i think that is so horrifying. How can people do such a thing to these animals? That just hurts!

Posted by: Raina | April 15, 2009 03:34 PM

i think that is so horrifying. How can people do such a thing to these animals? That just hurts!

Posted by: Raina | April 15, 2009 03:34 PM

THIS IS SICK AND HAS TO STOP!!!! ANIMALS DESERVE TO BE LOVED!!!! PLEASE HELP STOP ALL ANIMAL TORTURE!!!!

Posted by: VALERIE | April 15, 2009 04:08 PM

Thank you for this info. I am shocked and horrified and would like to know more about whether there are places that produce wool without any harm to the animals

Posted by: Petula Bloomfield | April 15, 2009 04:56 PM

That last picture.. :X Ugh.. Things NEED to change for these poor sheep, badly. In the meantime, no one I know is going to be supporting wool, aussie or otherwise.

Posted by: Heather | April 15, 2009 07:26 PM

The climate and nature havens in Australia are wondrous. Unfortunately, it is a nation that does have a powerful animal rights lobby. Very few of their celebrities speak up for animals. Some are humane animal loving vegetarians including The Seekers' Judith Durham, Silverchair's Daniel Johns and The Church's Steve Kilbey.

Posted by: Brien Comerford | April 15, 2009 08:03 PM

I do not know if this is a stupid question but do you know if the company Uggs uses methods like these?

Posted by: Yesenia Vallejo | April 15, 2009 10:30 PM

Thanks to PETA, I am now a vegetarian. I will not buy leather products as well. I am not shocked anymore on human treatment of animals. It is sad and unfortunate that animal abuse occurs. It keeps me up at night crying knowing animals are tortured. It physically hurts when I think about what happens to animals on a daily basis around the world. It has effected me so severly I have made a decision not to have children, I don't want my children (child) to see or feel the pain the human beings cause.

Posted by: Jodi | April 15, 2009 11:16 PM

I am not buying any Australian wool. that is for sure

Posted by: roxanne | April 16, 2009 12:01 AM

Ignorance is not bliss. I just bought 8 balls of wool yarn, unaware of what sheep endured for my knitting/crocheting projects. I'm so repulsed by this, I don't even want to touch the yarn anymore.

Posted by: Karin | April 16, 2009 05:52 AM

This is so cruel, inhumane and uncivil. How can anyone treat an animal like this? This has got to stop!

Posted by: Bibi | April 16, 2009 06:54 AM

WTF IS WRONG WITH THE HUMAN RACE??? THIS IS BLOODY INSANE! THESE ANIMALS NEED US TO HELP THEM ALONG IN THIS WORLD. THEY ARE NOT PUT HERE FOR OUR CONSUMPTION, OUR ENTERTAINMENT, OUR EXPLOITATION, OUR CONSUMERISM, AND MOST ESPECIALLY NOT FOR US TO TORTURE AND ABUSE THEM. HUMANKIND DESERVE A FATE WORSE THAN HELL FOR WHAT WE HAVE PUT THESE AND OTHER GENTLE CREATURES THROUGH! WE NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM THIS PLANET SO THAT THESE ANIMALS CAN LIVE THEIR LIVES FREE FROM US!! I HATE HUMANITY FOR THIS REASON - WE RESPECT NOTHING ON THIS PLANET, NOT EVEN EACH OTHER!

Posted by: Jessica | April 16, 2009 07:10 AM

Shocking! I thought this type of thing only happened in 3rd worl countries - call yourselves civilized?This would not happen here in Africa oin a 3rd world country. You should be ashamed

Posted by: Lorraine Brooke-Sumner | April 16, 2009 07:18 AM

That is horrible. It's so wrong. I don't know how anyone can be so heartless and do that to such innocent animals. Animals deserve so much better than that.

Posted by: jessica | April 16, 2009 08:02 AM

i'm 12 years old and already a vegan this is so my favourite website i'm showing all my friend. thank you so much for making me aware of the horible treatment to sheep. it makes me so very sad.

Posted by: lily | April 16, 2009 08:17 AM

Hi Yesenia Vallejo

The boots you speak of are made of the skin of the sheep. It is quite probable in fact highly likely that the sheep were mulesed and it is indeed possible that they suffered flystrike somewhere on their body at sometime in their lives. Any product made of wool, or the skin and wool of a sheep supports the brutal treatment of the animal- so for those of who who buy Aust wool/yarn or boots or any sheep product from Australia you either unwittingly or knowingly support animal abuse.

Posted by: Honesty | April 16, 2009 09:55 AM

I am an ashamedly Australian and I assure you Australia's treatment of livestock is barbaric. The Meat and Livestock Association collude with Australian governments and the brutality of defenceless animals continues, not least the heinous export of sheep and cattle to the barbarians in the Middle East. In addition, surgical procedures are performed on fully conscious animals in Australia without the benefit of pain-killers. This industry is a powerful lobby group and will stoop to any measure to increase their grubby profits. Spare a thought for our animals, please.

Posted by: David | April 16, 2009 11:28 AM

This is DISGUSTING!
Sheep are sweet, wonderful beings.
I am so proud to be vegan!
I've noticed that many chapsticks and possibly lipsticks (including products by The Body Shop and Burt's Bees) contain 'lanolin'.
Make sure you read the content label of anything you plan on purchasing.

Posted by: Elisabeth | April 16, 2009 11:37 AM

Humans do cause most of the pain in this world but they also do a lot of good. Ingird Newkirk is a fine example of this. I don't think you hate all humans, do you, Ms. Newkirk?

For those who would like to see what planet earth will be like after we leave it, I recommed an excellent series on the history channel, "After People," which they are now rerunning.

One of the things they bring up is the die off of many species of animals because there are no longer humans around to prevent it.

Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | April 16, 2009 12:35 PM

This is SSSSOOOOO sick and wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Cara | April 16, 2009 01:29 PM

absolutely ghastly, cruel and inhumane. i also wonder wtf is wrong with the human race, this idea of torturing and barbarically abusing animals day in day out for imagined gain and profit is inhumane and unrealistic.

Posted by: vegancoin | April 16, 2009 01:51 PM

Australia is usually nice to their sheep. Sheep also need their wool to be trimmed to avoid skin problems that matts can cause. This is only what happens when people ignore their sheep. I hope sheep farmers learned a thing or to from seeing this page.

Posted by: Peta fan | April 16, 2009 02:46 PM

It makes me stop eating meat.
I do not wear wool, only in
Wintertime and I keep the same sweater for years. I hope
other people would do it alike.
I am ashamed that human beings
can treat animals like this.
I could cry and cannot watch
these videos fully...
Lots of Love from Switzerland
Ruth

Posted by: Ruth Hidalgo | April 16, 2009 02:46 PM

I was appalled to read of the gross neglect, and horrific treatment of these wonderful animals on PETA's front page. Humans who are capable of inflicting such suffering on creatures have maggots too...they reside in their heart and spirit.

