Thank you PETA!

Posted by: John Carmody | September 19, 2008 05:41 PM

Oh my god, that picture made me cry. What reason was there to do this? Those workers are all lowlife scum.

Posted by: Raquel | September 19, 2008 07:07 PM

Thank you so much for the work that all of you do to make sure that this stops, I watched the undercover video fotage on Wednesday, and have not been the same since, I can not get off my mind the horrific torture that was done to these poor defenless pigs. I have taken action by sending 4 emails, including 2 to Hormel directly, but I wanted to thank you for all that you are doing to make sure this stops. God bless you and your families. Keep up the good work.
Regan
Augusta, GA

Posted by: Regan Brockman | September 19, 2008 07:56 PM

this is sick, more then sick. horrifying. what the hell is their problems killing animals. If I had a hold of the animals abusers, oh, they would be crying to their mothers

Posted by: sarah nash | September 19, 2008 08:34 PM

Well at least some people have been fired, but it will take some time before any major changes take place in such a horrible industry. I hope everyone goes veg after seeing this, it's the best step you can take! How anyone can look at those baby pigs and slam them into the florr, I'll never know.

Posted by: Alicia P | September 19, 2008 09:16 PM

Dear God, a measure of justice.

I was so despaired after reading about those pigs, I could barely lift my head, I couldn't put my fingers to the keyboard to leave a post. I was completely devoid of joy for two days.

Today, to come back on board and to read about a good man, this Sheriff who has empathy in his heart has renewed the joy in mine. Thank you Sheriff Heater you are a good man and God is going to bless you for that.

Posted by: Saucy | September 19, 2008 09:51 PM

I believe that this is a tragety. This is a glowing example of animal cruelty.

PS:if montana morrison happens to be reading this it's your pen-pal from PS47Q.

Posted by: AaronHampton | September 19, 2008 10:22 PM

I SENT MY E-MAIL TO HORMEL. I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL BACK THE VERY NEXT DAY. I BELEIVE THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN THE HOT-SEAT AND HAVE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. TO BAD SO MANY LITTLE PIGS AND ALL ANIMALS HAVE TO BE HURT EVERYDAY IN THE FACTORY FARMING BUSINESS. I JUST CRY WHEN I THINK THAT HUMANS CAN BE SO MEAN TO ANIMALS. HOPEFULLY THE TWO EMPLOYEE THAT GOT FIRED WILL BE PUT IN JAIL FOR WHAT THEY DID BECAUSE THEY WILL ONLY GO TO THE NEXT FACTORY FARM AND HURT THOSE ANIMALS THERE TOO. HOPEFULLY THEY CAN BANN THEM FOR EVER FROM WORKING WITH ANIMALS AT OTHER SLAUGHTER HOUSES.I ALSO INFORMED HORMEL THAT I WOULD BE BOYCOTTING THEM.( I'M A VEGAN,BUT DIDN'T TELL THEM THAT} JUST WANTED TO MAKE MY POINT. AND THEY STILL E-MAILED ME BACK RIGHT AWAY. SO I FEEL THAT PETA AND THE REST OF US SHOULD KEEP THE PRESSURE ON THEM AND NOT LET UP . HIT THEM IN THE POCKET BOOK. HIT THEM HARD AND NEVER FORGET THOSE POOR LITTLE PIGGIES THAT DIED AND WERE TORTURED.

Posted by: SASHA | September 19, 2008 10:40 PM

this is so appalling, why cant PETA take this nationwide on main news channels so people who eat meat can just see what appalling and brutal conditions just go on, maybe we would get more members to fight the cause.

Posted by: Beverley Rahnn | September 19, 2008 11:18 PM

I believe that these workers at the hog farm in Bayard already knew that what they did was wrong, they may say that they are just following the way they were trained to do their job. But they knew that what they did was horrible and disstrubing. Most of the workers out at that farm have a huge criminal history either with OWI's, Domestic Abuse, Voilence, Drug Usage. I know this because I have been out there before back in 2005 and a lot of them guys have no idea how to treat others with respect, why wouldn't they not treat the animals with respect? This isn't about not following the training to do the job this is about hiring the ones with a criminal history lack of care, lack of self esteem, lazyiness, and disrespect towards anyone and or anything.

