I am absolutely horrified by this. I can't even wrap my brain around how a person can be so deliberately cruel to an animal. It sounds like these heathens got off on torturing these poor pigs. I will never never never eat pork again.

Posted by: Kari Byrd | September 17, 2008 03:01 PM

This story seriously brings tears to my eyes every time. I have written to every single contact with personalized letters about the horror I felt. I just recently became involved with PETA and I am also becoming vegetarian.

Posted by: Natasha | September 17, 2008 04:16 PM

oh my God.........Im speechless.People who are charged with animal abuse also need their names on some sort of register, like they have for children, that bans them from ever working with animals again.
Only a very dangerous person abuses animals.Keep up the great work Peta!

Posted by: Tam | September 17, 2008 04:18 PM

i never eat meat i love pigs they are very smart and i wish the people who do this would have it done to them and see them react

Posted by: christine | September 17, 2008 04:31 PM

I have sent this to every single person I know. As a vegan, I know that this sort of abuse happens on a daily basis and I am horrified! Some friends and family member are telling me they are filling out the form on the GET ACTIVE section of the website (you know, the automated email) and it’s not going through. Maybe you can have someone look at it?! Much Love, Amber

Posted by: Amber | September 17, 2008 04:43 PM

i can't imagine how anyone could treat another living thing in this manor. i can only thank peta for bringing attention to this issue, as painful as it is to watch. please please please consider vegetarianism, because this doesn't just happen to pigs. factory farming needs to stop!

Posted by: Paula Roy | September 17, 2008 05:22 PM

shame - shame - shame on humanity! what kind of a rascal species are this people doing such abominable things to living beings - and 'god' is looking on and on and on and on and on and on....................and there was no redeemer! i'm waiting now for clear signs from upthere or i should not know who would be to blame on the day of the last judgement! a charming prince who promised to come and never comes is not a prince but a cruel cheater! i shout it to you oh heavens - make an end please and at once!

Posted by: claudia marrapodi | September 17, 2008 05:27 PM

Their cruelty is on the same level as insurgents/terrorists when they torture their victims. It shameful to fight for the freedoms of people like them; these are the days I hate my job.

Posted by: US Marine | September 17, 2008 05:51 PM

show the faces of pig abusers

Posted by: foedus lupus | September 17, 2008 05:59 PM

Great Job Peta!! I never ever eat pork because they are such intelligent animals. I will use this story to encourage others to give up pork and meat in general! I will also be sending in a donation to Peta to keep up the good work! I saw this news on MSN...its great that its making mainstream news! I cried when I read the story but at least its getting the truth out there!

Posted by: Holly | September 17, 2008 06:25 PM

IT'S REALLY SAD THAT THIS ABUSE GOES ON ALL OVER THE U.S.A. AND THE WORLD . I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT PETA CAN EXPOSE MORE OF IT IN ORDER TO STOP THIS ABUSE.

Posted by: SASHA | September 17, 2008 07:02 PM

it is sadistic people working in these place venting out their sadistic ways and frustrations on animals.. becuase they are too cowardly to vent their anger and frustrations out any other way.. so they pick on the animals.. simply becuase they are defenceless and cannot retaliate..
humans absolutely DISGUST me to the core in more than many ways..
it's a sick sick world and animals suffer so.. becuase this planet is 'lorded' over by humans and they do as they wish or please esp when it comes to treatment to/of animals.. just as a human would be prosecuted for mistreating or maiming another human.. so the same rule should apply to a human mistreating intentionally or causing intentionally sadistic suffering to an animal.. there shoudl be a law prosecuting 'sick minded' warped emotional humans cruelly and intentionally mistreating or torturing animals.. but 'prosecution' even that would be a too lenient punishment for them... they should all be named and shamed on front spread of national newspapers.. exposed their vile disgusting cowardly cruel natures.. to their family their neighbours their so called friend (if they have any).. in fact anyone and everyone.. this is only a mere mild fraction of form of punishment.. personally I think all these people should be bulldozed over..till they are flat as pancakes..
I really do...

Posted by: beth | September 17, 2008 07:21 PM

o.k. Don't eat pork -but how do we stop these sickos?what is wrong with someone who would do this to any animal?What can we do about this?

Posted by: martha mckenzie | September 17, 2008 08:12 PM

i am not a veg.
but reading this is seriously changing my mind about ever eating meat again./

Posted by: brittany | September 17, 2008 08:12 PM

This is horrific! Anyone that would do this to another living thing and not feel any type of remorse is really scarey, in fact it's very, very disturbing.....who are these people!

Posted by: Barbara Douglass | September 17, 2008 08:52 PM

wow. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I was living in some ideal where I thought it was horrible that they were raised by nice people and hauled off to slaughter. I felt sorry for them then! Now, I am horrified. No more HoneyBaked or any other ham. So Ham, Chicken, and veal are off the list. Cows, almost gone, once in a while I have a steak. But this whole thing is an outrage. These are God's creatures!

Posted by: J M | September 17, 2008 09:37 PM

I can not believe my eyes. these people should be treated the same exact way. what would they think and feel then?

Posted by: misty | September 17, 2008 10:07 PM

I can barely watch these videos because they are so horrific. But I have pledged to never eat pork again and my husband has too. I hope this can get out to more people who need to see it. I will send it to my friends and family. Thank you for being the angels who have to go through this hell to get this type of cruelty known to the public. Other than my monthly contribution, how else can people help to have charges of animal cruelty brought against these factories?

Posted by: Tara Powers | September 17, 2008 10:11 PM

Pigs are inredibly smart and loving. I have never eaten pork and only needed this story to turn me off meat completely, organic, free-range or not. I agree with the blogger who says there should be a registry for animal abusers. Why wasn't anyone named in this story? Meaning the hillbillies?

Posted by: sara | September 17, 2008 10:22 PM

I am soooo upset with this video, I am seriously in tears. This is so immoral and there must be something that can be done to stop this. There is no reason that any animal on this earth should suffer any pain much less what these monsters were doing in the video. This has to be stopped.

Posted by: Samantha | September 17, 2008 10:55 PM

So what is being DONE to the owners of these places to STOP and PREVENT further abuse??? It is one thing to say, let's not eat pork or that your heart goes out to the animals, but doesn't solve the issue. Did the workers that were abusing the animals charged with animal cruelty and removed? Or did your investigators just take notes to spread the word without any action taken to stop the torture?

Posted by: Bonnie P | September 17, 2008 11:22 PM

i want to know who the people are who have there faces blocked.!!!!!!!!!!!! i want to confront them when the police do !!!!!!!!!!!!! why are you blocking my response

Posted by: misty | September 17, 2008 11:39 PM

This happens all of the time! People just don't get it...eating these poor beautiful animals that were put on this earth just like us is contributing directly to horror like this. When I stopped eating animals I swore that I will NEVER eat one again for the rest of my life.