Posted by: Holly Stinehart-Lichty | April 16, 2009 04:25 PM

I'm new here and have a few questions. Other than simply animal rights, can anyone tell me the general theme to PETA supporters. Such as, "we don't eat animals", we don't kill animals for.....
I'm interested to hear a little more, well, without the drama. I feel that animal cruelty is bad but using animals wool isn't all that bad. After all, I've seen plenty of sheep that don't receive the same poor treatment as the few above. Is anyone open to the idea that this may be an isolated incident? Just wondering!

Posted by: Jack Rawlings | April 16, 2009 05:11 PM

Everyday in my school I see girls wearing Uggs and braging about their over priced animal skins. If they only knew...

Posted by: John Foley | April 16, 2009 06:07 PM

Um ya add anouther reason to the list: Most things in wool are unstylish. Sweaters make people look like a grandma (no offence to grandmas). Note to people of the world: Wool is not in style, it hasn't been for a long time and will likely not be for a very long to come if ever.

Posted by: Kate | April 16, 2009 07:08 PM

We keep hearing about farmers "caring for their livestock" but these and other cases show the contrary! Farmers need to take more care of their animals. Sheep don't belong in our climate anyway.

Posted by: Vivienne | April 16, 2009 07:18 PM

Certainly not an Easter card cover!!!! Love sheep and to see this is just too paainful!!! Want to really help sheep and other creatures---go vegan!!!!!!

Posted by: AAG | April 16, 2009 07:42 PM

Peta,
I want to thank yu for openng my eyes to so much. I am a big animal lover more than words can explain. I no longer eat meatand now will not wear anything that comes from an animal. Until seeing these horrific acts of crulety on your web site. i had no idea these thing occured like they do. I cry evertime i watch one of these films, but i feel compeled to continue watching. I have such a stong desire to make a differance.
Thank you,
Tiffany Trentin

Posted by: tiffany trentino | April 16, 2009 08:04 PM

This Is SICK & must stop! I wonder sometimes... "How can people go to work, torture defenceless animals, & think nothing of it? HOW CAN THEY SLEEP AT NIGHT???"

Posted by: beth | April 16, 2009 08:28 PM

This atrocity will end only when we all stop buying wool, leather, etc. Let's work together to put an end to animal cruelty!!!!!

Posted by: Robson Nascimento | April 16, 2009 08:33 PM

This is sick, but far worst things happen to humans on a daily basis!!!! Who is more important an animal, or a human being. Seriously people get real!!!!!

Posted by: Jake Sage | April 16, 2009 10:40 PM

Is it really necessary to forego wool in order to prevent these crimes? Is Australia the only wool producing country? Could wool from other countries be used, and only Australia
sanctioned for their barbarism? I am
willing to give up wool if it will help,
but is it necessary?

Posted by: jonathan goodman | April 16, 2009 11:53 PM

At sixy four you should be able to say "I've seen a lot of good changes in my life regarding animal wellfare" It saddens me to say instead "Nothing has changed"
People still buy eggs from battery farms, still don't care how animals suffer so we can 'dress' or 'eat' or 'use' them in some cruel way.

Posted by: Carole | April 17, 2009 12:05 AM

I am a wool producer and sheep breeder and although I agree with a lot of the comments above I wonder if these people know exactly why some sheep are mulesed? The sheep business cuts fairly close to the line economically and I am not going to waste money on mulesing a sheep that doesn't need it but if it does, then I am condeming it to a death like the sheep photoed above if it is not treated.There is no joy in doing this procedure but for some it is a necessity to save their life later on. Equally so is removing their tail as a baby, month old lamb

Posted by: andrew | April 17, 2009 02:23 AM

With respect Rev. Meg, humans are responsible for the extinction of many defenceless native animal and bird species. Urban development encroaches on and destroys native habitats; humans poison feral animals creating secondary targets in non-feral animals. The bait used in Australia is 1080, a very cruel poison where the animal can take days to die in agony. Humans have destroyed native vegetation, poisoned rivers, oceans and soil and destroyed the forests on which many animals depend. Humans are trashing the planet's biodiversity. I believe the animals will do very well after humans leave this planet since animals take only what they need. Hopefully, despite the wrath of Planet Earth, she may leave a few breeding pairs of humans for a new age where hopefully homo noeticus (enlightened humans) will evolve to a far greater vibrational level than we homosapiens.

Posted by: Gaia Watch | April 17, 2009 06:37 AM

Hello Jack Rawlings. These are not isolated incidents I'm afraid. Merino sheep are not indigenous to Australia. They were transported here from Spain (from memory) during colonialism. As for the "drama" well I'm afraid the drama you speak of is a reality. Fly blown sheep are a regular daily occurrence in Australia, with or without mulesing. If you want to buy ethically, I would suggest that you buy wool from sheep which have not been so abominably brutalised. Australia's sheep industry pledged to phase out mulesing. I see no evidence of them honouring that pledge. Profits are paramount to this industry - cruelty is their name. Cheers

Posted by: David | April 17, 2009 06:47 AM

Dont sheep need there fur cut off? im saying it would be realy realy warm in ther wouldnt it? i am from wales in the uk so i see sheep every day and they are treeted well in big spaced enviroments and its all good as far as im concerned ther

Posted by: Sean | April 17, 2009 08:38 AM

I am apalled at how people hurt animals like this in cold blood. Its so hard to understand how you can look into any animals innocent, soulful eyes and then hurt it. Most people will argue with this statement when it comes up, but thats exactly like hurting a child under the age of 8. Defenseless and uninformed about the cruelty and pain the grown world can cause. This is just terrible, and I'm glad saints like PETA are working to stop things like this.

Posted by: Helana | April 17, 2009 10:03 AM

I've never been a fan of wool or sweaters at all, they are itchy hot and uncomfortable!! I feel really bad for these sheep after looking at these pictures and even more now I really hope Australia stops mulesing! I mean Steve Irwin, a great animal person came from australia...I bet he's looking down from heaven and saying "damn farmers...!"

Posted by: Amber Falobas | April 17, 2009 10:55 AM

^.^ well... it was a good read. A few thing bother me though. While the Mulesing is perfect evidance that we as people are not the brightest lot. I see no way that they are butchered in the way written above. In a world that is always in an economic struggle, killing wool sheep is just illogical.

Also, alot more lives could have probably been saved had they not tried to cut the areas infected by the maggets in the first place. Maggets have been used for centuries to heal damaged tissue, and letting them do their job would probably made this topic a mute point.

And just because I'm speaking outside what most of what most here will think is right, and probably be flamed in about... oh, two minutes (assuming someone reads this post) The Genetic Breeding that everyone has been complaining about for the last decade or so... Yes, it is wrong, has happed and so long as people have money to change the world around them; will continue to be done. With all the things man does, we have taking the blessing of thumbs from the noble purpose of survivel, and used them to change the world. Moaning about it now though is pointless. viewing as such, we should look at these new breeds in a natural way now. With time comes evolution and mutation. If the animal is flawed (by evolution or man's hands) nature will in time root them out. Assuming that is we don't force them to live.