Posted by: Abby | September 19, 2008 11:39 PM

I still can't understand how some people think it is OK and acceptable to do this to piglets, but if you did it to a puppy, it would be punished by law. This double standard has to end and thanks to Peta, we are on our way.

Posted by: NT | September 19, 2008 11:54 PM

I am so angry. I saw the undercover video on television and seeing the picture of the murdered baby pigs is heart wrenching.

Why do these people get away with this all the time? Where is the USDA?

Posted by: Mara | September 20, 2008 12:50 AM

I am so glad that learn that these monsters will be fired, and that some already have been fired. But it's not enough. They need to be punished in a more meaningful way. They should be prosecuted. This way there are more chances that they will understand the gravity of what they have done.
The fact that their actions qualify as a crime gives me a lot of hope.

Posted by: Julie Guglielmi | September 20, 2008 03:11 AM

I live in Australia. Pigs are treated no better here.
The greatest power we have is to boycott all pork products and to educate people around us that this cruelty has to stop!

Posted by: John | September 20, 2008 03:18 AM

Thank you PETA - for being on the frontline in this cruelty scandal! Such hideous abuse has not to be tolerated by nobody - neither vegetarians nor meat consumers! Here - in cases like this one we have to stand up alltogether. This crosses the border of human tolerance because it's criminal and against human dignity! I'm proud oncemore to be a PETA member!

Posted by: SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION | September 20, 2008 07:28 AM

This is almost as bad as it can get. How anyone can look at that photo and still eat meat is beyond me! These animals feel the same pain and fear as us. As somebody once said of people eating meat; " we are graveyards."

Posted by: Maureen | September 20, 2008 09:16 AM

This video was so awful I still haven't been able to watch the entire thing. I really don't get what makes people do this sort of thing? I can only hope that some day people have to account for the things they do.

Posted by: Jennifer | September 20, 2008 10:06 AM

Soon or later something will happen to these people or their families.
Like in Bible sin of the father going trough in generations.So somebody will pay for that abuse of the animals.They are create by God and they belong to God not to us.Judgment Day in this life its just the matter of the time....

Posted by: marzena | September 20, 2008 10:17 AM

That's the end of Hormel for me. How horific!

Posted by: Louise Bristow | September 20, 2008 04:45 PM

Animal Abusers...God is watching...and you will be judged. I am very much aware now of the abuse...and yet when I see new info...it's like I've never seen it before...it just breaks my heart that men can abuse animals to death and sleep at night? Those poor little piglets...

I'm sorry...just firing these guys isn't enough. They should have their pictures published in the papers, online, etc. They should serve jail time (for each animal abused), pay fines, and be banned from ever working in a slaughterhouse or near live animals. Also, I think they should be put on probation for no less than 5 years.

Posted by: Connie Rutkowski | September 20, 2008 06:03 PM

Sounds like these people that do this sort of animal-cruelty should be put behind bars and beaten if they move *shrugz* just sounds fair in my mind :o)

GO TEAM PETA!

Posted by: Amanda | September 20, 2008 07:24 PM

I cannot believe I have been so foolish! I have made a promise to all of my animal friends to no longer use them as food. Shame and sadness fill my heart. I've been 100% veg for 2 months. Absolutely NO animal products should be consumed by humans. If the sheer cruelty isn't enough, look at the conditions the livestock is kept. My vow to teach others the vast alternatives to animal products. Thank you PETA for opening my eyes.

Posted by: Paul | September 20, 2008 10:13 PM

The incredible cruelty and inhumanity displayed by employees of Hormel, as well as Hormel's deceit in attempting to extricate themselves from blame, should stop everyone from EVER purchasing any Hormel item again. Why is Europe so far ahead of us in their humane treatment of animals - these employees of Hormel should not just be fired,they should be fully persecuted.

Posted by: Jane Blythe | September 21, 2008 12:02 AM

YEP the ONLY way to stop the BARBARIC CRIMES to animals in corporate factory farms/slaughterhouses is to STOP contributing or BETTER YET, CEASE to eat meat!

If you eat meat and CONTINUE to, especially after 'tasting' corp greed on film, don't EVEN comment your defenses because YOU are the perpetrator that CONDONES the CRUEL conduct onto the defenseless which is what keeps it in existence...