Posted by: Devin Newmeyer | September 17, 2008 11:57 PM

I am horrified also....I have been having nightmares about the poor piglets being slammed against the floor. WTF is wrong with people in this world? I am just sick!!! I will never eat pork again and I am encouraging my friends to go anti-pork too.
Hormel can go to hell! These people represent their company and well the video speaks for it’s self. I understand that man has been eating meat since forever, but.....does that mean because they are raised for slaughter they should be abused and mistreated? I think not!
I believe each offender should be given the same punishment and I personally would like to be the one snipping of genitals, shoving metal object up their rectums, poking them in the eyes and slamming their heads against the cement floor. I can only hope that there is a special place in hell for people who abuse animals.
I just don’t know how anyone can ignore this kind of treatment. I gave up beef after that abuse scandal and now pork has been added to the list. I may one be one person, but I tell everyone I know and share the video link with them so they can see for themselves why we have to stop supporting this kind of animal cruelty. I am by no means a person free of guilt of eating meat, but this is just wrong.

Posted by: Jodi | September 18, 2008 12:12 AM

It sickened me to see how cruel some people can be. It was very hard to watch such careless behavior. But it is something that has to be faced. Ignorance is no excuse with Peta around doing such a wonderful job enlighten the public of what goes on behind closed doors. Thank you. For all you have done for the animals, & making it so easy to make kinder choices.

Posted by: Crystal | September 18, 2008 12:40 AM

This is absolutely the worst thing I've ever heard of or read about. I can't understand why people are so sadistic. I hope they are fired from their jobs.

Posted by: Patricia Panitz | September 18, 2008 01:01 AM

I can't even begin to describe the pain I'm feeling I cried when I saw this video. This is outrageous what are people doing about this? Thank you PETA for bringing this issue to light. Is there any way I can help I am new to this but I really want to bring attention to this issue in my community. Where I live almost everyone eats pork I see how people buy all type of pork products in the supermarket. Can someone please email me and maybe walk me through on ways to become active in my community. I am just so appalled. I feel like I have to do something. My email is audreykmorales@yahoo.com

Posted by: Audrey Morales | September 18, 2008 01:34 AM

I recently considered moving to South Dakota. Not anymore. Sick. Twisted. Barbaric. It seriously makes me wish God would just put an end to all of this suffering.

Posted by: Jessica Stig | September 18, 2008 02:05 AM

If this kind of treatment was being meted out on humans, there would be a massive uproar. Yet we have to work hard to stop these atrocities. It's a holocaust. Vegans of the World Unite!!!

Posted by: Leigh | September 18, 2008 05:15 AM

Simply put I can't believe how these and other animals are treated. But heck people can't even treat children and elderly with humanity. I assure you of one thing....I will NEVER EVER eat pork again! Or any other meat for that matter! I hope to encourage others also.

Posted by: Cari | September 18, 2008 07:35 AM

What are they going to do about his this is awful they should all be arrested for the rest of their sorry lives. I am so saddened by this!!!

Posted by: Jeanette | September 18, 2008 09:24 AM

Can someone ease my anger and tell me if PETA is working to ensure these people on that Iowa pig farm are going to be prosecuted and not simply fired? I don't know how that undercover agent did it. I would have seen how those idiots liked being kicked.

Posted by: Keith Kreitler | September 18, 2008 09:26 AM

Go vegan!!! I love the piggies!!!

Posted by: Ana | September 18, 2008 09:42 AM

I believe these people should be prosecuted and there name be put on a watch list for
cruelty to animals ,never should be allowed to work around animals again. How can anyone be so sick? These animals are Gods creatures
These sorry idiotsshould be kicked and beat see how they likeit. I hope Peta prosecutes these fools.

Posted by: brenda kendrick | September 18, 2008 10:10 AM

It is totally unacceptable and disgraceful that these workers are getting away with this. PETA please do all you can to stop this insanity. Sad to say but these workers need to be "treated" the same way that these animals are misbused

Claudia DN

Posted by: Claudia De Nino | September 18, 2008 11:57 AM

This is the first time i've visited this site, I saw what happened in the Journal Inquirer and I feel sick. I don't truely believe that if I was to stop eating pork that this would stop because not everyone will stop, but i'm going to do it anyways. I really hope that this opens peoples eyes not so much to stop eating meats because that will always happen but there is no reason for these animals to be tortured before they are killed. I am disgusted with this and I hope that the people who acted inhumane will all be punished!!!!

Posted by: Danielle | September 18, 2008 12:37 PM

I grew up on a hog farm and today I am a student at Iowa State University majoring in ANIMAL SCIENCE. I hope you caught the last part, considering that peta rarely uses SCIENCE in their investigations.
For starters I'll start with
the castration process: 1) pigs are very canabalistic and will chew each other's
tails off if they are given the chance. Due to this fact it is necessary to
protect them from themselves and this behavior. So is it really cruel to stop pigs from killing each other? 2) when raising animals in large
scale operations, imbreeding is not a goal. In addition, for those of you that
don't know, boar(male pig) meat is extremely tough and has a very distinct and
disgusting flavor, therefore by removing the testicles the farmer increases
value b/c the packer will not accept boars due to this charasteristic. So if you think using pain killers is the best choice, then tell me what painkiller you would give to a 2 day old 1lb pig that wouldn't kill them or disrupt their feeding behaviors

As for the grinding of pig entrails or in some cases feeding back scours(pig diarrhea) it helps immunize the sows who are gestating. This simple method is known
industry wide b/c you virtually are feeding back the negative pathogens to the
sow so that she can give her pigs passive immunity while still in the womb so
they don't become sick with the same pathogen.If this is cruel to the sows, I
think it is more cruel to the unborn pigs who don't stand a chance against the
pathogen and will die from dysentery.
Next, I will address the penetrance issue: As hard as it is to believe most of the industry AIs (artificial insemination). This keeps the sows out of danger from the boar who is extremely aggressive, may be too big for her small frame, and could ultimately hurt the sow or a worker.
The penetration of the AI rod is vaginal, it has to be, it's painless to the sow
and she barely notices. As for the rectal, this doesn't happen, I'm sure in the video they were just kidding, as of
course there was no video showing the actual act. Working in a barn of the same
scale myself, I came to learn that most people in that situation are somewhat
vulgar and tend to make these type of comments only as joke. When AIing a sow
all day the sex jokes simply come out. Now I will cover the piglet issue: I came
from a small farm and was taught that every life has value, on our small farm
this practice was not executed. However, after I worked in a large barn, it
became apparent that when you're doing this as a business things must be looked
at from an economic standpoint. Certain pigs are born too small to make it aka
runts. These pigs as you seen had a low birth weight and probably would die in
the next few days because they wouldn't be strong enough to fight for a tit.
Eventually they would die a slow painful death from starvation, which in
comparison to a quick and approved ethical way of killing is the right choice.
Yes I said approved, the national pork board has deemed it ethical to do since
they are under 3weeks old their skulls have not fully formed and therefore they
don't really feel it. As for the spasms after, has anyone heard of rigor mortis?
When the body's cells are shutting down they contract because they are losing
the ATP and functions are ceasing.
Lastly, I'll tell you about the beating. Now
this part of the video does enrage me. I know as an Animal Scientist that there
are easy and calm ways to move an animal because I've grown up around animals
and there are animal handling techniques taught in my classes. However, most do
not understand that this doesn't happen on every farm. Many small farmers and
owners understand that if you treat the animals right they will treat you right,
whether its returns in profits or not getting ran over. On the larger farms many
workers are high school drop outs or thrown into the job that's not their life's
ambition. With this in mind it is "just a job". You know that lazy worker behind
the McDonalds counter who couldn't give a crap if your order is right, well its
the exact same situation.
In conclusion, instead of hating the entire industry
and not eating pork, why not understand that this doesn't happen on every farm!
Maybe look to the USDA, a trusted source, to do ethical inspections instead of peta who will distort the truth as they usually do.