Posted by: Raj | April 17, 2009 11:59 AM

Dont these cruel people have hearts?!

Posted by: Emily | April 17, 2009 02:48 PM

This goes out to all those girls wearing UGGS or Emu's

Posted by: Farren | April 17, 2009 05:06 PM

Raj, for correction, the species of flies that infect sheep and cause flystrike are not those used to heal wounds and clear dead tissue- these flies (generally greenbottle flies) quite literally lay eggs in small wounds and moist or dirty wool, after which the maggots proceed to eat the animal alive. Leaving them on the sheep would had caused unimaginable suffering to the sheep as the flies ate away their skin and eventually their muscle.

Check out this link:

http://www.smallstock.info/info/health/flystrike.htm

Posted by: Circe | April 17, 2009 05:15 PM

i gotta disagree with the headline. someone is doing something very bad. but it's not the consumers fault.

if it's leather we are talking about then it's obvious that the consumer can't get it without harming animals. but no statement is made against getting the wool itself.

so IMHO the fault is at the producers who should simply treat the sheep better

Posted by: ceres | April 17, 2009 06:40 PM

Raj, your comment doesn't make sense. "In a world that is always in an economic struggle, killing wool sheep is just illogical." How do you come to the conclusion from this that we should keep the wool trade? The wool trade is killing sheep, not that people trying to stop it. All sheep die. But not all sheep have to live the miserable life and die the miserable death described above.

"Assuming that is we don't force them to live." That's exactly what we're doing to them by using and breeding them for wool. Do you not see that?

You're just not making sense. I like your point on evolution, but the conclusion you draw from that is short-sighted.

To those who think this is an isolated incident, do your homework already. You're trying to give the benefit of the doubt to the human exploiters rather than to the nonhuman victims - why? If you heard that female sex slaves in Turkey were treated like no more than pieces of flesh for men's amusement, would you say, "I want to make sure only these sex slaves are treated like this"? I apologize if that's not the best example, but you get the idea. Sheep are the property, and therefore the "slaves," of humans. The only way it would be ethical to "use" animals is if we treated them like persons, like employees, and I don't know how possible that is. I do, however, know that the simplest solution is veganism because it means giving the benefit of the doubt to the animals themselves and not to the humans who have every capacity to abuse them.

Posted by: L | April 17, 2009 08:26 PM

I'm sickened by the disgusting cruelty and heartlessness of those neglectful people who did nothing to prevent or ease the suffering of these animals. they should go to jail for allowing this to happen.

Posted by: mitchell | April 17, 2009 09:19 PM

i am so disappointed in this photos im frum the bahamas i am so compassionate about these animals i am sad to see that these people on GOD living earths will actually take another life even thou it is an animal i watch keeping up with the kardashians and wen saw tha khloe was goin to do the photo shot about id rather be naked than were fur i was so shocked to see wat they did wit them poor animals i started to cry !!!!!!!!!!! i am going to become a vegatarian

Posted by: nopi | April 17, 2009 09:32 PM

Hello
I never buy wool and we should send meat over to the middle east instead of live sheep. We need to make some major changes to slaughterhouses in the middle east. Like putting in CAK and replace people with machines and workers should go to jail for abusing animals.From Alice

Posted by: Alice Fraser | April 17, 2009 10:07 PM

I've seen a lot of awful videos in my time but this one made me cry harder than ever. I am disgusted with the human race as a whole, if there was an easy way to escape it I would. I don't hope that the people that impose such cruelty are punished because they know no better...I just hope that in the future 'knowing no better' is no longer a valid excuse.

Posted by: irena | April 17, 2009 10:19 PM

People say that wool is ok for people that believe in animal welfare such as us, because the animal is not harmed in the attaining of wool. Now I know that that is not true... This, and so many other needless killings of God's creatures happens around the world every second... The people responsible for this are cruel and require some.. Re-education

Posted by: Samuel | April 17, 2009 11:12 PM

I completely agree with Jessica, the Human race is a scourge that needs to be removed the good of others, for the good of animals. Without us, things would be a lot better on Earth....It is no wonder that Alien races have not made contact before, why should they when they see what we do to others, why should they when they see what we do to ourselves, why should they when they see what destruction we wrought upon our own world, our home.

Posted by: Samuel | April 17, 2009 11:16 PM

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. It is truly very very sad. Another disturbing torture to yet another animal that is so cruel. I will not buy wool.. I will make this known throughout Canada.
Message: Please be kind cruel world to our loved animals.

Posted by: Vin Diamond | April 17, 2009 11:28 PM

This is so enlightening, I had no idea sheep were treated so horribly. Bred to produce more wool, used then shipped to the middle east?

Posted by: Hannah | April 17, 2009 11:56 PM

and here i though wool was safe to wear since it did not endanger the animals!

these animals deserve a voice.

it hurts my heart to see this

Posted by: Bre | April 18, 2009 12:41 AM

I am 13 years of age and live in Australia. This is a massive promblem. On these holidays i went to Apolo Bay outside of Melborne. and i counted at least 4 or 5 shops saying Sheep wool car seats sold here. HOW DICUSSTING!!! Australia needs to see this because it is never seen as a promblem at all. Thanks Ingred i have a topic for my public speaking next week :)

Posted by: daniel | April 18, 2009 06:14 AM

thankyou soo much
for this article I had
no idea this was happening!
wool is a no-go-zone now.
thx :)

Posted by: Dani | April 18, 2009 07:18 AM

This is horrible. These people are sick and we have to put them to mental asylum or treat them in a similar fashion as they treat these animals.
I will never buy any wool product and whatever, I have use till it lasts... oh no, when I wear them I feel guilty.

Posted by: Srivatsa | April 18, 2009 11:04 AM

When i was very very young my dad brought home some animals from a bad farm, they didnt want them anymore. He gave me an old sheep and we kept her as a pet and didnt hurt her ever. I can't believe some people can't tell right from wrong and see what they're doing is so inhumane and disgusting.

Posted by: pet | April 18, 2009 11:20 AM

peaople are disgusting... we are like cancer... and it will be like that unil the end of the world... i feel sorry for myself, that i'm human

Posted by: magda | April 18, 2009 11:45 AM

This is sick and horrible to see the way these innocent animals are being treated. Shame on Australia for allowing such crime to be committed!

Posted by: Kaji | April 18, 2009 12:46 PM

OMG....This makes me so angry
Stupid non-human

Posted by: Oliver Engstrøm | April 18, 2009 01:34 PM

Suppa SAD !
=[
=[

Posted by: vianey | April 18, 2009 09:09 PM

How about Irish wool? Do you guys think that sheeps in Ireland are treated the same way?

Posted by: Giorgia | April 18, 2009 09:44 PM

gosh this is speechless, and i thought they weren't hurt or torchred they just got their wool shaved off

Posted by: Anaiti | April 18, 2009 11:17 PM

This is really bad. It HAS to stop. People, please STOP BUYING WOOL! After reading this article, I will never wear wool again.