Basically YOU are as EVIL as the criminals in the videos and behind the scenes who KNOW exactly what is going down on their turf, don't let the corp CREEPS fool ya as

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

IS the ROOT of ALL EVIL where SADLY in THIS industry it's the animals who are paying DEARLY and WITH their lives!!

SNEAKY EVIL corps can buy & bribe their way out of crimes committed against the victims so basically we must leave it up to YOU, the meat addict comsumer.

CHEW ON THIS...
Either you GO vegetarian OR leave your comments to yourself...

As long as there are slaughterhouses, there will always be wars

PEACE & GOD BLESS THE BEASTS

Posted by: SHARI | September 21, 2008 12:59 AM

My God! All of these pictures, particularly the one with the piglet and missing eyes I'm guessing or seriously infected mutilated eyes literally made me vomit in my mouth. These people need harsher punishments than being fired, like they should be gutted and served for breakfast in my picture perfect world. NO punishment will ever make up for these cowardly men's actions. A big "FU".

Posted by: Jessica West | September 21, 2008 01:31 AM

I don't eat pork, have so for years. Pigs are so cruelly treated and nobody seems to care. The pig farmers are really only interested in their profits! Shame on them all. What would it cost to use anesthetics when cutting their tails, neutering them, or cutting their teeth? Not much, but they are greedy and want it all for themselves. Pig farmers shame on you!!

Posted by: Bea Brinkley | September 21, 2008 03:00 AM

god this is sick...these people are sick

Posted by: Natasha Vuletich | September 21, 2008 03:28 AM

When the time of the glorious coming,you will be confronted by the creator of life if you are in the book of life, and when it is not, you will be confronted of your sins that you've enjoyed doing. you will see all who were hurt and tormented by you,it will be the animals but,yes it will be Jesus because he is everything even the animals. He is the one you've hurt and butchered. Then there is a hell with things which enjoys to hurt and butcher but, every minute, every second, every hour for eternity.

Posted by: esmeralda | September 21, 2008 08:56 AM

I had to stop watching that video. I actually cried. Those poor little piggies. :(
Geesh, who are those people and I pray one day someone slams their heads on a floor. Heartbreaking to say the least.

Posted by: outerbanksmoma | September 21, 2008 10:59 AM

Please stop abusing our animal friends like this. They deserve our love and respect. How can you live with yourselfs? Imagine this being done to you. Please have a heart!

Posted by: annelies | September 21, 2008 02:11 PM

Well first of all any animal in this world for a pet or food should be given a normal life. If this animal is being raised for food then it should have a end to it's life end painless! I know there will be those who will say it's just a pic so it's no big deal! We as Gods people should treat every animal that we use as food should have there life end with out pain even if the money hungry business man gives the same old "BS" reason, "Well I'll Just Have To Charge More Then". That's what they all say. For a proper death to animals we us for food it shouldn't be a prolem at all!

Posted by: Larry D. Grazier | September 21, 2008 04:12 PM

Thanks for updating. Here is what has happened in our household:

No more pork in this house: the meat eaters/visitors can have turkey substitutes of pork products.

I am openly against pork eating - it is already one of the worst fatty meats around -it is not 'the other white meat' - I am certified personal trainer and it is bad for you. The fat in the meat or any meat holds a lot of the growth hormones/pesticides/antibiotics fed to animals.

I cannot even look at a Hormel product in the grocery store much less buy one now.

This is horrible - I searched in vain for a some fund to contribute to that would hire someone to beat the crap out of these perps. Now that would be swift justice.

Posted by: Valerie | September 21, 2008 05:24 PM

I am speechless. Looking at those babies all bloodied...I don't know. You almost cannot believe it.

I help out all I can. I made some calls from some other posts and expressed myself as only one individual can.

*Sigh* INNOCENT animals bludgeoned to death because their sin is to be born in a factory farm.