Posted by: Jessica S | September 18, 2008 12:40 PM

I cannot describe how horrified upon reading this. It is absolute torture. I'm 15 and usually people my age don't realize about these things. I'm going to make an effort to help people be aware of situations like this. OMG...
Poor pigs.

Posted by: Tina Ly | September 18, 2008 01:01 PM

I stopped eating beef a long time ago and will now never eat pork again. I know this is not an isolated incident. The people they hire to do this work are most probably unemployable anywhere else and am not surprised a blind eye has been taken to what I know everyone in the business is aware of but will not admit to. It scares the heck out of me that there are that many people out there that would inflict such sadistic pain on a living creature and then laugh about it.

Posted by: Mary Wargo | September 18, 2008 01:02 PM

ok i heard about this from some people at work. by the way i work at a slaughter house. these scenes were absolutly terrible. i know at my place of work that there are rules and guideline that hog handlers need to follow. any person that would "drive" the hogs needs special training. you can't blame hormel for what is happening to these hogs. all of the blame should be put upon that farm.

Posted by: Dylan | September 18, 2008 02:04 PM

Jessica S.,
Informative post. A few points:
1. Piglets--like any severely confined animal--can become agressive. Piglets raised on pasture, e.g., outside farrowing crates, don't engage in this. Factory farming causes privations requiring mutilations (beak trimming, etc., you're an "animal science" student, you know them all)
2. If intact male pigs' meat is so horrific, don't eat it. That's your call. But it's no reason to castrate them, without anesthetic. That's as assine as someone coming along wanting to do something that violates your basic interest not to feel pain, all in the name of thinking that, if you keep your reporoductive organs, their pleasure will be less. Foolish.
3. My my, how on Earth do wild pigs ever mate without your AI rods? Oh, right, you've bred them to the point where they can't naturally reproduce. I got that memo.
4. Comments bespeak the mind, yes? A man who "jokes" about anally raping an animal is but a step, at most, from doing it. It wouldn't be funny if he said that of you, it's not funny when he says it of a sow.
5. "Thumping" is accepted by the Pork Board and American associations of general veterinarians and pig vets only--and that's the key word, ONLY--when it produces instantaneous death. One blow, it's over. That's not what was happening here, and you know it. Those animals' seizures were 12 minutes after the blunt trauma--and they were blinking. Those were consicous animals, not suffering seizures such as after being shot with a bolt.
6. I'm glad none of this will happen on your farm, Jessica. Good luck with your work--please use your good heart and head to help animals.

Posted by: Dean Ween | September 18, 2008 03:03 PM

Sept. 18, 2008/ Email to Hormal:
No opening salutations because frankly, I care no more of your feelings than you do of those abused pigs on your properties. I am a multi-media personality, television show host, radio show host and a feature newspaper/magazine writer…and I am beyond pi$$ @ff by your INHUMANE treatment of animals. Thanks to good work of PETA (I think I’ll make a substantial donation toward their efforts), you cold-hearted bastards at Hormel were exposed for animal cruelty…and all over South Florida at that (and probably the rest of the country as well)! Last time I checked animal cruelty carried jail time! I for one plan on stepping up PETA’S and my media co-harts efforts in calling for a boycott of Hormel! You people should be under 24 hr video surveillance by PETA! If I were a grocery store I’d be ashamed to carry Hormel products. Hmmm…that gives me an idea…I think I’ll start by calling a boycott of Publix grocery stores, all the while showing the video of your employees beating defenseless pigs. Oh and it must be posted on “you tube”, multiple times, with many many different meta-tags! Lots to do while awaiting your court proceedings. – Mayor Gonzo (Sammie) Mays

Posted by: Mayor Gonzo (Sammie) Mays | September 18, 2008 03:50 PM

Okay I just went back on and read Jessica S. statements.........what planet are you from girlfriend? Obviously you belong in one of these places if you really condone and believe the crap coming out of your mouth. I volunteer at a pig sanctuary and none of this happens there. They do not eat at each other and are very well behaved. As an animal major you should also know that pigs are 4 times smarter than dogs and have the intellect of a 3 year old child!! You should be ashamed of yourself!! Oh and who did you say approved of these methods? Oh wait thats right the PORK INDUSTRY.

Posted by: Charlene | September 18, 2008 03:50 PM

I am stunned! Horrified! enraged! and mostly just SAD!
In my 32 years, I am still mindblown by how a human being can be so cruel.
I wish that we as people, before we ever harmed anyone, would be able to experience whatever pain we are about to inflict, then things would be so different.

It really goes allot in education.
Where I work, almost 90% of the meals served have meat from pigs, chicken, cows, etc. and if people became aware of where all this comes from and how this comes about, things would change.
I believe it's about awareness! education! how can we get people educated and aware on these practices on a global level, local level.
The average person is so ignorant to these practices. They are too busy watching Britney Spears, or they are busy raising their children and have no time to educate themselves and when they turn on the TV, then there is a Macdonald's commercial again for more meat.

We need awareness & education starting with us on an individual level but definitely going onto the Global.
Policies have to change, legislature has to change.
Cruetly to animals has to change, or else, we will never have true peace on harmony on earth as a human species!

KEEP GOING PETA!!

Posted by: Debbie | September 18, 2008 04:01 PM

Dear Dean Ween,
1) In case I didn't mention it, I grew up on an organic hog farm where pigs did roam free-- they were still canabalistic and aggressive. In addition, if all pigs and other animals were allowed to roam free: There would no need for EPA because there would be nothing to conserve; groundwater, rivers, and lakes would all be over-run with ecoli from fecal contamination. Also the millions of acres in crops could no longer be since it all would have to be turned into pasture...so where would your vegetarian diets come from? (Yeah farmers produce those too)
2) if I could give up my reproductive organs to to help stop world hunger(which is what the pigs are doing), I would. If boars weren't castrated and allowed to roam free they would mate with their female siblings and others, ultimately sending preganant females to slaughter. I find this to be more cruel than cutting out a couple nuts which doesn't stop life.
3)Well pigs still are capable of reproducing w/o AI rods. My family farm didn't use them, however I have many scars from aggressive boars and I'd hate to show you the female-male interactions before the actual mating b/c the sow pretty much gets beaten up.
4)I guess under your theory every man in the world who has made sexist remarks to a woman is only a step away from actually doing it. If this were the case, every woman in the world would have been raped by now.
5)Swine veterinarians are professionals who deal with pigs everyday of their lives, you probably don't. If they say that it's ethical it is b/c they truly understand behavior and physiology of a pig. Whereas you just have an opinion. As for the thumping, I had never done it before in my life until a few months ago, and it is one of the hardest things i've ever done. When your mind is racing and your hands are shaking, its difficult to do. As for the video, I would say that any employee that has been there a while knows what they're doing and do it right. It very well could have been the undercover peta agent who did it and didn't do it right. In the 6,000 sow barn I was in it was required that you learn to do it right.
6) I think your heart is in the right spot, you just don't know all the facts much like the rest of the world.I'm not saying that everything on the video was acceptable, I'm simply saying the entire industy shouldn't be punished for one persons actions.