Posted by: Caitlin | April 18, 2009 11:19 PM

Oh my god, this is the most horrifying thing I have ever read about animal cruelty! We NEED to stop this.

Posted by: Ben | April 19, 2009 08:52 AM

Jake Sage: What are you doing on a site that supports animals then? No-one is denying that horrible things happen to humans, or saying that we don't care about them too! I'm sure a lot of Peta supporters also support 'human'causes. Instead of criticising us and visiting the Peta website, why not spend your time productively doing something for humans eh?

Posted by: Sue Ducasse | April 19, 2009 09:44 AM

this is horrifying but it is good to get people informed and be more aware of what they are wearing.

Posted by: Candace Alison Loque | April 19, 2009 12:02 PM

That is disgusting! Those sheep deserve far better treatment, they feel! How can anybody be so cruel?!

Posted by: Noel | April 19, 2009 03:14 PM

this is DISGUSTING.
about 5 minutes ago, I was eating lunch. and I had quite a bit of meat. i ate half of my meal, then paused and went on the computer, and I ended up on Peta because I was checking my email. Not a minute later, I was on this page and I read about how animals are abused and how they suffer. Then I went back to my meal that included pork, pork, and more pork. and rice, a boiled egg and a glass of milk. When I saw the meat, I was horrified. I didn't even feel like eating it at all anymore, but i had a half eaten meat in my bowl. i decided that it was my last meat, but now i feel sick to the stomach for eating smthing alive....I AM NOT A VEGETARIAN. :)

Posted by: michelle | April 19, 2009 05:10 PM

That's horrible! *tear tear* the last picture.... oh.... how could people bare to watch such a thing happen to animals under their care?

Posted by: Clarissa | April 19, 2009 06:52 PM

My family & I have a grazing property in NSW where we produce lamb, wool & beef. Yes, Uggs are made from sheep skin, the skins used for Uggs are generally a byproduct of lamb meat production. These lambs are generally cross bred (not pure merino) and so are unlikely to have been mulesed. They are also unlikely to have been struck by flies. There are a number of effective preventative treatments available for flystrike that most wool and lamb producers use. Please believe me, severe flystrike as depicted in this website is very rare indeed.

Posted by: David Grazier | April 19, 2009 09:46 PM

People doing this - or NOT preventing this should feel the same, agony, pain and suffering.

Why cant the world understand that animals have the same rights as a child, as an old person or as you and I ?

Posted by: erika sundman | April 20, 2009 03:54 AM

These people should think of how they would feel if they were treated like that. They wouldn't like it, so how do they think the sheep feel?

Posted by: Adrian | April 20, 2009 10:25 AM

this is horrible. i work for a company that sells wool and i just sent them and emial about this i hope they look into it and change their merch.

Posted by: bre | April 20, 2009 12:06 PM

There needs to be prevention of this immediately. I have UGGs and the man in the last comment used the word "generally" used as a byproduct of lamb meat production. "Generally." That concerns me. Also it is one man's word.

Posted by: Stephanie | April 20, 2009 12:40 PM

Jake Sage...the measure of a person is not only how we treat eachother, but also and ESPECIALLY how we treat our animals... defenseless, often helpless animals who don't want to hurt and are given to us from The Creator to protect not abuse...in saying that my friend, YOU ARE THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO GET REAL!!! U will swallow your words someday...that I promise!

Posted by: Trisha | April 20, 2009 12:54 PM

Sheep are such a beautiful animal... how could any person... or should I say beast do this to another creature!?!? We really need to get are sh** together and treat animals better!

Posted by: Melissa | April 20, 2009 01:00 PM

What I see here is unbelieveble horryble:( but as I know (I saw once in a farm) when the sheeps got sheared they dont get hurt. It was like a hair cut. If you want the wool, you can take it without hurting the animal :( so why so much cruelty... I dont want to believe this :((((

Posted by: nergis | April 20, 2009 01:49 PM

*CRYING* =,(

Posted by: Elisa F. | April 20, 2009 03:04 PM

WHAAAAaaa!

Posted by: NOTaDouche | April 20, 2009 03:46 PM

I am deeply saddened by this. I had no idea. Henceforth, I will not purchase wool.

Posted by: katie | April 20, 2009 06:47 PM

katie, good idea - then the sheep can be used for meat as it's wool value no longer guarantees a long life. A much better outcome for the sheep. Not.

Posted by: jonathan | April 21, 2009 09:51 AM

I was going to do a persuasive speech on why sheep make great pets, but after seeing this I'm going to spread the word!

Posted by: Sam | April 21, 2009 12:40 PM

Can I suggest to you David Grazier that you as a farmer and the other animal farmers get together and work out a way of getting rid of the animal farmers who do not look after their animals. One of the serious problems Australia faces is that there is NO control over what farmers do, so that there may be more farmers than you think who fail to care for their animals. In my opinion, what we see in this article is not isolated, it is not rare either, there are thousands of sheep suffering such as these are but no one does a thing about it.

Posted by: Compassion and truth not lies. | April 23, 2009 10:15 AM

Of course that's horrible, and made worse by the fact that there are plenty of ways to get wool from sheep PAINLESSLY- and so that it'll grow back!

Posted by: Ellie | April 24, 2009 09:26 AM

just like to say while this is extremely cruel it is not widespread! as sheep farming is a business it is not in the farmers interest to let stock waste away as it would lessen profit! while instances like those do occur i would have to say that they are rare! I would imagine that the farmer involved is living on his own and is really to old to care for his stock! however i had never heard of the mulesing before and i am appalled at that! also not sure if people realise this but sheep are never killed for there wool! there shorn! only killed for meat!

Posted by: Andrew | April 24, 2009 01:04 PM

I can't believe this is real, why would people do such things to poor little animals? This is so terrible and needs to stop NOW!

Posted by: Sam | April 25, 2009 09:58 AM

You people are very easily manipulated. Animals are not human. They are food. And we really need to be worrying about mistreated animals when children are dying daily in third world countries, Right? Sorry i forgot how much more important animals were than humans.

Posted by: a carnivore | April 27, 2009 11:17 PM

i live on a farm with sheep. Lily and Mae's lambs would be able to survive without them if they were bottle fed. we have about 5 or 6 lambs every year which are bottle fed and they turn out fine.

Posted by: Mir | April 27, 2009 11:41 PM

Firstly, there is no reason that those ewes lambs would die without their mothers. I have seen numerous poddy lambs raised by the bottle, and raised a few myself.

Secondly, severe flystrike like the above is NOT a regular occurance. There is a flystrike season when it is most prevalent, and the majority of farmers keep a closer eye on their stock during this season. Flystrike is most commonly treated with fly oil, an oily substance poured directly onto the live maggots which kills them off and disinfects the wound. Flystrike is also picked up and treated at annual or bi-annual shearing, crutching, drenching, and any other reason the sheep need to be bought in. Major flystrike is RARE, it is not going to benefit the farmer having his sheep die of flystrike. It is in the farmers best interest to have his sheep in the best possible condition.

