Undercover Investigation Shows the Horrors of the Pork Industry

This week Fox News released yet another undercover investigation with video footage provided by Mercy for Animals of the cruelty inflicted on pigs at Country View Family Farms in Fannettsburg, Pennsylvania.

The video coverage was disturbing and heartbreaking to say the least, with workers tossing piglets around like footballs, leaving sick and injured animals untreated and continuing to use gassing equipment to kill piglets when they knew it was faulty and causing unnecessary pain and suffering.

“I can state unequivocally that the pigs in this facility suffered immensely…These people showed complete disregard for the welfare or well-being of the pigs,” said Dr. Nedim C. Buyukmihci, Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California.

You don’t have to be a licensed veterinarian to understand the level of suffering these animals endured before being haphazardly slaughtered for pork products that were sent to stores in New England including Shaws, Hannaford and Stop and Shop under the brand name Hatfield’s.

While abuse of this nature is commonly associated with factory farming, much of what’s depicted in the footage are standard industry practices on any farm, large or small, from the confinement of gestation crates so small they cause sores to mercilessly killing the runts of the litter.

“What we documented is standard and largely accepted by the pork industry and as a civilized society it’s our moral obligation to make sure animals don’t suffer needless cruelty. It’s important we look at these animals the same way we look at dogs and cats because there is no difference. They feel the same pain, the same joy our beloved animals at home do,” said Daniel Hauff, MFA Director of Investigations.

We all watch these videos and read the horror stories only to be left wondering how anyone could be so callous and cruel, but the reality of it is that everyone who consumes animal products is contributing to the perpetuation of suffering that simply isn’t justifiable for the mere taste of bacon or a glass of milk.

Interestingly, supporters of this industry would like the public to believe that these kinds of tales are just tactics used by animal rights activists to put farmers out of business. However, it would seem that those involved in animal rights and animal welfare aren’t doing anything but asking people to look at what’s happening and to educate themselves about where their food really comes from. The farming industry is digging it’s own grave here and has no one to blame.

Mercy for Animals puts it well with the statement that every time we sit down to eat, we can choose compassion over cruelty. Adopting a diet free of meat, dairy, and eggs is perhaps the single most important and powerful action you can take to prevent needless cruelty to animals.

For more information about cruelty-free options, check out ChooseVeg.com.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Tim L.

1:31PM PDT on May 18, 2011

Who are the 6% of worthless scumbags who voted no?

send a green star

Chinmayee J.

2:55AM PDT on May 24, 2010

This is horrible and not surprising at all. I'm so glad I'm vegetarian!!

gerlinde p.

4:21AM PST on Jan 3, 2010

i`m vegetarian.almost vegan. i still love cheese.

Teresa W.

9:01AM PST on Nov 26, 2009

Horrible!

Star S.

6:42PM PST on Nov 25, 2009

David B, I'm with you, fella

Debra T.

5:10PM PST on Nov 24, 2009

It is not NECESSARY to eat animals, as evidenced by healthy vegans and the incidence of preventable diseases in meat-eaters, so this treatment of sentient, feeling animals could easily be avoided by adopting the ONLY compassionate, healthy and ecologically sustainable diet - and that is VEGAN - if you don't you are the DIRECT cause of misery, suffering and ecological destruction including global warming

Eleanor P.

2:00PM PST on Nov 24, 2009

It really saddens me that peoples dietary preferences seem more important than the issue here. Maybe if as much effort were put on adding laws and enforcing them to protect the dogs like vick's (notice not worthy of capitalization) and keep people like him/it in jail where he/it belongs, then this issue could possibly be a non-issue. Not meaning to offend anyone as other meat eaters have been offended, just stating a point of view.

Lilith G.

11:26AM PST on Nov 24, 2009

Dmitry B.

8:14PM PST on Nov 23, 2009

I'm a vegeterian

Sumiko K.

10:01AM PST on Nov 23, 2009

There is no difference between Michael Vick and meat,dairy, egg eaters who are consuming these animal products day after day without any shame knowing these people are reason why farm animals are tortured and killed cruelly.
Anybody with honest heart knows meaning of we(meat,dairy, egg eaters) are all Michael Vicks.