Posted by: Jessica S | September 18, 2008 04:39 PM

To Jessica S. the animal science major-

I am not buying your justifications of the pig abuse. I think you have been de-sensitized to the abuse for whatever reason. How would you like to have your body parts pulled off with pliars or your babies "thumped" and left to suffer on the ground. OUTRAGEOUS!!! These animals feel and suffer pain just like we do-they don't have any way of defending themselves or getting away though-

I can bet the heathens in the video weren't just "kidding" when they were talking about ramming rods up the pig's anus-read the investigator notes that are posted on Peta's website-he saw it all.

Posted by: Kari | September 18, 2008 04:52 PM

another reason why the demise of factory farming can ONLY be a good thing.. I for one welcome it WHOLEHEARTEDLY.. if everyone on planet earth only ate meat occasionally or if ever.. and it continues to decrease more and more so..) there wouldn't necessitate the mass factory farming production conveyor belt breeding and churning out so many animals for the meat industry.. and less opporutnity for these frustrated and cowardly (sicko's) becuase yes.. that's what they are.. to keep abusing animals 'behind closed doors'.. pertaining it deosn't happen 'all the time' however. the opportunity is there.. and these poor animals are at their mercy shoudl a sicko feeling like abusing or mistreating any one or a number of them.. with the ultimate of course.. they will all be killed.. and end up on someone's plate or sandwich.. it's one thing to breed animals for their meat but intensive factory farming cannot be a humane way to breed house and keep animals in huge numbers in an enclosed environment.. and the sicko's who make their way to work there to vent out their angers or frustrations on these animals..
these humans should be shot.. that's how disgusted I feel with them..

Posted by: liz | September 18, 2008 05:15 PM

I am in tears right now. There has to be more that I can do from where I live. I send letters, sign my name on emails but this is killing me inside. I am sick to my stomach.

Posted by: Kristin | September 18, 2008 07:09 PM

I was in shock when I saw the video. I don't understand how someone could treat another living species so bad. I hope this video will educate people about the way animals in our "meatpacking" plants are treated. SAD SAD SAD!!!!

Posted by: robin smejkal | September 18, 2008 07:50 PM

Jessica,

What on earth are they teaching you at the University of Iowa? Even Hormel admits that the events depicted in the video are completely unacceptable. I know because I have an email response from them stating as such. So Jessica, why is it that Hormel has the courage to acknowledge the deplorable acts and you cannot. I worry that animals at your farm are destined to the same fate. What's the name of your farm and where is it located?

Posted by: Colleen | September 18, 2008 07:52 PM

My comments are truly unnecessary at this point--because it has all been said on this blog many many times.I just wish there were more of us--then the cruelty would stop.
The inhumane treatment of any creature on this planet is truly unacceptable.
PETA you are the best-thanks for doing what our USDA and US Government will not or do not want to expose.
And my wishes for wellness to the undercover investigator who had to stand by and see this happened day after day to these intellect gentle creatures.

Posted by: Debbie | September 18, 2008 07:52 PM

============ In conclusion, instead of hating the entire industry
and not eating pork, why not understand that this doesn't happen on every farm ========

Excuse me Jessica but I prefer not to eat Pork.

You are as disgusting as these abusers. To say that it is okay to artifically inseminate the sows is crazy talk. Why not let these poor animals breed naturally? I am sure they did it for hundreds of years ( before factory farms took over ) and didnt kill each other by breeding.

Jessica, have you ever spent time around pigs who are raised in pasture?? Who are let to live the way they live?? It sounds like your animal experrience is mostly on factory farms.

Sad for you .

Posted by: Susan Johnson | September 18, 2008 08:38 PM

In response to Jessica, who seems so well informed. Did you by chance watch the video from North Carolina where the pig was skinned alive? The routine uncalled for beatings, bragging how far up they stuck the poles? How is it you can come up with this scientific crap - to appease the type of work you are going into? Is that what you need to get you through? I was weeping when I saw that and other video footage of those sickos. Your pathetic justification is just one reason those guys at the plants get away with what they do. I think you are sick too.

Posted by: Nancy | September 18, 2008 09:30 PM

When i first saw this video i cried for a while. This is extrememly in humane, it makes me sick that i'am from the same species as the supervisors in charge of this hellhole. If animals could think, what would they think of humans? why should we put them in concentration camps when they didnt do anything wrong? I wish i could adopt all of those piglets. If i could help atleast 1 pigs life i would.

Posted by: AWKK | September 18, 2008 09:43 PM

Discusting!!!

Posted by: Jim | September 18, 2008 10:15 PM

This is not how all "factory farms" are. You want a way to stop abuse? Rather than looking into ways of "making" people raise livestock a certain way lets look at it in a different way. How about paying the people who work in these farms a little bit more so that quality people are willing to work at these places and stay working there. Right now thses "factory farms" are only paying slightly above min. wage. How is that going to attract intelligent, quality and caring workers?

Posted by: not like that | September 18, 2008 10:24 PM

"PORK, THE OTHER WHITE MEAT"

In Canada we have been besiedged by this advertisement time and again. This from the pork producer's of Canada, who else. The discovery of the abuse of pigs should not be of any surprise to any one of we humans. Animals that are raised for meat have and always will be subject to indecenies. While it is true that man feels the need to consume "dead animal flesh" we cannot condemn the "meat eaters of the world" but we CAN endeavour to treat animals who sacrifice their lives for us with the respect that they deserve. The native north americans knew this and alway gave thanks for the availability of meat and never took it for granted. WE, us HUMANS take a great many things for granted and this is why this story is so appalling to many individuals. Respect for every living thing should be automatic in everyone's life.

Posted by: Chris | September 18, 2008 10:30 PM

TO JESSICA S.- I JUST WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE BEEN AN EYEWITNESS TO FACTORY FARM ABUSE TO ANIMALS. THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH FARMING PIGS. IF ALL WAS "PAIN-LESS". HOWEVER , SOME HUMANS DO ABUSE AND BEAT THESE PIGS,COWS AND CHICKENS. I HAVE SEEN THIS AND THAT IS THE ISSUES THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING.THERE IS NOTHING MORE SICKING THAN WATCHING A HUMAN BREAKING A CHICKENS LEGS OR WINGS OR ANY OTHER ANIMAL AND JUST STANDING THERE LAUGHTING AT THE POOR ANIMALS AS THEY SCREAM IN PAIN. I HAVE SEEN ANIMALS RUN OVER BY TRUCK-DRIVERS AND THEY LAUGHT AT THE POOR ANIMAL BECAUSE THEY DON'T CARE BECAUSE IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE KILLED IN THE MEAT HOUSE LATER ON THAT DAY. SO ..IF YOU THINK THAT THIS IS OVER RE-ACTING ( AS YOU PUT IT AGAINST PETA ) THAN YOU ARE DISCONNECTED TO REALITY. SORRY, JUST HAVE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT PETA AND MYSELF ARE NOT OVER -RE-ACTING. JUST DON'T WANT ANIMALS TO BE HURT .