Posted by: Lauren | April 28, 2009 10:14 PM

To Jake Sage:

Yes, terrible things happen to people, and that is also unfortunate. However, mistreatment of human beings is condemned by most religions, is punishable by law, and is seldom accepted as must business as usual (like factory farms and slaughter houses are). Furthermore, most charitable activities and funds are directed only to people, not animals. Those of us who work and pay taxes are funding much of the people-centered help available.

Animals do not have the moral or legal standing that people have, and even churches seldom speak out for them (don't want to upset the parishioners!). As an extra point to remember, people tend to cause a lot of their own problems.

Those of us who are concerned about animals should not have to explain or justify wanting to help them.

Posted by: Marcia Mueller | April 29, 2009 01:37 PM

Hey WTF? Dont you understand people! Animals feel and are alive like us! We are animals too! I will make everything I can to stop this! We are in 21th century!! We have tech enough to kill them but not making them suffer! Come on! Well, we dont have to make this, we are not stupid, are we?

Posted by: Daniela Revelo | April 30, 2009 03:57 PM

Has PETA reached out to Australian actors to do a promo about the Australian wool industry, middle east transports and mulesing?

I think Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and others might be interested to comment if they are animal lovers.

Posted by: Connie | April 30, 2009 04:06 PM

It is sad but heartening to read the Comments section on this piece. I get so upset and see so few people around me who care or who are willing simply to read an article or watch a video about the horrors we perpetuate on defenseless, peaceful, sentient beings. I'm glad so many people share my outrage and will take this information and spread the word.

Posted by: Team Otalia | April 30, 2009 04:17 PM

I'm certainly terribly concerned about the conditions under which Australian sheep are allowed/forced to live, however I'm not at all pleased that we're all supposed to assume the whole World is treating their sheep this way. You very well know how sheep are kept in the U.S. and how our youth is taught to raise happy and healthy ones, so why isn't there anybody out there screaming "no fair" already?? I absolutely support any eye-opening articles concerning animal cruelty, but have to interfere in this case because of your generalizations of the facts. Let us all point to and blame the Government of Australia for neglecting to change the laws, but please remember that sheep raised in our country are not being treated cruelly --- quite the contrary.

Posted by: Irene Arm | April 30, 2009 04:23 PM

The greatness of a nation & its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. The injustice of the innocent and voiceless.

Posted by: Betty Covington | April 30, 2009 04:30 PM

I am ashamed to be part of the human race. I hate most people who are not vegetarian or vegan and who are insesitive to animals. I hope one day this planet will coolapse and there will no longer be suffering. The human race is a disgrace. I cry all the time when I think about the suffering people put innocent animals through daily and knowing I can only do alittle right now to help the animals kills me. Well at least I'v been vegan since I was age 11.

Posted by: Bina | April 30, 2009 04:35 PM

WHAT IS WRONG WITH HUMAMNITY?
WHAT GIVES US THE RIGHT TO BE SO VIOLENT TO OUR WONDERFUL ANIMALS.

WE NEED TO LEAVE THEM ALONE, ALL FOR MONEY. DISGRACEFUL.
WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED. I AM SO PROUD AND THANKFUL, THAT I AM VEGETARIAN.

Posted by: Betty Richardone | April 30, 2009 05:43 PM

I own some St. John Knit suits, all wool & very expensive. I would like to know if PETA has ever had a chance to speak with representatives from St. John? I beleive they are in Pasadena,CA & the clothes are all made in the USA. The attraction is high end design, wear like iron, separates that match dye lot in black and pack ability for travel. These are "boardroom quality" suits. If PETA spoke to them maybe they could police their sources. Sheep can be humanely sheared. Thank you

Posted by: karen | April 30, 2009 05:50 PM

Why didn't they contact the RSPCA or the police? It is illegal to treat animals like this and most sheep farmers like me would be horrified at such neglect. I have never mulesed and look after my sheep as they are like family. Why am i being persecuted because of one persons horrendous neglect

Posted by: Helen Clark | April 30, 2009 06:13 PM

Please do not totally boycott wool. Instead, support small farmers who take good care of their sheep and are struggling as it is. Boycott large mass producers fine, but don't make life harder by not taking the time to distinguish small farmers from mass companies.

Posted by: Jade | April 30, 2009 06:17 PM

what i can't figure out is how australia's prime minister will come out and say to all the different races in "his" country if they don't like it there to leave. granted, he does have a point, but maybe he should clean up his own "back yard" before hollering his head off like taking care of "his" animals instead of acting like a 3rd world country, who don't seem to know that yes, animals do feel pain.

Posted by: katherine whitten | April 30, 2009 06:33 PM

Have you ever thought of looking at the other site of this? If there are no Merino's then there is only 1 type of sheep. Genetics will come into play even more and the animal will become extinct. Do you really want to have this on your head?
I agree, flystike is horrible and I believe most farmers check their animals daily and normally prevent this. There will be the farmer who doesn't do this, but it's not just farmers who neglect living things. Dog, cat, horse, cow and any other animal owner, PLUS humans, look at how many people don't look after their kids properly.
You need to angle this differently and target the BAD farmers who don't care about their animals, otherwise there will be little to no wool (which keeps us warm) and for non vegetarians, it's a source of their diet.

PLEASE re-consider how you angle this campaign, before you kill this breed of sheep off and then sheep as a whole.

Posted by: Samantha Rankin | April 30, 2009 07:40 PM

How can anyone try and defend a farmer or a person who inflicts this kind of pain onto an animal? ANY animal?

These animals shouldn't be farmed in the first place. They are not here to be farmed; so it doesn't matter if it is RARE or if it is COMMON - animals are not there for anyone to make money from.

Any wonder there is a draught in Australia... What goes around, comes around. Good bye farmers!!!!

Posted by: Laura | April 30, 2009 07:42 PM

I am sorry but your comments to look at the other side of this are to me very selfish and totally anthropogenic with no backing other that you obviously think that humans come first and foremost. You put the arguement forward for possible extinction of Merinos but the population is un natural to start with as they are not wild but bred for human consumption. It is better they were never born to such a harrowing life of pain and at the mercy of heartless people who I find are too wrapped up in themselves to look at the pain they cause other living creatures.

Posted by: Annabel Cuthbertson | April 30, 2009 09:58 PM

Sickening, that the word I have. How can people do this or let this kind of thing happen? God creatures are beautiful & God is watching. His wrath will come and then what? We deserve it. Heck, last time I checked animals don't litter, do hate crimes, carry hand guns, etc....they just want to have a great life just like you and me & especially for the kids of the future. Shame on you, but like they say & I firmly believe (you might laugh), but you reap what you sow, in other words...what goes around comes around. Peace-out!

Posted by: Erik | April 30, 2009 11:03 PM

Andrew said: "The sheep business cuts fairly close to the line economically and I am not going to waste money on mulesing a sheep that doesn't need it..."

Andrew, what about professional veterinary treatment instead of crudely mutilating your sheep without benefit of anesthesia or disinfectants? If you're not making enough money in the wool biz for that, maybe it's time for a different career field!

