In what is already being heralded as a major breakthrough, the RSPCA will partner with dvconnect to help women who feel trapped in violent domestic situations because of concerns for their pets.

“Women often delay leaving a violent relationship because they’re worried what will happen to their pets” said Di Mangan Manager of dvconnect. “Unfortunately refuges are not equipped to take animals and until now women have been reluctant to leave if they cannot find or afford emergency pet care.”

The new Pets in Crisis - domestic violence programme will solve this problem by providing temporary care for the pets of women and children during their stay in domestic violence refuges. The programme will initially be trialed for six months and will hopefully help prevent animal cruelty in violent domestic situations. Many families also feel traumatised after they’re forced to abandon pets when they flee the family home. The Pets in Crisis programme will help ease that trauma of loss.

Reading so much about animal cruelty, pigs and the connection with crowded farming and animal welfare brought me back to my first job in Holland, in 1964(?).

I worked as a graphic designer for a Public Relations Firm called Van Hulzen PR.

My boss was Han K a lovely man. Witty, intelligent and an eye opener for me from my isolated background.

A few years later, four or five maybe, I was back in Holland and Han had gone on his own. He had his own public relations office and called it Kuipers PR. In a modern building on the 6th floor, overlooking the famous conference centre in The Hague and not too far from the Peace Palace.

He had a client, the very popular meat and sausage producer HOMBURG NV in Cuyck somewhere in the south of Holland.

I made the lay-out for a magazine for Homburg. A typical PR job as it was to be sent to the Press, Government and other stakeholders. It was called 'Homburg News'. A no-costs-spared glossy and expensive magazine.

We thought it would be a good story to see the different steps a pig must go through to end up as a sausage.

Gosh, we were so innocent. Or ignorant. Not vegetarians for sure but how did we imagine this? Unbelievable we were.

Well it looks like I have found my way to this thread. ( miracles do happen). So as not to go off post title: 'Live Export: Passion Drives Change'. Here is a comment you wont read in main stream news.

(Moderator: converted to Blog entry from original comment to Live Export: Passion Drives Change

The truth behind the barbaric Live animal trade and the media is a clasic example why media and all politicians should NOT be allowed to be in a position of conflict of interest.

We are a mainstream group of people, many from a farming background and we all share a love for animals. We believe that If animals are to be killed for human consumption it should at least be done as humanly as possible.

People Against Live Exports (PALE) is a coalition of farmers, Qld Muslim leaders, hard working volunteers, lawyers and others including RSPCA Queensland and many members of the public.

Please watch our video and sign our petition. Warning: not suitable for children and sensitive people.