Animal Aid

Join Animal Aid's Memorial Ceremony at Cheltenham Racecourse on 18 March

Animal Aid will stage a memorial ceremony at Cheltenham Racecourse to commemorate the 30 horses who have died at the 10 annual festivals held at the course since 1999*.

Protesters will don funereal clothing and maintain a dignified silence whilst Animal Aid's Horse Racing Consultant, Dene Stansall, reads out a short eulogy for each of the equine victims. Protesters will also bear 'tombstones' with the names of the horses who have been killed at the Festival over the past decade.

We will be positioned opposite the main entrance to Cheltenham Racecourse, near the roundabout, from 11am until the start of the day's racing at 1.30 pm. We will have banners, placards and leaflets with us.

If there are enough people at the memorial ceremony, some campaigners may wish to distribute leaflets in the town centre to put our viewpoint across to people in the street, who may be more sympathetic than those who are intent on attending the races.

Cheltenham Spa Rail Station is well connected and there are the options of public transport or a lift from the station to the racecourse if we know well in advance that you are coming.

Please join us for part, or all, of the event. Your support is needed.

Please contact Fiona with your name and contact phone number

*The 2001 meeting was suspended due to the Foot & Mouth outbreak.

James Gray, convicted of animal neglect, appeals custodial sentence

James Gray, who was convicted on 8 May 2009 of nine charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and two charges of failing to protect animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease, is back in Bicester Magistrates Court again after appealing against his six-month prison sentence.

Local animal campaigners are calling on anyone who lives within travelling distance of the Oxfordshire court to join them in their dignified, sombre protests to show the court and the media that we have not turned our backs on the 100-plus horses and donkeys removed from James Gray's farm by RSPCA officers in December 2008.

Many of the animals were emaciated, filthy and too weak to stand. Some were penned with the rotting remains of other animals. There were mounds of skulls, bones and hooves. Four animals were so sick that they had to be euthanased on the spot.

James Gray has served just four days of his six-month prison sentence. Read the Evening Standard article

ACTION

If you can attend the court sessions, please email Fiona at Animal Aid, or telephone her on 01732 364546. She will pass your name and telephone number to the person who is organising the protests Read an account by a local campaigner who has been attending the Appeal Hearing Sign a petition requesting that the Gray family should receive a life ban on keeping animals. The petitions will be handed into Bicester Magistrates' Court before the final verdict. More background on the James Gray case

Protect Birds In Malta

The Maltese government is under pressure from the hunting lobby to open a spring hunting season this year, despite previous spring hunting seasons being deemed a breach of the EU Birds Directive. Please write to the Prime Minister of Malta and urge him not to open any more hunting seasons.

Write to:
Dr. Lawrence Gonzi
Prime Minister of Malta
Office of the Prime Minister
13, St Paul's Street
Valletta VLT 1210, Malta

Email customercare.opm@gov.mt