Yesterday... I saw a horrible video on a popular TV show about "Downer Cows" going to slaughter and ending up in our food supply and in our school lunch programs in the (USA). I have children of school age and am very concerned. I am so disgusted and saddened by this that I have not been the same emotionaly since. It seems that most people are blind to the cruelty and long term pain & suffering endured by these animals, not to mention the growth hormones and antibiotics that these animals receive before slaughter, these chemicals affect us and our children in BAD ways. These animals come to slauighter sick and unable to walk, they are tortured so they can walk to the kill box and then they end up on our childrens plate! I am definietly going to research where my next meal comes from! I am calling attention to all Pet lovers out there to be consious of where there food comes from, Thank-you for reading, Sisi
Yes, it is horrific. In order to become a food source, an animal must arrive at the slaughter house alive. Cows with broken legs, hips, pelvises, are dragged. They cannot be euthanized and arrive dead. They therefore must suffer until slaughter. I am certain that not many people are aware of this. Aside from this, many animals that are insured...race horses, expensive breeding anomals, cannot be euthanized, or the insurance is null and void in most cases. They must die by accident...not just be injured. That is why many that suffer injuries, who rightfully should be relieved of their suffering, are kept going until their hearts give out. The bottom line is the dollar in most cases. One cannot be paid for delivering a dead cow to the slaughterhouse, and insurance will not pay on a death benefit, for just an injury.
This is a disgusting and sickening situation. What I did was write to the ASPCA and the USDA guy in charge. It is always a good idea to correspond with the people in charge of feedlot facilities, or even news stories. This is the only way it seems to get the word out and let people know that you think this is an unacceptable situation. The more we are "in their face", the more they will listen. It seems to be the best answer for me to get my points across. I respond to everyone I can in an animal abuse situation. Jane
The more I think about these cows the more I think the people ought to have the same thing happen to them. They should be shocked or threatened/stabbed with a forklift. Do unto others.....It's a good rule. There are many people that are not worthy of breathing air.
Thanks for the response. I am glad there are people out there that are concerned about this horror. I am just so amazed at the cruelty humans are capable of towards animals, especcially in the food industry. Since Feb 1st, I have not eaten any meat in the form of Beef, Chicken or Pig and I truely dont miss it. I only buy cage free eggs and Organic Valley dairy products. There are so many good Vege products out there that you can substitute in your everyday meals that it makes it hard to miss the real thing. I think that everyone should experience having a cow, pig and chicken as pets so they can see that these animals are not as dumb as people think and that they have their own personalities and that they feel pain and that they do not want to die, just like us. I have been spreading the word and people I talk to really do listen. Hopefully we can change the treatment of these animalls by making others aware. Thanks, Sisi
Believe me there are a lot of people who care. We are sacrificing a great deal of quality, as this country is pushed to corporate farming, instead of the family farm, where every animal is treated like a pet. I saw the footage that you were talking about, and it was terrible. Please understand it is not like that everywhere, not every cow gets growth hormones and steroids. Most farmers recognize that it is not good for the animals (or the people). Just take a good look around, as you see these family farms sold and turned into that quaint little subdivision. We as a nation need to support our farmers, and make sure that they are getting paid enough for their crops to make a descent wage and living for their family. As goatluver said, it is about money. We have to decide what we are willing to pay to insure safe food, and more importantly what we will pay in the long run if we don't..
Its nasty the way they are treated. If you go to petas website they have a link called Meet your Meat I think and it has a bunch of pictures from inside slaughter houses and such. It shows poor chickens with huge cuts down there legs wear the blades missed and cut them on there bodys it shows live pigs being dipped in scalding hot water. ducks that have choked to death on there own vomit from force feeding. rotting piles of dead cows they have just outside the building. It is so sad that they suffer this way. We would not want cats and dogs treated this way so why do we let them treat cows, pigs, ducks, chickens and fish this way? I think this topic needs to spread even more. Did you dog owners out there know that some slaughter houses sell there dead on arival cows to dog food facturys? Do you really want your dog to eat a cow that was dead for God knows how long and laying in the hot sun for a day or 2 before being turned into your dogs "porterhouse steak" food? I find it nasty myself and thats why I am a vegan and my dog is to. Its easy to do just go slow and switch your dog over slow to but be sure to ask the vet the best way to do it to your pet.