Posted by: SASHA | September 18, 2008 10:55 PM

I can't believe this. Why do people think that animals can be treated this way. I am so angry, upset and just completely in shock at all the horrific stories on this website. Keep up the good work PETA!!!

Posted by: Kristi | September 19, 2008 12:03 AM

I used to work in a hog barn, and I have to say that those employees in the video were disgusting. Thankfully the people I worked with all cared for and respected the animals,but sadly it's not always that way. I miss the pigs very much, they are very smart, sweet animals and I couldn't imagine treating any life as horrible as those shown in the video. Its very sad that a company as well known as Hormel can't regulate their employees better.

Posted by: Sarah | September 19, 2008 01:18 AM

Jessica S
Animal science can be used to benefit the animals it studies and/or benefit the humans who exploit them. Your post clearly indicates which side you come down on.
BTW many Peta members and posters here have backgrounds in science. You can bet their knowledge serves to enhance lives not demoralize and enslave them.

Posted by: lynda downie | September 19, 2008 01:26 AM

It is so good to see that som many of you care for these animals and want the cruelty to stop!I cry everey day over this! I cant get the pictures and screaming out of my head! It is terrible!To you that defend all this, did you see that poor pig with a broken leg? He got kicked several times and he tryed to escape! This is not normal!!I hope the devils ends up i jail for life!!And in hell after life!!

Posted by: Ragnhild from Norway | September 19, 2008 09:09 AM

In reference to the comment that PETA distorts the truth-
PETA "exposes" the truth. I am so glad that there are people in this world who care enough to put themselves through the torture of finding out what really happens to animals on factory farms and in slaughter houses. Sarah

Posted by: Sarah McGee | September 19, 2008 11:29 AM

I'm so glad organizations like PETA are out there educating and enlightening the public and that ppl are becoming increasingly disgusted and angered by the abuse of animals. I haven't even watched this video 'cuz just reading about it makes me sick. These sort of psychotics need to be put behind bars!!! There needs to be harsher penalties - jail time preferred - for this sort of behavior. Let's see how these imbeciles like being raped and beaten up in prison and be unable to stop it!!!

Posted by: Jane | September 19, 2008 12:57 PM

I'm outraged, sick and saddened by how these pigs & all factory farm animals are violently abused on a daily basis! These sickos shouldn't breathe the same air as we breathe & they should have the same thing done to them!

Keep up the good work Peta!

Posted by: Christian Sabo | September 19, 2008 02:24 PM

I sent a letter to Hormel yesterday tellinq them that I will boycott their products (forever). The PETA undercover person who documented and exposed the Iowa factory farm horrific abuse deserves a lot of credit. To that PETA worker-- thank you for what you did. Jessica, I think you are brainwashed by the Pork Industry. If you want to be in the business-- think of ways to improve it not defend it. Or better yet, find a new major at Iowa State.

Posted by: AnneStroup | September 19, 2008 02:26 PM

I have filled out the petition and became a PETA member. Thank you for opening my eyes to this unspeakable horror with such courage PETA!!!

I have eaten pork (not proud of it now) but have not eaten any in the past few days. I have always been a believer that we are not any better (or worse) than other animals. The human race has been blessed with certain capabilities (i.e. intelligence) but also been cursed with such iniquity. I am _ashamed_ to be a human.

I know that pigs are wonderful, intelligent, and social beings. Ever since I read “The Animal Farm” I had been always intrigued by them. What angered and saddened me the most was the absolute helplessness of these animals. A dog can bite, a cat can scratch, a horse can kick, but farmed pigs have nothing to protect them with. I hope the sadistic perpetrators will rot in hell.

I have not been able to sleep well for the last few nights. I keep hearing the screams of the poor SOW being viciously beaten by a metal rod. Although I have been atheist/agnostic most of my life, I found myself praying to god to give their souls some solace in another life. (Times like this make me want to believe in a higher power because I believe no good deed goes in vein just like no atrocity goes unpunished.)

Posted by: Faisal Ahmed | September 19, 2008 03:40 PM

I am shocked by this video. Pigs are very intelliegent and sensitive animals. I was horrified by the abuse shown in the video and I will never eat pork again. The public needs to be aware of things like this so that we can report and stop this from happening. Thank you PETA for the hard job you do. It must have been hard not to punch and beat the abusers.

Posted by: Patti Lehman | September 19, 2008 04:23 PM

Karma is a bi**ch. These men shall rot in hell.

Posted by: Vilma | September 19, 2008 04:38 PM

I am disgusted. I cried and wondered as I watched on the television, how can any human being do something like that. I believe that anyone with a heart would not commit such cruel acts upon another living being. Its sad to know that this is the type of behaviour that serial killers are known to be prone to as children. The fact that this is being done by adults that are amongst us is in society is very frightening. They should be behind bars for this. No ifs, ands, or buts about. I wont get into the more awful thoughts I had towards these types of people. I would just like to say that I have been spreading the word religously about the cruel treatment of animals in order to bring meat to a table. I know that if we all continue to do this we will make a difference. I wish that everyone in the world could be as caring as you all.

Posted by: Alison Rain | September 19, 2008 05:47 PM

Thank you peta. The story was aired today on KCRG in Cedar Rapids. The farm was bought a month ago and the new owners vow to fire the offenders and install video cameras. All violators need to be exposed as the barbarians they are and don't deserve the trust of anyone.

Posted by: Sue Jones | September 19, 2008 06:47 PM

I can't bring myself to view the video of these piglets being so viciously murdered. However, I have seen it happen in another undercover video by PETA, and I find it heartwrenching. I have become vegetarian, and will never eat meat again. As a matter of fact, today I just ate some mock sandwich meat and it was delicious. I now know I don't ever have to eat meat again and I couldn't be more relieved. I feel very good about my new eating habits.
Thank you much PETA for all you do for animals.

Posted by: Sharon Girouard | September 19, 2008 08:08 PM

Michael Vick gets prison for dog fighting which he deserved. These thugs should get worse than Vick. Lets bring them to justice. Pigs need protection just like dogs. I almost vomited watching that video.

Posted by: Paul | September 19, 2008 09:19 PM

My guess is Jessica is probably got a little science going on in her brain in the form of powerful anti-deppressants.

You fool Jessica. If you want respect for the pork industry and the usda you are on the wrong website. You see there is a condition that is known as "having a heart". Loving all of God's creatures.

Jessica you have a HARD HEART.

You better ditch the anti-psychotropic drugs and get a new job before you pyschosis lands you in Hell.

Watch your head Jessica and as far as that evil university one can only hope and pray that God takes you guys out in one giant storm.

And guess what Jessica we will all survive without the evil pig farmers of Iowa.

Posted by: Elijah | September 19, 2008 09:19 PM

This makes me really sad... I really am heart broken by this cruelty. I saw the undercover video yesterday night, and I had a really hard time sleeping. I've thought about it numerous times today--all separate times of the day. I want to do more than just not eat meat because I know that the majority of the population out there will still eat the meat from these inhumane factory farms. I feel like it's not enough to just stop eating meat, but I want to stop the cruelty from continuing. It's just not right. It's not fair to those animals...