Posted by: Cheryl | April 30, 2009 11:06 PM

All these posts make me feel at home. Most of all these posts like staying up at night crying, thinking that humans are terrible, etc. are what I have been thinking since I was a child. What the hell is the matter with us???

Posted by: Elizabeth | April 30, 2009 11:23 PM

Reading this story AND some of the comments brings a lot of saddness and disappointment into my heart. This horrifying practice MUST stop, - we humans should not be disrespectful to any other form of life. No, I don't believe human beings are any more "important" to the planet as any other animal or form of life, - I am saying this in response to one of the comments here. Our planet needs ALL of us, animals, plants, insects, microbs.. and we all need EACH OTHER. I am a strong supporter of PETA's voice for animal rights, but some times I find PETA's actions extreme and borderline ignorant. Wool has been around for centuries and there are small scale farmers who pay respect and share love with their animals. Wool can be produced without torturing sheep. It is a natural, ecologically friendly fire retardant. Wool is antibacterial by nature. It also happens to be the only natural means to a baby's diaper cover because it is highly absorbant and self deodorizing and cleaning. Wool keeps our bodies cool in hot weather and warm in the cold. I made wool diaper covers for my infant and it is the only method of diapering that allows his skin to breathe as well as saves hundreds of trees. I certainly would not want to buy wool from a farmer who neglects his/her sheep, allows such suffering, practices such cruelty. My family would never knowingly support such horror. However, let's be reasonable and talk about the real change in the wool industry. What needs to change is the practice of producing wool. We must replace ignorance with attention, cruelty with kindness, and greed with gratitude of what we already have. I am not a vegetarian, and I don't believe that vegetarianism is a solution to anything. Humans are given canine teeth by nature, - these teeth are not meant for grinding corn. I do believe that we must be respectful and thankful for the animals who nourish us. Native Americans did not have slaughter houses, they did not torture animals... they were not vegetarians either. Each successful hunt ended in a prayer and gratitude for the nourishment. The were highly trained and killed animals quickly and skillfully in order to nourish themselves and their children. Animals have a special place in American Indian culture, - they are messengers of god, they are holy! I am thankful for PETA as the defender of animal rights. Please wake and see how intricate our world is and what we, humans, are meant to be. We are part of the animal world, part of nature. Abandoning wool and vegetarianism are NOT solutions to ending cruelty and disrespect, - they will not necessarily bring harmony into our world. It breaks my heart to see some of the headlines and films from PETA, and my heart is broken again when I seen what extreme and ignorant solutions are sometimes offered to such gruesome situations. Many people have negative perception of PETA because of some of these unreasonable, one-sided "solutions" and I would really love PETA's work to be embraced by more and more people instead. My father-in-law thinks that I am a nut for supporting PETA, the radical organization, as he calls it. He is educated but he doesn't get it... he doesn't see the issues at play and he doesn't see the compassionate solutions to them. Please don't turn more and more people away from your causes by ignoring the real issues for the animals (us, humans, included) and for our planet!

Posted by: Elena Novak | April 30, 2009 11:23 PM

I just can't live in a world that promotes cruelty. I don't see things changing, I see things getting far worse. Factory farms are proliferating and spreading overseas...and so is all the other animal cruelties..I just can't take it anymore.
I am sad and hurt all the time and most people just don't give a damn even when confronted with the truth. Tell me how to have hope when I have see all this and things are getting worse not better.

Posted by: Me'Chelle Ann Bump | April 30, 2009 11:41 PM

this is so revolting! those people are a DISGRACE to human beings. they're not even worthy to call themselves HUMANS cause HUMANS DO NOT ABUSE, TOTURE ,OR EVEN SELL THEM. ANIMALS HAVE FEELINGS, IF THEY DIDNT KNOW. they make me so ashamed to be a human being. they can easily get their wool without even HURTING THE SHEEPS OR ANIMALS. God didnt create animals for us to torture, but to help us. if i was an angel and knew what will happen to the animals, i would have asked God to not create animals and let the huiman race die and rot to death! May God bless those pitiful animals. Amen. :)

Posted by: linda | May 1, 2009 12:49 AM

God gave us animals to protect and love, not for us to torture. Get a life, for those who torment the innocent animals. Animals were given to us and we are suppose to treat them like our loved ones, not like a slave who gives you wool and you can just dump them aside to rot and die. You are all so heartless. Your heart are made of stone and can never ever be healed unless you stop killing animals. They have emotions, which im sure you know. If you want their wool only, you can easilt get them painlessly cause we have technology nowadays to help us. You guys make me so ASHAMED to be part of the human race. -.-

Posted by: linda | May 1, 2009 01:03 AM

You go Jessica above I couldn't have said it better.

This human race is full of sick son of a bitches who need the same treatment they give these animals

I hate this world no wonder Jesus is going to destroy the dirty place.

Then maybe the animals will have peace.

Posted by: Janet Davis | May 1, 2009 01:04 AM

I'm involved in a lot of fiber arts, and I've seen farms where our wool comes from, and the animals do not appear to have flystrike, be neglected in any way, or be exploited.
I don't understand why pictures from one farm where the owner is irresponsible should make us swear off of all wool everywhere?

Posted by: Renee | May 1, 2009 03:30 AM

In reply to Brien Comerford, Ugg boot makers DO allow mulesing. they have a really bad reputation for it, and are probably one of the worst. fly-strike is quite uncommon, but mulesing is not. and Holly Stinehart-Lichty, it is not an isolated incident. this has been going on in australia for many years and will probably continue to do so. the only thing u can rele do is petition and not buy ugg boots, just buy fakes. ugg boots are way too expensive for what they are anyway to be honest.
P.S. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) i think somebody wanted to know what it stood for. i dunno. just incase.

Posted by: Katie | May 1, 2009 03:35 AM

I've stopped buying wool products years ago, as part of my commitment to stop wearing and eating all animals. But I had no idea that the wool industry was so bad. That is absolutely horrifying! I'm going to write to the Australian PM... not just once, but until this cruelty to animals stops.

Posted by: Iris | May 1, 2009 04:15 AM

This is mutilation. It's down to the public to proteset and DO NOT BUY these merino wool products. Write to companies that sell them in protest and urge the Australian government to stop this now!! These sheep have been genetically enigneered to produce more wool, and this is the consequence of that. Does the hman race have the right to do this to any living creature? NO!

Posted by: Jan Graveson | May 1, 2009 04:35 AM

we have to fight for an international legislation to punish these behaviours through controls controls and controls...

Posted by: Irene | May 1, 2009 04:42 AM

THAT IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MEAN I 4 SHUR WOULDN'T LIKE TO BE EATEN BY MAGETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: ashley (g) | May 1, 2009 05:31 AM

That is absolutely horrible, I had to wear sheep skin for half of last year, for medical reasons, and rarely wear that kind of wool. However, you can't say to everybody don't buy woolen products, there just needs to be better precautions taken by the producers of the sheep. It may be too expensive but you could you not kill the sheep by euthansia, you know by the injection, surely it would be kinder?