Posted by: Kristina | September 21, 2008 08:12 PM

I am speechless, disgusted I didnt watch the video just seeing photos and reading about it was enough for me. Where did they get these monsters that worked there! I'd love to take my frustrations on the low life cowards! and see what they do with someone that can actually defend themselves . Some people can say whetever they want about Peta but if it wasn't for the people who bring this kind of stuff to light some changes would not have been possible in the treatment of animals. Thank You Peta for what you do because I sure couldn't have the strength to film abuse of animals I hope that you can still help make changes to protect animals from cruelty they sure don't deserve it!

Posted by: AnmlLvr | September 21, 2008 11:05 PM

This is so wrong!....

I wish slaughterhouses had glass walls...if only for one day!
The person who commits this disgusting act of cruelty against life & innocence has no soul!

Posted by: SHAUNA SALING | September 22, 2008 12:35 AM

I think the entire country has to wake up to the violence. And if for some inhuman reason a person doesn't care about the rights or welfare of animals, they really need to think about this: the violence in these monstrous people doesn't stop with animals, any man, woman or child could become their next victim.
Look at those poor helpless babies, how can our hearts not break? TY PETA for exposing yet more cruelty surrounding the slaughter of animals for food!

Posted by: Sheila Gredzinski | September 22, 2008 06:20 AM

Eating a vegan diet saves up to 100 farm animals per person per year.

Don't let your body become a graveyard for farm animals for that is what your body becomes when you eat meat.

Please go Vegan!

Posted by: Holly | September 22, 2008 09:33 AM

What i really want to know is WHY are these issues not covered in the mainstream media? It frustrates me to no end to see this kind of abuse go unnoticed for so long and for people to say "oh i don't want to see that" because they don't want to "give up" their favorite meal. If they saw what their favorite meal looked like and how it was treated before it was put on a bun or in a bucket i'm sure they would feel very differently. This is a travesty, watching that video makes me want to go to these farms and release all the animals and shut them down. It is so sick, i wish people would just open their eyes and agree to witness the torture and then make the choice if then they think its worth it to consume innocent animals. Those workers should recieve the same treatment they gave the animals.

Posted by: Alexis | September 22, 2008 03:05 PM

RIGHT ON HOLLY!!

Posted by: Valerie | September 21, 2008 05:24 PM

Thanks for updating. Here is what has happened in our household:

No more pork in this house: the meat eaters/visitors can have turkey substitutes of pork products.

I am openly against pork eating - it is already one of the worst fatty meats around -it is not 'the other white meat' - I am certified personal trainer and it is bad for you. The fat in the meat or any meat holds a lot of the growth hormones/pesticides/antibiotics fed to animals.

I cannot even look at a Hormel product in the grocery store much less buy one now.

This is horrible - I searched in vain for a some fund to contribute to that would hire someone to beat the crap out of these perps. Now that would be swift justice.

Posted by: Valerie | September 21, 2008 05:24 PM

Typical no brained comment from ANOTHER meat addict!!

VALERIE do you HEAR yourself?? TURKEY SUBSTITUTES??? You sound a bit prejudiced to me, fine for one species yet OK for ANOTHER????

You REALLY TRULY think this ONLY happens at HORMEL and ONLY to pigs?? This HORRIFIC abuse happens to ALL living creatures USED for food, including TURKEYS (Oh that's right, you don't care about the turkeys) and it happens at EVERY corp farm/slaughterhouse!

REALITY CHECK VALERIE!!

You want to STOP what you witnessed at HORMEL you WILL turn VEGAN and NOT allow the disgrace INTO your home!!

PS Please THINK before leaving another VERY ignorant comment!!

Posted by: SHAUNA SALING | September 22, 2008 12:35 AM

This is so wrong!....

I wish slaughterhouses had glass walls...if only for one day!
The person who commits this disgusting act of cruelty against life & innocence has no soul!

Posted by: SHAUNA SALING | September 22, 2008 12:35 AM

SHAUNA

Not ONLY the perpetrators of this cruelty have NO souls but ALSO the meat addicts, the ones who witness this act of cruelty and continue to contribute by eating the final product!

If EVERYONE went VEGAN there would be absolutely NO videos of this context, now wouldn't that be SWEEEEET???

As I stated previously, if you eat meat and CONTINUE EVEN AFTER 'tasting' corp greed on film, don't EVEN comment your defenses because YOU are the perpetrator that CONDONES the CRUEL conduct onto the defenseless which is what keeps it in existence...

