Save Animals From Exploitation (S.A.F.E.), a registered charity (Reg. No CC40428) with the Charities Commission, is an “animal rights activist”/political advocacy lobby group demanding law changes to safeguard animals from claimed abuse. As part of their “animal advocacy” crusades, SAFE charity workers have used tactics such as flamboyant and high profile publicity stunts, harrassment of business enterprises and their employees and patrons, civil disobedience and civil disruption.
Fairfax Media reports today that SAFE executive director Hans Kriek has described the government’s rodeo code as “complete nonsense” and rodeos as “essentially an animal abuse industry”. SAFE is demanding government legislate for a complete ban on the sport nationwide.
The 2003 Rodeo Code of Welfare, which sets the minimum standards of care and best practice for rodeos, is under review and Kriek has stated:
“We see no point at all in the review of the code. We will make it clear to the Government that it is time to ban rodeos. Every single animal rights organisation is against rodeos.”
However, Canterbury Vets owner Steve Williams and Canterbury SPCS manager Geoff Sutton disputed this claim at the Methven Rodeo yesterday.
Mr Williams, who vetted every animal at the ground yesterday, said organisers went above and beyond the current code of practice. He does not allow animals to compete if they are not up to the task.
Safe Campaign Manager Mandy Carter, stated in a media release dated 19 April 2012:
“Rodeos are merely a cruel display of man’s dominance and abuse of animals. These animals are forced to endure needless suffering and gross mistreatment, all for the sake of so-called entertainment. There is simply no excuse”.
As part of its political advocacy campaign, SAFE is demanding that government establish a Commissioner for Animals, a new office outside the Ministry for Primary Industries, which could independently represent animal welfare.
SAFE, which describes itself as “the leading animal advocacy group”, received $691,268 from public charity (tax-deductible) donations in the financial year ended 31 March 2011. It spent $589,430 – on paying the salaries and wages of nine full-time and five part-time staff charity workers. Its financial accounts for the year ended 31 March 2012, that were due on 30 September 2012, are overdue and yet to be filed with the Charities Commission.
References:
1. Ban rodeos, activist says. By Charlie Mann. 22 October 2012.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/7845946/Ban-rodeos-activist-says
2. Charities Commission website. www.charities.govt.nz
3. SAFE Media Release 19 April 2012.
Animal Advocacy Group Angered at Rodeo Inaction
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1204/S00441/animal-advocacy-group-angered-at-rodeo-inaction.htm
4. SAFE Media Release 21 August 2012
Government urged to make high animal welfare standards a reality
http://www.safe.org.nz/images.php?oid=16798
5. SAFE (Save Animals From Exploitation) – a registered charity & its “political advocacy”
https://www.spcs.org.nz/wp-admin/post.php?post=4078&action=edit
6. https://www.spcs.org.nz/wp-admin/post.php?post=3446&action=edit
7. https://www.spcs.org.nz/wp-admin/post.php?post=3497&action=edit
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