Posted by: Roma | May 1, 2009 08:27 AM

I find it very hard to understand how a country like Australia who is supposed to be go-ahead and civilised can allow this to happen to innocent animals. The cruelty involved is shocking and the suffering caused to the sheep is appalling. Australia and the rest of the 'civilised' world would be the first to speak out if this was happening in a third world country so how can animals be reared in these prehistoris conditions with no checks? This is totallu unacceptable.

Posted by: llyn humes | May 1, 2009 09:20 AM

Disgusting! How could people be so cruel?

Posted by: HollyQ | May 1, 2009 10:39 AM

Im so disgusted and hurt. These animals dont have a voice so we have to be that voice for them and make all this stop!!

Posted by: April | May 1, 2009 10:49 AM

omg this is really mean & sick ...how can anyone ever let this happen to the sheep....it needs to STOP right now!

Posted by: ell | May 1, 2009 11:02 AM

this is crazy!!!!! this is so cruel!!! why do people have the need to hurt animals so they can be worm or say wool is fashion. why can't people treat animals with love, care and respect. they have feeling, they cry, get cold, hot, hungry... they are so much like us. So treat them with respect. STOP THE KILLING! NOW!!!!!!

Posted by: taty | May 1, 2009 12:06 PM

It makes me ashamed to be a human ! Heart Breaking ! Why ! Why ! Why ! do these people do such horendous things to Beautiful Animals ,
creatures with as much a right to live a happy life as we humans do, do they not understand Animals have thoughts feelings and a soul and feel pain . I shall not ever give up fighting for the rights of our Wonderful Animal Kingdom I send my Blessings to all of you are helping our Beautiful Creatures !!!

Posted by: michele | May 1, 2009 01:09 PM

This is just one more barbaric act that man inflicts on God's creatures. If we aren't torturing them in some way, we aren't living. Man is the most evil of all evil. I can't imagine any thing being more evil.

It is hard to believe that on this earth man who calls himself intelligent could do such horrible and unthinkable acts against others. I guess because they don't look like us that gives us the right to torture them, eat them, make money off of them...you name we do it.

And the funny thing that I can't seem to get passed is, we call ourselves human and we call them animals? Isn't this backwards? When we do all of the killing and torture, how can anyone feel good about what happens to any creature on this earth. Unless you have no morals, or you are void of a soul.

We are a sorry excuse of a species!

Posted by: elizabeth | May 1, 2009 04:29 PM

I can't not beleive how these animals are treated. It makes me sick to think that god put animals on this earth not to be treated like this.. These folks who hurts them need to had them what they did to them.. It makes us in the states cruel.

Posted by: Cynthia Smith | May 1, 2009 04:53 PM

I feel sick to my stomach!!!!!. I can't believe these people could sleep. I can't beleive these people could eat. I can't believe these people could live there life doing this. I think that is so horrifying. How can people do such a thing to these Innocent animals? That just hurts!

Posted by: Dalyla | May 1, 2009 05:16 PM

After seeing this, I am done with wool (unless it is currently on the sheep where it belongs). This situation is very sad and shocking, and I can only hope that humans start seeing the folly of their cruel ways.

Posted by: Sistah Vedge | May 1, 2009 05:30 PM

I dunno wat 2 say..! hw cn ppl b so horrific..!! argh..!:x Its just so pathetic seeing all dis cruelty ....humans aint humans nemore..!

Posted by: varsha | May 2, 2009 01:15 AM

im pretty sure that mulesing stops flystrike,but not all,but i also think NO animal should be left like that,how can someone neglect an aniamil like?that is cruel beyond words!

Posted by: j-man | May 2, 2009 03:25 AM

Thi is many horrifying!
the cowards who do this to sheep are monsters!
Giovanna
Italia

Posted by: giovanna | May 2, 2009 06:06 AM

after seeing this i can belive that mens is so creul i feel very bad,we have to stop that.

Posted by: luciano labonne | May 2, 2009 08:18 AM

Unfortunately I trust that in my country things are not better for animals.
But the fact that a developed country like Australia accpets it is more schoking.
No more natural wool !!!

Posted by: Beatriz - Brasil | May 2, 2009 09:23 AM

I can not understand people who do so much harm to animals just for money!
Those poor sheep are suffering year after year, that's immoral and uncivilized, that torture must end
silvia
italia

Posted by: SILVIA | May 2, 2009 11:55 AM

I am ashamed to be a human sometimes because we take advantage of other life forms so easily without even a thought. I hope in the future that animals will have their own rights and be treated with the respect they deserve.

Posted by: Christina Russell | May 2, 2009 01:48 PM

In response to Jan Graveson, do you have contact information for the person to addressed in the Australian Government? If you do, could you post it? I think if we all wrote to this person(s), we may make a difference. I think doing that would be by far more reasonable than to stop buying ALL wool products and destroying the livelihood of small scale farmers who produce beautiful wool without harming or disrespecting their sheep in any way. Thank you in advance for that information!

Posted by: Elena Novak | May 2, 2009 05:21 PM

THIS NEEDS TO STOP NOW!!!!

Posted by: katie | May 2, 2009 07:28 PM

Hi, I come from New Zealand, Most of our export is lamb and I have also grown up around some farming lifestyles.
This kind of behaviour is un-acceptable, but fly blown sheep, and especially ewes is not uncommon if the farmer doesnt take the precautions to control and maintain his farm.
I also work for a textile mill that makes woollen yarn used for carpets. In fact one of the biggest Woollen Mills in the world.
So, even though this is a horrible thing to see it is also "life". How do you people think a sheep would get on in the wild? It would have no one person to even allow it to be euthanised if that was the case.
This site is great for the disgusting things in life people do to animals, but in this case, this is life...
I have a heart
I am

Posted by: Rioghann | May 2, 2009 07:51 PM

Thank you for telling me about this info,I will no longer by wool. Because of what this is horribly doing to sheep. I am vegetarian and have been since I was born.

Posted by: Opal | May 2, 2009 10:52 PM

Andrew, we hear that line so often..it is not in the farmers interest to let stock waste away as it would lessen profit! Although this claim appears sound it is without basis. Smoking kills but people still smoke. Not all animal farmers care about the animals they have. The man responsibile for this farm was approached and wasnt the least bit interested in the sheep and their suffering..and he was about 45 years old. Hardly an age unable to cope. The point is not how often this happens it is the fact it happens at all. Australian farmers have it so good; they are well protected from prosecution by an animal charity which should be cleaning up farming instead of providing protection to those who use and abuse. Further the federal govt ensures that the farmer lobby groups are eard and again protected. State govts support farmers by ensuring laws which should protect animals actually protect farmers from prosecution. The animal welfare legislation in the various states are ambigious and rarely if ever enforced. If Australia wants to clean up its 3rd world image in animal protection then they need to listen to welfare groups not just farmer lobby groups who are all powerful. So to those who exposed this disgraceful farm, thanks. To all of you who question the buying of Aust wool, I suggest you boycott it in every way.

