Royal Canin supporting bear baiting....

olias

Disgraceful.....whoever is responsible for this should be sacked and the company should denounce the cruelty and make a sizeable donation to a Ukranian animal welfare charity.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2380315/Food-giant-Mars-bear-baiting-event-Ukraine-sponsored-pet-food-subsidiary.html

Makes you wonder what else they and other household names are supporting around the world.....

Olias

Frugalista

Royal Canin has already issued a statement. I received this e-mail days ago ....
I really don't see the point in getting all indignant about it without knowing the facts.

Dear Partner

As I said yesterday, I wanted to personally keep you updated on the evolution of the current situation.

I am now in position to tell you that Royal Canin at corporate level are committing to help the bears and of course the dogs involved in this barbaric practice.

Once again, in the name of the company, I want to apologize for having our brand implicated in these events and I thank you for your support.

Kind regards



Jean-Lin Pelatan
Managing Director
Royal Canin UK & Ireland

Royal Canin condemns activities that endanger animals and unreservedly apologises for sponsoring an event in Ukraine where bear-baiting took place.

Royal Canin will not sponsor such events and seeks to work further with their partners to protect animal welfare.


You may be aware of a story that has been trending on social media platforms and in media regarding bear-baiting in the Ukraine. Royal Canin unreservedly apologises for sponsoring the event where the bear baiting took place.

As a company with knowledge and respect for animals at our heart, we condemn any activities that harm or endanger animals. Royal Canin has been absolutely horrified to see these images linked with our brand. The sponsorship of this event is not consistent with Royal Canin’s animal welfare policy, our philosophy of Pet First or our vision.

Four Paws International raised this incident with Royal Canin in May 2013 and it was investigated immediately. Royal Canin then undertook immediate action to no longer sponsor this event, and also to remind all of Royal Canin’s sales and marketing staff of our policy regarding animal welfare and of sponsorship due diligence. Having not seen the video at this stage we did not understand the true nature of the event that took place.

This has been a humbling experience for Royal Canin. We again thank Four Paws International for bringing this practice to our attention, and in doing so reminding us that diligence in ensuring our policy is followed is paramount. We look forward to working with all our partners to prevent animal cruelty through policy change and improved animal welfare practices. Specifically, Royal Canin will work to improve the welfare of the Ukrainian bears and dogs involved in bear-baiting.

Royal Canin’s Animal Welfare Policy states that we do not undertake, support or sponsor research that harms animals. Activities that could endanger the animal’s health, its life expectancy, its wellbeing or way of life are prohibited under this policy. This policy extends to sponsored marketing activities that could harm or endanger the lives of animals.





This email has been sent by Royal Canin. We are based at Oak Tree Meadow, Blackworthy Road, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7PH, UK. Our registered company number is 2744493.

© Royal Canin SAS 2013, all rights reserved.

olias

Thats all well and good after the fact and of course they are going to release a statement like that, but the point is that it did happen, someone did rubber stamp it, and it took the public in the form of the four paws charity to bring it to the attention of the company.

in the message you have added, they have admitted having to 'remind' their sales and marketing staff.........What sort of people are they employing, or management of these people, if they need 'reminding' that bear baiting might not fit in with a company ethic of animal welfare? and to check who exactly they are sponsoring.

Also the comment about not having seen the video and therefore not understanding the true nature of the event, is laughable. What exactly did they think that bear baiting with trophies made up by themselves for the bravest dog, entailed?

And my point remains, if a company as large as MARS, cannot keep track of what its employees are sponsoring in the companys name, then what else is going on unseen supported by household names?

Olias

purple.sarah

Presumably Royal Canin have all the details of the people they were sponsoring and I hope they pass these on to the authorities as bear-baiting is illegal in the Ukraine. However sorry they are, this is something that should never have happened. They shouldn't sponsor events without verifying what is involved. I wouldn't buy Royal Canin anyway as they are owned by Mars, who test on animals.

skintandscared_2

Misleading thread title though, no? Almost Daily Mail worthy. They are hardly "supporting bear baiting". They have supported an event which they are now horrified to discover involved bear baiting. That is very different.

GoldenShadow

The fact that their dog food is overpriced AND crap is enough for me to stay away.

Moosk

They have plain and simple taken advantage of the good will of Royal Canin. Lots of dog food brands give sponsorship to small scale shows and charity events. It will be awful if the appalling actions of these people now make it more difficult for these genuine groups who rely on this to get sponsorship now.

southcoastrgi

Royal Canin said that after Four Paws alerted it to the 'humbling' incident in May it had taken immediate action to cease its sponsorship of bear-baiting contests.

so they knew they were sponsoring these contests

Frugalista

southcoastrgi wrote: »

Royal Canin said that after Four Paws alerted it to the 'humbling' incident in May it had taken immediate action to cease its sponsorship of bear-baiting contests.
so they knew they were sponsoring these contests

No they did not say that at all - they apologised for sponsoring an event where bear baiting took place - a subtle, but important, distinction.

Frugalista wrote: »

Royal Canin condemns activities that endanger animals and unreservedly apologises for sponsoring an event in Ukraine where bear-baiting took place.

I got this e-mail today with their updated statement ...

Dear Partner


Over the past week, our brand has been under a lot of pressure with the horrible Ukrainian situation, totally against everything Royal Canin stand for.

You will find enclosed our latest statement where we can finally show our concrete commitment to the welfare of those Ukrainian bears. Please feel free to share this information with your customers if required.

Once again, in the name of Royal Canin, I wanted to apologise for what happened in rural Ukraine and for possibly putting your business in an awkward situation.

We have certainly learnt a lot lately and we are taking actions to prevent that such things ever happen again. As an example, we have already launched a global audit of our sponsorship procedures.

I have been sincerely touched by your support and I wanted to personally thank you for your loyalty.

Kind regards



Jean-Lin Pelatan
Managing Director
Royal Canin UK & Ireland

Royal Canin will support the development of a Ukrainian rescue facility for 15 bears that are involved in bear baiting.

This project is a joint partnership between FOUR PAWS and the Ukrainian authorities that will contribute to eradicating bear-baiting practices from Ukraine

On July 30th 2013, Royal Canin met with FOUR PAWS to review a project proposing to build a rescue facility for 15 bears in Ukraine. FOUR PAWS has obtained support from the Ukrainian authorities for this project. Royal Canin has committed to join this project to help rescue the 15 bears, and we are working with FOUR PAWS to finalize the project’s implementation plan.

Royal Canin intends to provide funding for this project, and will take the lead in building an alliance to include additional volunteering parties (business partners, associations, NGO etc…) to ensure the project is secured for the long term.

Royal Canin looks forward to opening this new chapter by helping to promote animal welfare in Ukraine.





This email has been sent by Royal Canin. We are based at Oak Tree Meadow, Blackworthy Road, Castle Cary, Somerset, BA7 7PH, UK. Our registered company number is 2744493.

© Royal Canin SAS 2013, all rights reserved.

southcoastrgi

well according to the link in post # 1 that is exactly what they said & i quote

"Royal Canin said that after Four Paws alerted it to the 'humbling' incident in May it had taken immediate action to cease its sponsorship of bear-baiting contests."

olias

Re the quoted updated statement. I look forward to continued updates from Royal Canin as their planned project progresses. Perhaps Frugalista could provide these as and when they get them?

Olias