I feel so angry towards those workers in the video; they are pathetic. The cruel nature of those "humans" truly sickens me. I have no words to express myself fully. All I know is that the cruelty that goes on in those factory farms is a major violation to the sanctity of life.

But what is also sad is how there are so many people out there that don't want to see animals treated inhumanely, but they choose to ignore or deny the reality of the situation/problem. It's just really unfortunate. Animals need everyone's help in this fight to end animal cruelty.

Jessica S. --

I'm not going to say you're a bad person because I don't feel you are. You may be an Animal Science major, but I don't need to be an Animal Science major to know what is inhumane. Just because there is a "reason" to do something, doesn't always make it right. Just because you can create logic over something, it is still logic deemed from a certain perspective. We cannot always equate logic with ethics (in your case, your reasons for castrating without pain killers or killing piglets because they simply, in your words, are of "low birth weight and probably would die in
the next few days because they wouldn't be strong enough to fight for a tit"). You try to justify these actions by "scientific logic" based off of your knowledge and experience, but like I said before, WE AS HUMANS (WITH FALLIBLE JUDGEMENT) CANNOT ALWAYS EQUATE LOGIC WITH ETHICS. This is something you don't understand and what many of us who support PETA try to get others to open their eyes to.

-Stacey L.

Posted by: Stacey L. | September 19, 2008 10:13 PM

Thank You, PETA for opening my eyes. I caught a glimpse of an article on the Hormel pig abuse on Google News. I was so outraged on the situation that I wanted to know more. I checked out the full investigation by PETA and was shocked and almost in tears. You have opened my eyes to this whole other world I did not know existed. I requested the Vegetarian starter kit. In the meantime I will not be eating any animal products. Thank you for opening my eyes.

Posted by: Elizabeth | September 19, 2008 10:25 PM

I go to the University of Iowa and this makes me want to vomit. I cry every time I watch this and I want to drive out there and get all those pigs to safety. I am so sickened by humanity, it is all for what? Humans to eat GROSS MEAT? NO. I just became a vegetarian and I am SO HAPPY I DID. I am spreading the word too. Not many college kids care about this and I want to change that. I HATE YOU HORMEL

Posted by: Nicole Dziuban | September 20, 2008 12:39 AM

To Jessica S
"if I could give up my reproductive organs to to help stop world hunger(which is what the pigs are doing), I would."
Well,go girl! At least you have the privilege of a choice. I don't think any of the pigs in those horrific farms have it.
By the way the comment about pigs stopping world hunger is one of the most stupid remarks I have ever came across.
Get out of the comfortable bubble that you living in and have a real look at the world.
Animal farms won't stop world hunger. They just making westerners(and especially the Americans) fatter and fatter while getting richer by exploiting and abusing animals.
It's a vicious cycle and the only way to stop it is by giving up meat.

Posted by: Kaloudis Mitiloudis | September 20, 2008 02:24 AM

It's been a few days now since I saw this video and I still can not gets those images out of my head. I wrote to Hormel and signed PETA's petition, But I don't feel like it's enough. I stopped eating meat the second after I saw the video, I can no longer support an industry that profits off this type of treatment and lack of compassion for other living things.
I have sent this video to every person I know I just can not stop talking about it, I went through my entire house and got rid of anything containing animal products, and to my horror I had a jar of real bacon bits made by none other than Hormel, I was so upset, thinking that I actually ate something from them.
Thank you PETA for making me aware of this and all other animal cruelties, I have join your fight and stand side by side with all others who will no longer stand for this.

Tanya Boudreau
New Brunswick, Canada

Posted by: Tanya L. Boudreau | September 20, 2008 10:38 AM

i absolutely horrified by this event. I, infact live in Greene County where the abuse took place & it just appalls me. I am an animal lover. I would NEVER treat any animal or human being this way. This just makes me sick to my stomach to think of what people do to these poor, helpless animals. I cry everytime I think about it. I'm sure the people that are abusing these animals wouldnt like it if they were being treated as the animals were. i hope every one of those workers are severely punished for their actions to the full extent of the law.

Posted by: Amy | September 20, 2008 12:02 PM

I watched the video and was horrified by the deliberate and sadistic cruelty of these people. Factory farming needs to stop because it attracts people who enjoy cruelty. I hope they are prosecuted to the fullest. I am so glad that Peta volunteers are going undercover to expose this to the nation. People need to see the truth about what is happening on these farms.

Posted by: Wendy | September 20, 2008 03:07 PM

I'd like to see a "rogues gallery" with the names, photos and crimes of convicted animal torturers.

Posted by: Andrew Towne | September 20, 2008 06:34 PM

I have to wonder if Peta is actually going to do something about it, because this is really shocking and sad, but besides not eating anymore meat like some people are going to start doing until now I think that Peta is suppose to expose this video to the corresponding authorities and go from there. Because if nothing gets done this is going to continue on.

Posted by: Margarita | September 20, 2008 07:19 PM

I WILL NEVER EAT MEAT AND MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WILL NEVER
BUY HORMEL PRODUCTS EVER! THIS IS SHAME ON THEM.

Posted by: LORRIE | September 20, 2008 07:48 PM

THIS CANNOT CONTINUE. I AM SICK AND CRYING OVER THIS. THIS MUST BE STOPPED.

Posted by: LORRIE | September 20, 2008 07:53 PM

Of course the individuals who abuse pigs should be prosecuted. However, I also asked myself: where is the veterinarian who oversees this farm? I have written to the Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine (address: Department of Agriculture in the Wallace Building, East 9th and Grand in Des Moines, Iowa. Their phone number is 515-281-8617) to ask them that question, too. All such farms must have some sort of veterinary oversight, and I am appalled that a veterinarian could either 1) fail to recognize this kind of animal mistreatment and abuse, or 2) ignore/condone it. Please join me in letting the Iowa State veterinary authorities know that we are watching THEM, too!

Posted by: foxally | September 20, 2008 09:22 PM

ALL I can say is STOP contributing to CORP GREED any which way POSSIBLE! If you choose to contribute to the cruelty and continue to eat meat buy ONLY from small local farmers where you can take a peek BEHIND closed doors! Why do you think corp factory farms and slaughterhouses are always tucked AWAY from public view??

Who EVER designed the satanic farrowing crate was a TRUE Hitler and to ALL animals subjected to the meat industry, 'MAN' are NAZIS in THEIR eyes and NEED to be brought about to these SICKOS AND the DECEIVING pork industry/factory farms (don't see ANYTHING resembling a farm pictured on MOST pork products) Putting these mother pigs behind bars of TINY cells where they can't even turn around! I know I would ABSOLUTELY go OUT OF MY MIND!

This is NO longer a nation under God as we are in a pact with the devil (corps, capitalism, materialism, militarism, elite bankers, illuminatis) which has destroyed humanity as we know it as animals are considered mere commodities/profit $$$ and PLENTY of profits able to line the pockets NICELY of politicians, judicial system AND the USDA so they ALL turn a blind eye...

THAT'S how corrupt our govt is, NOT what this country was founded on as the Greatness of a nation and its moral progress is based on how its animals are treated...WOW if this is factual then we are in for a HARSH judgment!

