Hens Liberated Outside Gothenburg

In the early hours of Wednesday, March 27^th, animal rights group Happy Easter to the Hens liberated 16 hens from a battery farm south of Kungsbacka. The hens were later brought to new homes offering them outside access as well as private nesting areas, where they will be able to live alongside caring families.
Happy Easter to the Hens is the eighth action for the open rescue and civil disobedience animal rights coalition, The Rescue Service. The activists—Jenny Husvall, Pelle Strindlund and Rönnaug Lunke—all live in Gothenburg, and two of them have previous convictions for actions undertaken within The Rescue Service. In February Jenny Husvall was sentenced to probation after liberating 36 hens. She faces a possible prison sentence if convicted for this most recent liberation.

The latest news regarding the hens
A message from their new home (on April 3rd, they have been living there for a week): "Wanted to let you know the hens seem to be doing well and enjoying their new situation. They have ventured on small strolls outside, but so far they are very cautious. And so far they have not really understood the idea behind perches, sleeping instead huddled close together in a small cabinet..."

Press Release March 27^th, 2002
"Hens liberated last night outside Gothenburg – activists continue with civil disobedience despite previous legal convictions"

Animal rights group Happy Easter to the Hens liberated 16 hens from a farm south of Kungsbacka in the early hours of March 27^th. The hens were brought to new homes where they will be able to live the rest of their lives with access to nesting areas and the outdoors.
  -When lives are at stake we cannot always abide by the laws. Sometimes we are forced to use civil disobedience. The battery farm owners are ignoring the Animal Protection Act, specifically the paragraph specifying the animals’ right to natural behaviour. Through our action we grant them their right and provide the good lives entitled to the hens, Jenny Husvall says.

In the late eighties the Swedish government decided to outlaw the use of cages for laying hens. After immense political pressure from the egg industry, the decision was rescinded. Instead the modified cage was introduced. This new cage offers no essential improvement for the hen. The wire floor tilts down. The perch is too short. The sandbox is out of place. And the hen still cannot open her wings. She remains confined to an area about the size of a sheet of standard writing paper.
  -Several million hens are tortured and killed each year so that consumers will be able to have their eggs. It’s especially important during Easter to consider where the eggs come from. Anyone who has seen the small cages, felt the stench of ammonia and seen the haggard plumages know that eggs mean suffering, Jenny Husvall says.

Happy Easter to the Hens is the eighth action for the open rescue and civil disobedience animal rights coalition, The Rescue Service. The activists-Jenny Husvall, Pelle Strindlund and Rönnaug Lunke-all live in Gothenburg, and two of them have previous convictions for actions undertaken within The Rescue Service. In February Jenny Husvall was sentenced to probation after liberating 36 hens. She faces a possible prison sentence if convicted for this most recent liberation.
  -I know it is worth all the trouble when I see the hens take their first few steps on grass and experience the sun for the first time. Instead of being killed after two years they are able to live for their own sake for many years to come. It brings a huge joy to be able to do this for the animals, Jenny says.

Happy Easter to the Hens (The Rescue Service Action 8) is from left to right: Pelle Strindlund, Rönnaug Lunke and Jenny Husvall.

Look at more pictures from the action -->

Contact: Jenny Husvall, +46(0)702 30 95 32
Pictures from the action and of the activists can be ordered from Jenny Husvall (jenny.husvall@telia.com)

The Rescue Service
c/o Westerberg
Språkgränd 41 3tr, SE-907 33 UMEÅ
SWEDEN
Pg: 112 98 26-2 (account for donations)
info@raddningstjansten.org

Contact: Åsa-Maja Augustsson
Phone: +46(0)709-695378