The recent response to the undercover videos posted on the internet from Mercy for Animals reminded me of the expression “the dog that didn’t bark”, taken from a Sherlock Holmes’ story in which the fact that a dog doesn’t bark leads to the mystery being solved. The disturbing Mercy For Animals’ video shows shocking cruelty being inflicted on animals at a large pig farm, including piglets having their tails and testicles cut off without anesthetic. In the uproar that followed, one thing was notably missing– no criminal charges were laid. Not a single one.
The Sherlock Holmes’ “dog that didn’t bark” moment occurred because no laws were broken since cruelty to animals, when committed against a farm animal, is perfectly legal. The reaction to these cases of documented cruelty are perplexing in that there is a sense that clearly these “bad apple” employees must be fired so it doesn’t happen again, or the particular farm should be disciplined so they stop these horrific but “isolated” practices.
The ugly truth, however, is that these practices are not one-off incidents but industry norms. Cost-cutting measures, coupled with an increasing demand for cheap meat comes at an steep price to the animals.
Much is done behind closed doors as frankly the industries, and governments that protect their interests, don’t want the public knowing about these practices because then the public would be more likely to agitate for change. Iowa has gone so far as to introduce legislation to prosecute anyone documenting cruelty on farms.
The answer to these problems would seem to be to introduce legislation to protect animals being raised for food, instead of throwing the book at whistle-blowers.
However there are four things you can do to make a difference:
1) Let your local grocery stores know you want to purchase meat from humanely raised animals or you will take your business elsewhere.
2) Go vegan or buy only organic, humanely raised animal products from local farms, preferably where you can have a relationship with the farmers and know their animal ethics.
3) Try influencing government officials to strengthen animal welfare laws to ensure they are protected from cruel rearing, transport and slaughtering practices.
4) Support organizations like Mercy for Animals, Farm Sanctuary, Humane Society of the United States, and Canadians for the Ethical Treatment of Food Animals so they can continue their work exposing cruelty to farm animals while working for change in the industry.
Anna Crow is a writer living on Vancouver Island, BC working to raise awareness about the ugly side of the industrial farming industry.
written by Lisa , July 28, 2011
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written by Dan M. , July 28, 2011