Common sense folks GO VEGAN

PEACE

Posted by: SHARI | September 22, 2008 03:46 PM

My heart goes out to the lovely, little innocent piglets who endured such profound suffering and cruelty caused by sub-humans. Rest in Peace, little tortured, murdered piglets, you are in a better place with your Creator.

Blessings and prayers for your little souls...

Posted by: Ana | September 22, 2008 03:49 PM

Since we are NOW in a pact with the devil (corp world) the answer is SIMPLE people!!!

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

GO VEGAN!!!

THEN there will be NO videos of this context to be posted on the internet again :)

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

CASE CLOSED!!!

Posted by: SHARI | September 22, 2008 04:02 PM

Bless their innocent hearts.
Life is so unfair and cruel for these precious little beings.
Humans, I will never understand them! These monsters need to pay for this cruelty! Rest in peace sweet little ones. Great job PETA! You've done it again!

Abolish Animal Slavery!
Most of my heroes wear masks!

Posted by: Judith FFFA | September 22, 2008 07:37 PM

Oh. My. God.

What a heart-wrenching picture and story. I have always loved piggies (and other animals in general, but have always had a soft spot for the intelligence and affection of a baby pig) and all I can say is, if this story doesn't make anyone want to swear off bacon, ham, Spam and other products of this egregious cruelty for life... there is no hope.

Keep up the good work PETA, I will try to do my part and write a firm letter to Hormel.

Posted by: Cat! =^-^= | September 22, 2008 08:28 PM

When PETA sent me the video I starred at my computer in horror as I watched those poor animals be barbarically murder, maimed and maltreated. I cried harder than I have ever cried, the image of those baby pigs lying in that box is now burned into my heart and soul. I will never look at pork products again without feeling the bile rise in my throat. I have shown that video to all I know that continue to eat pork, in the hopes that they will see the light and choose a vegan lifestyle. I have now been a vegan for three weeks and I will never touch meat again and my eyes are open to animal cruelty. I am now an activist for PETA and will continue to fight for animals!

Posted by: Leslie | September 22, 2008 09:34 PM

I just watched the video and I work at a hog barn. I was disgusted by what I saw. As an employee for the system I work at, if you even get suspected of animal abuse like this, you are terminated immediately. NOT ALL HOG BARNS ARE LIKE THIS. Not everyone uses rods or does stupid/ignorant things to these animals.

Posted by: Tasha | September 22, 2008 10:41 PM

SHARI:

I had to go back and double check my sentence. I do NOT admit to being a meat eater.

I wrote the meat eaters/visitors can eat pork substitutes in the form of turkery; and yes, it is the lesser of two evils. Do I wish they would eat my soysausage and Tofurkey? Ya, duh! I do. How do you handle a big holiday feast with an extended family?

People who live in households where everyone is vegan are fortunate. But it is unrealistic to think we are going to get the meat eaters of our families to give up meat.

There are even some animal rights/welfare-ists who eat meat.

Being a vegan is the way to stop this from happening again.

If everyone who is appalled by this video has to be vegan or become one then that is unrealistic and forces people into something - you want hostility - ask carnivores to give up their meat.

I am sure a lot of carnivores are appalled by this and are learning about factory farm abuses and hopefully turning to vegetarianism/veganism.

No my comment was not ignorant it is fact - we cannot browbeat people into giving up their meat fix. And if you can do this at every social setting/family function/in your house that you share with people - that is fantastic and I applaud you.

Posted by: Valerie | September 22, 2008 11:07 PM

Why isn't this more widespread on the news like the beef recalls? It seems like nobody I've talked to has known about this. Doesn't anybody care?

Posted by: Chrissy | September 23, 2008 11:02 AM

Valerie: It is acceptable these days to request that people not smoke in your home and that they take their shoes off to protect your carpet. You should not feel that you have to offer anyone meat in your home. I do not expect people to serve me vegan meals when I go to their dinners/brunches whatever and, actually, I usually offer to bring something vegan to share. I am not trying to criticize you, just pointing out that vegans should not feel compelled to serve meat in their homes. People need to respect the vegan position when they come into a vegan home. No one eats meat in my home and I do not feel bad about that at all. If that is such a sticking point for someone, then they need not come over.

