Hen Liberation in NZ
Animal rights activists ‘rescue’ more hens before court
Animal welfare activists in Canterbury say they have rescued 31 battery hens as an act of solidarity with a Wellington activist due to appear in Wellington District Court tomorrow. Mark Eden was charged after a raid on a Foxton poultry farm in November 2006. Christchurch Open Rescue released a statement tonight, saying they had rescued 31 young hens from a life of caged misery. “The action was carried out in solidarity with Mark Eden, an Open Rescue member in Wellington who is currently facing charges for his role in a rescue at a Foxton farm,” the group said. “The birds have all been provided with new homes where they can live out their lives free to exhibit their natural behaviours.” Christchurch Open Rescue’s Tracey Brown told NZPA that the raid on a farm south of Christchurch took place in the middle of the night a few days ago, but was announced tonight to coincide with the Wellington court hearing. Another Open Rescue member, Rebecca McCready, said: “In the last six months, Christchurch Open Rescue has freed 100 hens, and other Open Rescue groups around the country have freed even more, as well as extensively documenting the vile practices that hold up this horrific industry”.