By the way, the lambs would not survive- does anyone really think that the same farmer who allows this blatent cruelty to occur would actually bottle feed orphan lambs..gee get real.

Posted by: Honesty | May 3, 2009 03:59 AM

How could we humans be so cruel.For just our own use how could we hurt and put these animals in such a pathetic condition. we all must take some serious action and save these innocent animals....

Posted by: Shally kour | May 3, 2009 11:26 AM

What few people commenting here seem to realise or appreciate is that the practice of mulesing, which PETA so vehemently opposes, is currently the only real protection against the virulent type of flystrike in Australia that is so vividly captured in the photographs above.

Had those sheep been mulesed, they wouldn't be suffering flystrike.

The environmental conditions in Australia are such that the conditions are ideal for flystrike - at a pinch, more so than anywhere else in the world. Indeed, the risk is unique compared to other countries in terms of how great it is.

As Aussie farmers keep saying, the practice of taking a small bit of skin off the rear of a sheep has been shown to stop them from dying the horrific kind of death - or living agony - shown above.

In short, mulesing has been about - from the very beginning - the prevention of a cruel and horrible death for a sheep.

That message seems to fall on deaf ears, however.

I agree there needs to be an alternative to mulesing, but because of the unique environmental conditions in Australia that make fly-strike so prevalent and such a dreadful risk to the animals, there is more research to be done - so that whatever the alternative is to mulesing, it's not something that's being done half-cocked and doesn't lead to even more chance chance of condemning animals to a horrible death at the hands of hordes of blow flies.

Sad to say, in reality, those pictures are probably the best advertisement for mulesing ever. This is why, in Australia, it is done.

Yes, it causes some pain to the sheep ... but I bet if they asked, they'd prefer it to what you've shown above.

PETA, don't shoot yourselves in the foot by contradicting your own public stance on this issue

Posted by: STM | May 4, 2009 02:57 AM

I have an alergie agains wool, so i´m never wearing wool. butt i´m shocked that this is happening in a `good` land as Australia, they say always i love the animals en i´m taking good care of them...they really say `i´m taking good care of my money.....and if a animal suffers....bad luck.... stupid people...thats what they are....God gave us animals to care for and to love them not to be cruel to.....

Posted by: Gerda van der Vegt | May 4, 2009 03:12 AM

enough allready....what a shame for the human race

Posted by: ioanna balaska | May 4, 2009 04:45 AM

While I am appalled at the inhumane treatment of these sheep, I am equally appalled at all the comments where people are saying they are ashamed to be a human being and how one commenter even alludes to suicide because she just can't take experiencing the pain of knowing about animal cruelty. Instead of selfishly shutting down or killing yourself, get out there and do something positive to make a difference for the animals. You don't help anything by doing nothing but crying about it! Of COURSE it's sad, and it does get overwhelming to realize what some humans are capable of doing to other living creatures. But for heaven's sake, not ALL people are bad, and there is no reason to be so dramatic as to say you are disgraced by being a human being. ALL creatures, including humans, are here for a reason. Use your abilities as a human being to accomplish good in the world. PETA has to make their articles shocking to make anyone care about the issues, and I'm not really saying that's wrong; sometimes that is what it takes to get through to people. But you also have to take a little step back when you read these things and stay connected to reality so that you don't fall apart. Use the info they provide to get out there and DO SOMETHING; that's the point of it. Their point is not to make all humans look bad and say we're worthless!

Posted by: jen | May 4, 2009 01:55 PM

We have to fight to stop mistreating these animals, creatures of Earth and completely unheard!! We are the most despicable living creatures on the face of the Earth and we continue every day abusing these defenseless animals. We must work at making people stop!!!
Liliana

Posted by: Liliana Closa | May 4, 2009 02:07 PM

Stop your horrors I am dropping WOOL....Their are materials that keep us even warmer.
D'ont ever forget this message...

Posted by: Sandra Deneault | May 4, 2009 02:46 PM

Thanks for the info. As upsetting as it is, this info has to get out to the public.

Posted by: tamara | May 5, 2009 07:25 PM

It always makes me so ashamed to be Australian when I hear about mulesing. There are other methods of fly-strike prevention but still it remains legal and widely used.

Posted by: Jess | May 7, 2009 06:15 AM

I am not a violent person and never have been. When I see things like this it not only makes me sad but very angry. I don't know how any human with half a brain could make sense of leaving an animal, any animal, in such a state. It makes me sick to know that humans are the superior being, the most intelligent of all living beings. If we are so damn intelligent then where is the sympathy, the judgement of wrong and right, the ethics? I already like animals more than I like people. Find your compassion! What the hell is wrong with people? I just don't understand!

Posted by: Michelle | May 7, 2009 10:56 AM

I live on a sheep farm and only stupid farmers who don't check their stock at least once a day have their shhep die from flystrike. I have had sheep who have had flystrike but we have treated them and they didn't die. To stop a sheep from getting flystrike you have yo shear or crutch them in the summer. Not all sheep live a sad life...

Posted by: Gail | May 15, 2009 04:14 AM

These are horrible images they are caused by neglect.

BUT they in NO way represent the vast majority of sheep farms in Australia.
Where all their sheep are cared for like pets.
These images are misleading and slanderous.

Posted by: Doug | May 26, 2009 12:16 AM

! NOT A VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANIMALS!
! TO JAIL TO INFRINGE SUCH RIGHTS!

Posted by: María Ángela | June 5, 2009 03:00 AM

we human beings are getting cruel day by day.When will all this cruelty end

Posted by: preeti | June 25, 2009 07:47 AM

I'm a sheep farmer from Australia.We have about 5000 sheep, every year a small percentage die. The rest have a wonderful life until we sell them for slaughter. This is done before they suffer from old age. The sheep in the photos have been fly struck because of the dung that has collected on the rear end, the farmer has been negligent and the farmer is a hobby farmer (Evidenced by names for the sheep) If you are concerned about animal welfare you need to target the new/hobby farmers with there 10 sheep. Th rest of us are providing the cleanes greenest safest environment for animals on the planet.

Posted by: Andy Gilfillan | July 7, 2009 10:17 PM

DO YOU ALL KNOW THAT IF SHEEP WERENT SHEARD that they would suffer pain, but what austriala does is inhumain. but if they would do it the right way it would be no more painful than a hair cut to the human.

Posted by: melissa walsh | July 20, 2009 02:33 AM

For the record, not all of Australia's sheep are treated like this...
Most of them are treated really nicely.. Just like pets, I guess you could say.
Yeah, it's cruel and inhumane what these people have done but don't just point the finger at Australia, because I'm pretty sure that there's a few people in other countries who do disgusting things like this, too.
Thanks muchly.

Posted by: Shannyn | July 31, 2009 12:33 AM

i cant beleive theyre doing this to poor innocent animals. thats just sick and wrong. im neverbying any wool ever again. i cant beleive the animals could get to such a state of distress! i hope all animal cruelty organisations are shut down so animals can havve even the slightest bit of peace in the world

Posted by: greta | August 9, 2009 12:19 AM