The driving passion that has overwhelmingly governed my life is the UNBEARABLE pity for the suffering of human & non human animals caused by people (Corp GREED/MEAT INDUSTRY) for their own personal gain, regardless of how severe the pain, intentionally and maliciously inflicted on innocent others.

PEACE
&
God BLESS the beasts!

Posted by: SHARI | September 20, 2008 09:57 PM

God NEVER intended for his beasts to be exploited in any way shape or form in the name of the almighty dollar which he warned would bring us down and be the demise of MAN.

The almighty dollar has taken God out of MANY MANY MANY peoples lives and will eventually destroy mankind and folks this is EXACTLY what Corp America Greed IS and the stock market is a PRIME example!

Out of the satanic GREED genetic engineering and chemical warfare (keeps the pharm industry rich too) are included to assure profits stay HIGH regardless of how the animals suffer OR how it affects consumer health...hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, msg (slow poison), who knows what else these evil minds use but the list DEFINITELY goes on and on with absolutely NO concern whatsoever for the sheeple, I'm sorry I mean 'the people' ')

Out of mind control & brainwashing they have created illusions and the sheeple believe all the lies and deceit to keep them in line and the CORP WORLD in business! TV is an EXCELLENT tool to keep the masses complacent, they tell you what THEY want you to hear NOT the truth, what to eat, where to eat, what drugs to take (along with all the nasty side effects) that's ALL you see on the govt controlled tube, drugs & fast food commercials.

The Illuminati ARE slick (for the reason they're called the Illuminati) I WILL give them that! GOOGLE them if you're STILL in the dark!

WE The People are ONLY here for the ride and that's IT, mere peasant slaves to them and if you think the TOP elite, the REAL rulers of this county are protecting your assets while taking your rights away (you expect animals to have any?), then you're in for a HELLUVA ride as everything being done in this country is ALL for the benefit of the TOP elite bankers and corps which include the pharmaceutical & the meat industry!

If they can do this to the animals can you IMAGINE what they could do to YOU??? Think about it OR better yet DO the research as history ALWAYS repeats itself. Damnation without investigation is the height of IGNORANCE...

This country needs MORE realists/truth seekers as the sheeple just keep doing the same thing over and over expecting different results, yet continue to complain and do absolutely NOTHING, they say, let someone else deal with it. That describes self absorption, laziness & INSANITY!

If you don't like what you see yet still addicted to meat I suggest you keep your comments to yourself as this (animal suffering) goes on CONTINUOUSLY and I don't want to HEAR it as I've worked VERY HARD for over 30 yrs to end the SATANIC, INSANE war on animals and it's the heartless meat addicts who've allowed it to continue!

If you are WELL AWARE of the suffering YET complain and WORST of all continue to contribute...in MY eyes you are as SADISTIC as the perpetrators in this and WAY TOO MANY other videos as the ONLY way to END the suffering is STOP eating meat!!

Corrupt CORP meat especially as they are the WORST when it comes to abuse (stock market commodities) as they are EASILY able to bribe & buy their way out of committed crimes via profits from the meat addict along with leading this country to its demise, QUICKLY!

IT'S TIME to WAKE UP!!

PEACE

BTW, I haven't used animal products since the mid 70s, I'm 50 and look 30 something ')
VEGANISM...it does a body EXCELLENT!!

Posted by: SHARI | September 20, 2008 10:57 PM

I have worked in 2 hog farms and I can say that what the video displays DOES NOT go on at all hog farms. I have thumped baby piglets. It is not something I am proud of but, if the baby is suffering you have to make a choice..let it suffer or put it out of it's misery. As far as castration I know where I have worked iodine and penicillin was administered. As far as bolting a sow again like the piglets..let her suffer or let her out of her pain and suffering?? I have been in on c sections as well and it's a matter of life or death for both mama and unborn. No, I do not believe metal rods should be used. And is not a common practice. Sort boards are used to move the sows. Not abuse them. I have nudged a sow but NEVER kicked one. I WILL CONTINUE TO EAT PORK!! And when given the chance to work at a hog farm again I will. God gave us these animals to survive. You people just want to show negative in anything you can find! Just cause 1 farm does it ALL FARMS are BAD. NOT TRUE!! Get your facts straight before you start accusing the whole pig industry!!

Posted by: Former Pig Farm Worker | September 20, 2008 11:09 PM

I couldnt even watch the whole lot of it because i thought I was going to be sick! How can people be so cruel!

Posted by: Camilla Bastable Ahern | September 21, 2008 01:52 PM

Jessica S:
I like the fact you emphasize that you are a STUDENT and SCIENCE major. Does that make you any better? The video speaks for itself: there IS NO EXCUSE scientific or not. I can’t believe you even want to give those kinds of practices a voice. If you knew anything ethical practice is paramount in any discipline. While people may not stop eating meat they WILL NOT sympathise with indstrury practice when evedicene of abuse is so BLATANT.
You need to think twice about your attitudes. It may be you one day having to answer for some sick wanker in you sick farm explain why they mutilate, rape and beat animals that are already in appalling circumstances.
Im sure if you had to tell your family and friends that the pig you are eating had been raped by workers in a farm and probably contaminated with all kinds of human fluid they would not be pleased.
If the video didn’t piss me off you sure did. We need less EXPERT advocates such as you, and all your desensitised views running the world. I hate you and you are worse than those freaks on the vid because you DON’T SEE WHAT THE REST OF US SEE. And you probably never will.
Not like that:
That's just stupid. Min Wage office workers don't beat the shit out of customers because they don't get paid enough. I wouldn't SODOMIZE a pig because I am poor or don't have better opportunities in life. If that was your kid/sister/mother/wife being slammed on the floor and left to die in a waste bin struggling to move would you come and tell me they need better working conditions and a pay rise. I don’t think so. Think about what you are justifying.
Also, sadly I think that in terms of prosecution, as the meat industry is SO POWERFUL there will be little done about this in terms of law. Money BUYS power and they can find someone to get this out of this one as well.
***************************
When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. Jimi Hendrix

Posted by: Emina | September 21, 2008 02:03 PM

Id like the people in the films to get some the the same treament just to see how they like it. I would definitely want to be their to watch. Maybe be incharge of the event.

Posted by: Russ Greer | September 21, 2008 02:09 PM

Way to let them have it Jessica S.!!! BTW the blue "paint" is an antibiotic used to help the sow with a fungus that bothers around the ears. So many writers with so little knowledge!

Posted by: John K. | September 21, 2008 09:56 PM

I want to congratulate you, PETA, for this horrendous but invaluable coverage of the abuse of pigs on an Iowa farm.

Posted by: DIANE C. DEAN | September 22, 2008 03:11 AM

Words cannot express the sickness I felt after watching this...I wish PETA would find a way to show this and other atrocities done to animal on factory farms on national TV, because that would make many more people change their minds about their hamburgers and hot dogs...

Posted by: speechless | September 22, 2008 11:08 AM

John and Jessica seem to be typical of those who consider themselves to be educated, yet can always justify cruelty and murder for the sake of the human "race". Maybe they should get together and torture some animals for kicks!

Posted by: G.Stewart | September 22, 2008 11:48 AM

It's SIMPLE people!!!

