Chris's Sharebook 

A recent undercover investigation by Mercy for Animals captured footage of sadistic abuse and neglect toward turkeys raised for food in a N.C. Butterball slaughterhouse. Workers were caught on video kicking and dragging turkeys, bashing their heads with metal rods and neglecting birds with large wounds. Thanks to their report, Butterball promised to investigate the plant.

Mercy for Animal's victory is bittersweet, however; activists fear that the FBI may charge the group under the 2006 Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, which prohibits conduct "for the purpose of damaging or interfering with the operations of an animal enterprise." Additionally, five states are considering an "ag-gag" bill that would criminalize undercover photographs and videos at food production plants.

People have the right to know where their food comes from and how animals are treated during production. Investigative reporters are not "terrorists" as indicated by the 2006 act, and their services educate people on the cruelty and sadism present in food production plants. Past exposes and resulting protests and boycotts have convinced companies to discontinue unethical practices that harm animals and compromise human health. Criminalizing undercover photos and videos gives sadistic slaughterhouse workers the freedom to treat animals however they wish while keeping consumers completely in the dark. Please sign the petition to protect investigators' rights to take photos and videos at food production plants.

A recent investigation of a North Carolina Butterball slaughterhouse by Mercy for Animals revealed shockingly sadistic, unnecessary cruelty to turkeys. Slaughterhouse workers were caught on video kicking, stomping on and dragging turkeys, bashing their heads in with metal rods and neglecting severely injured birds.

The cruelty displayed in these videos mirrors sadism exposed during a 2006 investigation of an Arkansas Butterball slaughterhouse. The 2006 expose documented an employee crushing a bird's head until it exploded and another employee sexually assaulting a female bird. These disgusting, malicious acts were unrelated to meat production and performed only for the sick amusement of sadistic workers. Clearly, animal abuse is an ongoing issue in poultry slaughterhouses nationwide.

Despite the USDA-confirmed abuse in the 2006 case, Butterball was not charged with animal cruelty. The U.S. currently has no federal law protecting chickens and turkeys raised for food, and the prosecutor assigned to the case chose not to charge Butterball for animal cruelty under Arkansas state law. Without federal protection, the cycle of animal abuse will continue all over the U.S. Please sign the petition to convince Congress to create a federal law to protect poultry from sadistic abuse.

After a five-year ban, Congress has recently restored funding for USDA inspection of horse slaughter. This decision opens the doors for slaughterhouses to legally butcher horses for human consumption, including shipment to overseas markets.

As of November 30, 2011, pro-slaughter activists estimate that slaughterhouses could open within one to three months. Dave Duquette, president of pro-slaughter group United Horsemen, claims, "I have personally probably five to 10 investors that I could call right now if I had a plant ready to go."

Horse racers, rodeo owners and carriage companies are to blame for the current overpopulation of horses. Due to the recent economy, many private owners are in a position to sell or give away their horses. Horse Feathers Equine Rescue owner Cheri White Owl is concerned that if slaughterhouses open, owners will sell their horses there rather than seeking out an animal sanctuary.

Horses are beautiful animals that have served humans faithfully for centuries. USDA inspections enable the slaughter of these creatures. Please sign the petition to stop funding horse slaughter inspections.