Masthof operator convicted of cruelty to animals - Tönnies draws consequences!

Masthof operator convicted of cruelty to animals - Tönnies draws consequences!

In a sensational case, an operator of a pig fattening operation has felt legal consequences for disregarding the Animal Welfare Act. This was done in the course of investigations that drawn attention to shocking grievances in a company in Rees near Kleve, which also supplied the meat group Tönnies.

In the summer of 2023, unpleasant images came to light, which was published by the German Animal Welfare Office (today Aninova). It revealed the terrifying reality: injured and in poor condition, some of which were died. In view of the serious allegations, the public prosecutor's office Kleve then initiated investigations that led to a penalty order.

Details on the judgment

The masthof operator concerned was sentenced to six months in prison. However, the punishment for probation was suspended, which means that the man is not detained, but there is surveillance. The punitive order became final on November 11, 2023, and the decision was made without an oral main hearing, which accelerated the process. The spokesman for the district court Emmerich confirmed this process on request.

Tönnies reacted immediately and hired the cooperation with the company in question after the allegations became public. The meat company, with its headquarters in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, immediately blocked the company as a supplier. This happened to avoid any risk of reputation damage and to show clear points of view in terms of animal welfare.

The published pictures and videos were so alarming that they attracted a lot of attention. "The recordings showed a terrifying mapping of the suffering of animals," explains Jan Peifer from Aninova. "Sick and injured pigs were separated in a gear, where they had no access to water and food. This led to the animals hungry and died of the conditions."

In addition, serious health problems have been documented in many animals. From hand -bale -sized abscesses to umbilical -brittle animals, everything was included. Some pigs obviously suffered from parasitic infestation and did not receive veterinary treatment, which further tightened the grievances.

The public discussion about animal welfare was significantly initiated by this incident. It remains to be seen how the topic will be treated in the future, especially in view of the increasing attention to the conditions in animal husbandry. Consumer questions and the awareness of animal welfare in meat production are more current than ever, and this case could have a significant impact on how similar companies in Germany are monitored.

Further information on this topic are to find here .