Last week, the animal protection organization Mercy For Animals released a video taken undercover by an employee wearing a hidden camera at a dog factory farm in Kamrar, Iowa. The worker was employed between April and June of this year.
The employee documented horrific abuses such as workers ripping out puppies' testicles without a single drop of painkillers, leading many to suffer from herniated intestines due to botched castration and die from their wounds. Workers were filmed cutting of the tails of puppies with clippers, again, without any use pain killer. A process called "thumping" was used at this facility where workers picked up puppies by their back legs and slammed them to the ground bashing their heads in order to "euthanize" the ones who weren't growing fast enough.
Many of the mother dogs were documented as suffering severe uterine prolapse - a condition where their uterus literally falls out of their bodies as a result of their repetitive, forced breeding. These dogs received no veterinary treatment.
Some of the most disturbing footage is of animals suffering as a result of standard, routine breeding practices. On the video, you can see row after row of mother dogs confined in what the industry calls "gestation crates," metal cages that are so narrow the dogs can't even turn around or move side-to-side more than a few inches. The dogs are confined in these crates for four months, taken out to give birth then feed their young for several weeks in a "farrowing crate," which allows them to lay on their side but still not turn around. After about two and a half weeks, the puppies are weaned and the mother dogs are put back in the gestation crates to restart this cycle, which lasts about four years until their reproductive cycle slows down to a point they're no longer economically viable. By this time, many of the dogs suffer lameness and crippling leg deformities due to muscle atrophy. Their tired, battered bodies are loaded off to slaughter.
After viewing this footage, best-selling author and animal behaviorist Dr. Jonathan Balcombe stated, "this video depicts scenes of unbearable suffering and inexcusable neglect." Veterinarian Dr. Armaiti May commented, "I was greatly disturbed and appalled to watch footage of such horrifying cruelty."
Perhaps the most shocking part of this investigation is that all of the cruelties described are standard agricultural industry practices and this farm's method of production follows its industry's guidelines for "humane" treatment of its animals. In fact, most likely no laws were broken because animals raised for food have virtually no legal protection while on the farm. The video sent shockwaves throughout the restaurant and retail industry with major companies scrambling to be sure their meat wasn't coming from this farm.
Wait a second. Wait just a second. I just realized that I accidentally (OK, it was purposeful) wrote 'dog' every time I meant 'pig' and wrote 'puppies' instead of 'piglets.' My apologies. We can all rest easy knowing that these abuses weren't inflicted on our beloved household pets.
To watch the video, click here.
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Thank you Josh...
I love Mercy for Animals. I donate regularly, and this video is why. They are the only organization with the courage to expose these abuses for all to see. Now that they have, what are we going to do about it? It takes all of us to end this heinous abuse. Get involved - now.
Thank you so much. So glad to find this article on this site and not in a veggie forum only vegetarians read.
(I'm trying to figure out your point, but it escapes me, piglets, puppies its all the same to me, horrific and painful to know that this goes on every minute of every day, 24/7/364)
Making a joke on such a horrible investigation report makes me question your ethics. Healthy puppies, dogs, kittens, cats, are killed every day in U.S. Animal Shelters. For people who are not speciesists, may find your approach disturbing.
This world has a long way to go when it comes to treating people and animals with any form of decency. A long road. Did that video sir, give you a sleepless night? If it didn't, maybe you should check your empathy meter over that plate of bacon and eggs, you think? Animal abuse is no joking matter.
I wonder, if you still chaw down on a piece of bacon, ham, chicken, turkey, steak, ground round? When you are a speciesist, yes, you'd take it as tongue and cheek. When you are not, you don't take it as tongue and cheek. Thats the difference. We are world apart. When you 'get it', tell me.