This one breaking news story and so much attention!! My teenager came home from school w/ the website link for the video feeling all disturbed. It is heartbreaking how these cows were treated before slaughter. It seems people are now researching where their meals are coming from. Now the ?? how widespread and how many different slaughter houses are torturing living creatures? How long has this been going on and has it stopped? Personally, I do not intend on converting to vegetarian, but I do have heart. I mean I watched the video and shed the same tears. I have kids in school and I love my pets too. What does a animal loving, meat eating (yikes) caring person do?
Well if you are lucky like my parents are you have friends who raise cattle and such. My parents get all of there food from there friend who raises the cows/pigs and so they know how they are treated. I like the man who has them even though they are killed because he treats them as pets if they are sick they g to the vet if they get hurt hes right there with them. my parents buy there chicken and duck from a lady right up our road they are free range chicken and are much healthyer then most store bought ones. I guess if you are not that lucky try going to your butcher and asking them if they can point you in the right way of people.
First of all, let me make clear that I am not involved in PETA and never have been. And I am not a vegetarian. I simply keep myself informed and know where my food comes from and how it got to my dinner plate. Growing up on a small farm and seeing first hand how livestock was kept, and comparing it to the industry that it has become today does not make me very happy.
Animals today, are kept in artificially controlled environments, force fed, and treated with no thought or concern that they may actually "feel". The thought is to grow them fat, grow them fast and produce as many as possible. It comes down to the economics.
Everything from the the way that animals are kept on factory farms, to the way that animals are mass slaughtered for consumption, are not pleasant things to think about. Even the transport of animals heading for slaughter is anything but kind. It is how things are done in order to fill the demand. Veal calves kept in tiny (unable to turn around), darkened pens and fed nothing but milk, insures that the meat will be tender and white. Hogs, kept on hard, concrete floors, who never see the light of day. Chickens kept in crowded cages, whose only job it is to grow into roasters as quickly as possible. All of this is a far cry from the way animals were kept and cared for on most small farms. It is sad, but it is all big business now, and the small family farms simply cannot compete. Which is why you see so many of them broken up and sold, only to become subdivisions.
It has become all business, with livestock being the commodity, with most people not knowing, or not caring how the business of putting meat on their plates is done.
Unpleasant to those who know and do care, but it is what it is.
Just curious. How does one switch a carnivorous animal to a completely vegan diet and still maintain the animal's health? Did your veterinarian help you to do this?
Have you turned all your animals/pets into vegetarians or is it a different story for them? You might want to check the labels on the food they are eating.
I know a person is a vegetarian, yet she feeds her animals raw/cooked meat. I never could figure that out??
Also if you eat out in a restaurant, vegetarian or not, if you ever have seen what goes on behind the scenes you would never eat out again.
You can take that one to the bank!!
I also support my local farmers & their animals are not allowed to be treated that way due to our Sherriff Joe. It's a crime in our State!
Cindy my vet helped me turn Kiwi into a vegan. It took a very very slow process of switching her over slowly. We still have days she wants her old food so we arestill switching on her. Her vet is very nice and helps with anything and every thing. I dont go eat out much J, Cant afford it with Kiwi, gas, food and the others. I might eat out once every 2 months if I am lucky. I am lucky to have a good size yard because in the sprin I get to grow almost all of my food and that saves me a ton of $$$.
"What does a animal loving, meat eating (yikes) caring person do?" *gasp, no HTML, gotta use quotes*
Buy local and organic if possible. Do research to find out where your meat comes from and spend your money with good farmers, not the huge factory farms. :-)
PS. Not sure if it's been mentioned, but cats can also go vegan. My cats like "Evolution" food, been doing well on it.
)
)
)
)