Posted by: Antigone1000 | September 23, 2008 11:21 AM

I'm confused............I venture to guess that not one of you puts this much emotion or "heart wrenching" verbage into a blog about abortion. These are animals and yes abuse should not be tolerated......just understand that there are differences. What most of you do not know is that these practices are done to prevent the suffering of that animal. These "runts" would starve in a matter of 2 weeks........should the swine industry just sit back and let them starve to death...would you rather they suffer for 2 weeks, or be disposed of with a humane, painless method. As for the castration and tail docking........it prevents the animals from injury and suffering in the future...Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't circumcisions done without anesthetic?...Take off the rose colored glasses. These industies do care about animals and people......and all of it is backed by science......In the mid west they are called Universities and a majority of the people in this business are educated..... These are farms are serving a purpose and that is to help feed the world.....Sorry "Family Farms" have different definitions in todays global economy...............Times change and the agricultural sector is no exception. It is a good industry, doing good work.......but like EVERY BUSINESS.....there are always a few "bad apples"

Posted by: Eric | September 23, 2008 11:55 AM

I emailed some woman with the last name "Kroc" about this. She wrote back a generic note saying this is unusual and all that.

I told her I could not stop thinking about the poor pig that got paint sprayed all over her face and the one that got whipped. Now, all deserve to be released but I asked her to have those two pigs released to a farm Sanctuary to heal. I told her that is the only fair thing to do.

God, what a horrible, horrible industry. It is a sickening industry...making products that make us ugly, fat and unhealthy while torturing animals at the same time. Wonderful.

Posted by: Soliel | September 23, 2008 04:18 PM

Eric: Stick to anti-abortion blogs where someone might actually find your comments intelligent.

Posted by: Antigone1000 | September 23, 2008 08:44 PM

For those of you who have only seen the picture of the little pigglets, please try to watch the video. Yes, the picture is horrid, but you really need to hear the comments being made by these evil men.

It took me several tries to watch the whole video, and yes, it ripped my heart out. The attitudes and comments of the men abusing the poor creatures are absolutely appalling. In case some folks don't know -- virtually all serial killers start out as kids, abusing small animals. I really wonder how these men treat their wives and children. And I pray they don't have any pets. And even though it probably makes me as bad as these men are -- I too, wish they could get a taste of the way they are torturing these pigs and pigglets.

If you write to Hormel you will likely receive an email response. Do not believe what they say. In my humble opinion, it is not factual.

It's not just pigs being tortured either. Search Peta or even You Tube and check out large cattle or chicken farms -- any animals raised for meat, leather or fur. They are all treated just as badly.

Jeff H., thank you for your kind words. God bless you all for being the caring people you are.

Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly and Leave the Rest to God.

Posted by: Regena | September 23, 2008 08:51 PM

I am happy to hear Peta is trying to get justice for these pigs. It is so sad that most people will not let go of their meat addiction. The treatment of all farm animals is beyond cruel & must change. Go vegan!

Posted by: KATHLEEN W. | September 23, 2008 09:24 PM

Thank you for exposing this sickening cruelty. Although it brings tears to my eyes, actually sobbing is more like it, I can only hope that it will show people that they are supporting this when they choose to purchase it.
Thank you for changing my life for the better!
:-)

Posted by: larry sullivan | September 23, 2008 11:51 PM

I am already a long time veggie just for the reasons shown in this video but just a side note we criticize china and other countries for the way bears are kept for bile but the cages that these pigs are kept in are just as small are we just as bad?

Posted by: ADRIENNE DUNNEGE | September 24, 2008 02:30 AM

That picture brought tears to my eyes. I'll never, ever understand how some people can be so cruel. Thank God there are some great people in the world too and some great organizations like PETA!

Posted by: Sibi | September 24, 2008 10:27 AM

This for those of you who think it's okay to treat food animals any way we want to. You go join them for a day in their lives. I dare you, ERIC. Bet you don't have the balls.

Posted by: Helen Diedrich | September 24, 2008 10:30 AM

personally I wish everyone would get the facts before they go all crazy. This is not a Hormel owened farm, these are not Hormel employees. Hormel does not even purchsse directly from the farm. Talk about getting the facts strait!!

