Brutality when none is needed
A couple of weeks ago
Last Chance for Animals released an awful video documenting animal cruelty and real human barbarism at Christensen Farms—the fourth-largest pork producer in the United States. The specific farm in question is in
Luverne, Minnesota:
The Los Angeles-based watchdog group Last Chance for Animals released grisly video footage Tuesday of sick and wounded pigs languishing for weeks in the company's "sick pens"; being dragged by the ears and snouts; and being slapped and stabbed by pens to force them to walk. The group is calling on the Rock County Sheriff's office to bring charges of animal abuse against the facility.
No commercial animal operation has ever been charged with animal abuse in Minnesota, never mind prosecuted, said Adam Wilson, director of investigations for Last Chance for Animals. But Wilson said leaving a sick pig to waste away for weeks without veterinary care, as one portion of the video appears to show, is no different than abusing a pet dog.
The group videotaped both surreptitiously and in the open for a four-month period this year in the spring. Christensen Farms & Feedlots, Inc. suspended seven employees a couple of days later and have said that they are launching an internal investigation.
“We were disappointed to learn of alleged violations of our animal welfare policies at one of our facilities,” Christensen Farms CEO Glenn Stolt said in a statement. “At Christensen Farms, we take the health and welfare of our animals very seriously. It is our responsibility and we owe it to our packer customers and consumers to provide uncompromising care to our animals. There is no place in this industry for individuals who mistreat animals.”
If you watch the video the word "disappointed" is not one that comes to mind. "Horrified," "disgusted," "furious," are all much more appropriate words. There is no pretend-editing to be done in these cases. What you see is happening and if this operation cannot conduct itself with a modicum of humanity it is a blight on our country. I am wary of how serious
Christensen Farms really is:
“While these allegations are very disappointing, we have a history of continually improving our animal welfare processes,” said Stolt.
He said that although the incident will only directly impact a small number of our animals, “it will provide us with the opportunity to improve and strengthen our commitment to quality animal care and employee training.”
If you are "continually improving" your "animal welfare" than what the hell was your animal welfare like five years ago? There are numerous states
passing anti-undercover filming laws, called Ag-gag laws, and while they are
clearly unconstitutional, and will most likely be reversed, the important take away is that these big farming businesses do not care. They do not like being bothered. It behooves us as a country of meat-eaters (myself included) to never forget that every time you eat meat you should remember that an animal made a sacrifice for you that day. The least we can do is not torture them before we kill them.
You can watch the Last Chance for Animals video below the fold. WARNING: It is incredibly graphic and depressing and infuriating.