The ONLY WAY to end the NEEDLESS suffering is to...

GO VEGAN!!!

THEN there will NEVER EVER be another video of this context posted on the internet again :)

Doesn't take a ROCKET SCIENTIST to figure this one out ')

CASE CLOSED!!!

Posted by: SHARI | September 22, 2008 03:58 PM

Ahh NEVERMIND what John & Jessica babble as they are 2 of the MANY victims of REPEATERS, repeaters learn from repeaters which is ANOTHER creation of the Illuminati as a means of mind control and brain washing!

THEY are the ones dictating what is taught in all schools, colleges, med schools, agribusiness, ETC

DO the research google ILLUMINATI if you're STILL in the dark and unaware of their coming New World Order!

You think the stock market crash 9/15 wasn't planned? Then you NEED a WAKE UP call and FAST ')

Posted by: SHARI | September 22, 2008 04:11 PM

The sad thing is that many people that really don't know anything about agriculture are the ones who think they know everything. Yes this is a very sad story but its just like criminals, the media or peta will only show the negatives, never positives. I know you will not let this post go up but hopefully you who reads this will give some thought about how some know very little but yet try to control issues they know nothing about.

Posted by: John | September 22, 2008 04:14 PM

P.S. and I KNOW PLENTY about agriculture which from your presentation shows me you obviously do NOT!!!

Posted by: SHARI | September 22, 2008 06:19 PM

these humans should be shot..Liz isnt that a threat? Just like they were doing with talking about the pigs. Because they say they are going to do it doesnt mean they really are. It never once shows it happening.
Jessica S. I agree with some of the stuff you said. Way to go about covering the situation.

Posted by: Vinessa | September 22, 2008 07:43 PM

This is to the Former Pig Farmer - How would you like to be thumped? And, no, God didn't give us animals to survive. Get your facts straight!

Posted by: 4 the Animals | September 22, 2008 09:52 PM

I am saddened by the treatment to these poor pigs at the Hormal Farm. I compare the violation of these pigs to the rape and then murder of a woman. These pigs know deep down they are soon to be killed, but before they are, these sick and disturbed idiots violate they privates and torture them before their deaths. Effective 9/21/08 I will no longer eat any form of meat. It's just not the pigs, but the cows, chickens, etc. that are being tortured and violated. This is how things get changed, by spreading the word. I want to do more, but not sure how. If anyone reads this, please feel free to contact me at mike.fine2@gmail.com. Thank you!

Posted by: Michael A. Fine | September 23, 2008 10:40 AM

While this is certainly very disturbing, this is NOT the norm. I know you say that to scare people. But, there are thousands of pig farms, and you gave 6 examples. This is not "the rule" Please try and state facts next time instead of insinuating that this occur's everywhere. Thank You

Posted by: James Bernelli | September 23, 2008 10:47 AM

This story reaffirms why I am so passionate about being a vegan. Pigs deserve better than this. We have to be a voice for the animals.

Posted by: Brian | September 23, 2008 10:47 PM

I cannot beleive that something like this is allowed to happen. I am seriously disgusted and I feel so ashamed that I have ever eaten meat. This has changed the way that I view meat and it will not be something that will be on my shopping list from now on. There is no need for that kind of neglect or cruelty - those people should be made to suffer the way that they made those helpless animals suffer.

Posted by: Jade | September 24, 2008 03:36 AM

I would just like to say that the stuff in the video is horrible but on the other hand you can't compare this one barn to all other hog barns....that's just not fair, that would be equal to comparing all people of one race to just one person from that race....i work at a hog barn and the stuff on there is NEVER done there....granted some of the stuff on the video is.....blunt euthanization is a standard pratice but when done correctly and those arent "runts", they should have been the piglets that would die from "chill" which is when their body is unable to produce it's own heat....would you really want an animal to suffer such a death? With the sow they made move out of the crate....would you rather a worker get in there and euthanize her and get themselves hurt possibly even killed?? The barn I work at has never had and issue with animal abuse.....we even gave a sow that wouldn't walk a ride in the boar cart so that she wouldn't get stressed out from walking....and the people in the video should know better how to use the herding boards....I HAVE NEVER HIT A SOW WITH A HERDING BOARD....do you think that everybody that works in a sow barn is horrible people? Let me ask one more question....would you rather an animal stay sick in a group pen of 30 sows because you dont know which one is sick or be in a crate where you can see her everyday and know when something is wrong and can treat them right away and help provide better care for the animal? If you vote for the pens then you don't really know what's actually going in the most hog barns not just the one you "happened" to go to.

Posted by: bob | September 24, 2008 11:07 AM

I am horrified...I can't stand to see animals hurt in any way. I cry everytime I see a video like this...it's so horrible and cruel...I don't get how people can do that to another living creature. Thank you PETA for lifting the veil that had been over my eyes for so many years...I am proud to say I am now a Vegan (just a month into it now) and I can't imagine ever going back to eating animals!

Posted by: Tina | September 25, 2008 07:28 PM

I just read Jessica S post. I too grew up on a small farm. We had livestock and never did we remove tails or casterate our animals. we never had a pig chew another pigs tail off but of course our pigs had room to move~ a shed for shelter, a big mud/play area, feeding area, dry sunning area. in fact having those pigs is what started my thoughts of maybe eating meat wasn't something I could live with until I was around livestock I didn't think about it. They are smart and friendly.

I dont think joking about shoving an AI rod into any animal part is funny. a sex joke is one thing but saying that if a pig doesnt move he will shove a rod up their ass doesnt sound funny to me. does it to you? really.

Yes I have heard of rigor mortis have you? rigor mortis is when the joints of the body stiffens and this occurs several hours after death it has nothing to do with movement. spasms after death do occur but these are usually small twitches and happen within the first minute or so after death, not 12 mintues and not at all what those piglets endured~ they looked like they were trying to move not Postmortem Spasms at all. what was seen was not postmortem spasms, it was a small baby animal struggling to live and dying slowly. as far as saying that bashing a piglets head against cement is humane because the national pork board said its acceptable you are out of your mind. these animals should be put down humanly if absolutely necessary. if money is the issue then you have no right raising anything alive. being ethical should out weigh profits. its pretty sad that they will artifically inseminate a female so she doesnt get hurt but will bash a piglets head against concrete because its small. is it me or does this sound insane?

As far as having yard hands that are uneducated as an excuse thats just ignorant. It is up to the owners of the farm to regualte their workers and if they hire stupid cruel people they are partially to blame. Even McDonalds has a supervisor making sure the lazy workers get something done but at this farm the supervisors are joining in and encouraging the beatings. you lead by example and the example being set at this farm is truly disgusting.

I feel a third party should investigate ethics on all farms ideally a mixing of USDA and those involved in animal rights.

Posted by: katy | September 26, 2008 10:40 AM

" The sad thing" is,John,that no living creature on earth should be subjected to the abuse I saw and read about.I'm sure it doesn't happen on every farm but just one is one too many.How healthy is it to eat the meat of animals bred in factory farms?I ate very little pork before I saw this story,from the momnet it came on,I knew I never would again.Keep your pork,John and Jessica, those of us choosing to no longer eat it are healthier for it.

Posted by: Mary | October 17, 2008 10:11 PM