Posted by: dont think so | September 24, 2008 01:58 PM

Im proud to say i've been vegan about a month.
im so addicted to PETA:
it makes my stomache churn how these heartless evil people treat animals! they are just as smart as their precious cats and dogs and they feel pain just the same as us! just becaue they don't have a voice doesnt mean theyre not crying out for help!

Posted by: chloe | September 24, 2008 03:35 PM

hey, 'don't think so' - it would be slander to use the name Hormel if they were innocent in all this. maybe you should get the facts straight! (and learn how to spell, while you're at it!)

Posted by: dont think so dont know jack | September 24, 2008 05:42 PM

Antigone thank you for your comments and tips on this.

But this is not a vegan home where all occupants are vegan.

Meat eaters who pay the rent and buy their food and have their families over can serve meat to their families. In this case just flat out no way around that. Trust me, I have tried. Their families always offer me soy meats.

But, this was such a publicized horrible event about the pigs, coupled with the hideous environmental impact being publicized of what pig farming is doing in 'hog producing' states, and the dangerous practices of putting antibiotics/pesticides/growth hormones into them (as with all factory farming but more so with pork) that pork is truly a dangerous for health meat.

The pork industry does not want you to know how awful it is and how awfully it is produced. I mean is this even making sense to have thousands of tiered small crate pig pens producing this meat?

The stress of it alone and close quarters is nothing but a breeding ground of disease. Pneumonia is very common and they give preventative antibiotics for that even when they don't have it.

And a new troubling problem: a deadly infection MRSA is now being found in pigs. Is the Pork Council letting this info out - no, but they are very concerned.

Quite frankly I am surprised that 'pork bellies' did not take a huge fall in the stock market after this news or hormel.

With my input and info to people I will continue to make the effort that such a happy event will occur.

And hey guys, I am on your side, member of Peta, I contributed a large donation to Anti Fur Farming in China campaign this past Aug. and have done Peta protests in the past against leather, baby elephants at our zoo (Peta campaigns) and anti dissection at my school, hosting a vegetarian table.

We need to keep this an environment where the meat eaters can comment how they are against this hormel abuse.

You do NOT have to be a vegan to be outraged.

Posted by: Valerie | September 25, 2008 09:15 AM

Valerie: I misunderstood--I thought you meant it was your own home with just your family and that you felt you had to accomodate visitors...

Posted by: Antigone1000 | September 25, 2008 10:13 AM

Valerie,
No, but you do have to be a vegan to stop this madness of animal murder and all the things these animals have to endure up to that point.

Please go Vegan and save up to 100 farm animals per person per year!

You can make a huge difference.

Think of it, a family of three eating a healthy vegan diet would save up to 300 farm animals per year!

This would also give you a healthy body, and helps save our earth for your children's children so they will have a healthy earth to live on with clean air to breath, clean water to drink.
It really is up to us, this generaltion,
so
lets do it!

Go Vegan!

Posted by: Holly | September 25, 2008 10:33 AM

I can't even watch this video. I can't watch any kind of animal abuse that is caught undercover because it is so cruel what these people are doing to these poor innocent animals. It makes me so sad and angry. Whatever these people did to these animals should be done to them. These people deserve to burn in hell for what they have done. It's God's call on what happens to these people. But if I was choosing their punishment they would die the same way they killed these animals and feel all the pain, suffering and fear that these animals felt and burn in hell for eternity.

It's so evil, so cruel and inhuman that people could do that to these poor animals. It's so sick. I feel absolutely nothing for people who abuse animals. It kills me that people can do this to animals. It kills me so much.

I want the world to end so no more animals have to go through these horrible, brutal, torturous and suffering any more. I don't want any animals to suffer anymore.

Posted by: Amber Brodt | September 25, 2008 06:06 PM

I agree with Holly. If anyone on here is NOT vegan and not opting for veganism after witnessing this video, then your outrage seems more like show than anything. Most people on here want others to address this problem, but are not willing to address it in their own homes by going vegan. Gotta love those who criticize the efforts of others while making NO efforts of their own.

