmarket Terrorists Article]