Posted by: Antigone1000 | September 25, 2008 08:31 PM

I sincerely hope that these sick people who are responsible for these actions towards the pigs and piglets pay for their actions. It's unfortunate for them to have no heart at all. I read under 'Action', and I personally feel that it is not enough to simply fire an employee. This person could go work at another farm and do the same things. I understand the law does not give the same sentences for crimes towards animals as towards people, but I feel that this is an extreme case in which their actions should be seriously evaluated.
It's good to know that Sheriff Heater will be looking further into this case, and I really hope he will take further action than simply meeting with these potential suspects. I also hope that Hormel will take additional action by taking a closer look at their suppliers, farms, etc. I refuse to by any Hormel product, and have stopped eating ham altogether.
I really hope there are people in Iowa (as well as all over, but Iowa is where this all happened) that are just as passionate as all of us who will pursue justice in this matter.
Please continue to support animal welfare and protection!!!

I also urge everyone to write letters to both Hormel and the suppliers. The supplier information can be found above (the names) and then see if you can google their contact information. If anyone has that information already, please share this information with everyone else so that we can take more action. Thank you.

Karen

Posted by: Karen Goh | September 26, 2008 02:41 PM

On another note, I agree with Holly's comments above, 100%.

In my personal opinion, I feel that these people should have done to them what they did to the animals. I agree completely.

Posted by: Karen Goh | September 26, 2008 02:43 PM

That's One of the saddest photos I've ever seen in my life. Humans are supposed to be the end all, the ones who decides who lives & who dies because- why? We are intelligent, but not superior to animals in any other way. I'd take my companion animals any day over 90% of the human population. Look at the picture of those piglet babies piled in a bloody heap and tell me why we deserve a compassionate life & they don't?

We are a hideous and cruel species, and what makes it worse is that WE ARE SMART ENOUGH and know right from wrong to make kind choices, but this is what too many sadistic bottom feeders CHOOSE TO DO BECAAUSE THEY GET A SADISTIC RUSH from hurting those who can't fight back. Cowardly scum, and they are getting away with it every day of their lives while animals continue to suffer with little or no repercusions to their perpetrators subhumans who inflict nothing but misery suffering & death & add not one good thing to our planet.

I'm shaking right now I'm so damn fed up with these abuses, fat too many & far too little being done about it because no one takes it seriously enough that matters, as in the law, and HARDLY ANYONE CARES.

Posted by: Jazmin623 | October 3, 2008 02:38 AM

I am so disappointed in the human race. We have managed to completely destroy this planet w/our pollution, our extravant lifestyles and to top it all off, the absolute worse, our society has tortured, abused, neglected, and killed millions upon millions of helpless creatures of God. I am so disgusted but I thank God that Peta brings this to light, b/c the public has a right to know. But once it "knows" what will they do about it? These are innocent beings that deserve a life w/out being under the control of some a** bully who out in the real world, on the streets, he is punk who has to take it out on the helpless animals. Dear God, please help to end this vicious cycle of destroying the creatures you have created to LIVE in peace.

Posted by: K C | October 20, 2008 11:23 PM

Quando vi as imagens fiquei horrorizada,chocada sem palavras e com uma grande de chorar,os bébés porquinhos sofreram tanto e são tão inocentes coitadinhos.
Estou revoltada com tudo isto.
Em Portugal não é diferente, mas os defensores dos animais tem que se unir para acabar com esta barbaridade.
Para estes assassinos as lei deviam ser bem pesadas e colocá-los muitos anos na prisão e obrigá-los a fazer trabalho comunitário do tipo o dia inteiro a limpar sanitas com uma escova de dentes e a levarem com um chicote nos costas.
Ainda bem que existem pessoas boas a combater estes criminosos tais como a equipa do Sheriff Tom Heater's.
Quero também agradecer á Peta o maravilhoso trabalho que tem vindo a fazer ao longo dos tempos.

Posted by: Susana | October 21, 2008 09:14 AM

Everytime I think a new video of animal cruelty can't possibly shock and enrage me more than the previous, I'm always proven wrong! The fact those who just free animals from such brutality can get charged with a felony, but yet you can get taped being so maliciously mean and cruel to many animals and nothing happens to you, can make those of us who'd love nothing better than to stop you and make you pay, just about go insane while waiting on you to be lawfully stopped.

Posted by: Denise Branch | October 21, 2008 10:32 PM