this is horrifying. i adore pigs and to read something like like this well it breaks my heart. pigs and other animal shouldnt be killed for fun or at all.

Posted by: Anna Shaw | July 29, 2009 05:39 PM

Why does the military use animals in trauma training?

Posted by: Annie | July 29, 2009 06:48 PM

I have no problem with the military abusing and killing murderous terrorists. Conversely, the military should be prosecuted for torturing and killing innocent and sentient animals. Pigs are also very intelligent.

Posted by: Brien Comerford | July 29, 2009 07:41 PM

Words cannot explain how horrifying this is. The one thing I don't understand is: WHY DON'T THEY USE CRIMINALS, SEX OFFENDERS, ROBBERS ETC. INSTEAD? Not just for this, but everything that animals are currently being used for.

Posted by: Gina | July 30, 2009 12:42 AM

The military has obviously not progressed out of the dark ages--torturing and killing poor ,defenseless creatures,all in the name of Trauma training?! I dare say that pig anatomy and human anatomy are 100% different ,what possible use for this could the military have,other than being intentionally cruel--because after all,it's "just a farm animal"-things have got to change,for the better.It's time everyone stepped forward,not backward.Farm animals need better protection!

Posted by: T | July 30, 2009 02:32 AM

I agree with you Brien and Annie! Why not experiment on convicted animal abusers?? Ha! Now that I would love to see!! And maybe be a part of as well!

I mean, why pigs? Why animals in general?? They are precious creatures and should be treated with dignity and compassion. This world needs help! We need a miracle from God to change people's hearts. We really do....I know my heart just breaks when I hear of animal torture...Why doesn't everyones heart break, too?
:(

Posted by: Kathy | July 30, 2009 11:23 AM

I hate what is in these people. Maybe protesting at military recruitment places will have some effect. Like when colleges or somewhere has people from the military recruiting there, try to get the place not to hold it because of these outrageous cruelties, and if they do hold the recruitment, then get people there to protest. And that police officer murderer, it sounds like he should be the one stabbed and shot if he thinks it is ok to do that to innocent feeling beings. His department should receive a mass of protests to FIRE HIM.

Posted by: stoptorture | July 30, 2009 01:07 PM

Why don't they just have the trainees volunteer in an inner city hospital emergency room on a Saturday night?

Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | July 30, 2009 01:10 PM

"Why don't they just have the trainees volunteer in an inner city hospital emergency room on a Saturday night?"

good idea.

Posted by: vegancoin | July 30, 2009 09:30 PM

this really does break my heart. i love pigs and to read this just isnt right. im just a kid but i write to all these things telling them to stop this! i feel i need to be the voices for these animals and i get my friends to all join in together!

Posted by: Kate | July 30, 2009 10:54 PM

Are these animals terroists? NO! DO you need to use such behavior toward a defenseless animal? Does it make you feel good? YOu are wrong!!!! Stop this already. enough is enough and you embarrass our country when you take a knife to a pig or any animals for that matter. This is upsetting. I am sick to my stomach...

Posted by: Margaret Lovick | July 31, 2009 10:23 AM

Im sorry but I am against the use of animals for any kind of experimentation for any reason. We now know enough about the results of battle on the human body, just from Iraq alone, we dont need to continuously abuse animals in the name of science, we have enough real bodies to learn from. If they feel a strong need to use living, breathing creatures, use some of the men and women on death row...it makes more sense to me...

Posted by: Jay'me golden | July 31, 2009 04:19 PM

What people do to animals, they'll do to people. I don't know how a jerk like this sleeps at night. Maybe he doesn't.

Posted by: Jeffrey Smith | August 6, 2009 07:37 PM

He/They Should be ashamed of themselves!! This is barbaric & revolting!!

Posted by: Matt Greenwood | August 7, 2009 10:53 PM

I agree with using terrorist criminals, deathrow inmates, rapist, pedofiles and all the rest of the himan sheet of the world. Use human garbage that does not deserve to be breathing what air we have left.

Posted by: linda | August 18, 2009 06:03 PM

pigs are one of the most gentle and smartest creatures and if what happens to them in tranport as well as their final destination to the slaughterhouse isn't enough, now they are being shot and stabbed in some evil and unneccessary trainings.
how can you do this to another living thing? i agree with all you that said to use terrorists and abusers.
we are hurting the ones that have NEVER hurt us!

Posted by: brenda blumenthal | August 18, 2009 08:44 PM

I find the use of these animals in their "training" is horrendous, however, what I find most disturbing are the people suggesting pigs be replaced with human beings. That makes you as barbaric as the animal abusers.

Posted by: Andy B | August 19, 2009 01:13 PM

Every animal has and feels pain. All this killing as if these poor animals dont feel pain of course they do. Laws need to be put into place to help protect these animals.

Posted by: yvette | August 19, 2009 03:13 PM

Haha, come on guys!! There are children in Africa being captured and forced into fighting...and they get slaughtered. Why dont we help THAT situation come to an end???

Posted by: Austin | August 19, 2009 04:02 PM

First off, I am a tree hugging vegetarian that loves everything biodegradeable. I'm also an active duty marine and have FIRST HAND knowledge of the lack of funds to provide extensive animal friendly training to our docs. These are young men who train then deploy before the age of 20. Imagine being 19 and running with a Marine infantry unit into the hills of Afghan knowing we depend on you if the bad guys have good aim. If you want to make a difference - write your congressman to provide more conditional funds.

Posted by: Marine | August 19, 2009 04:41 PM

I love animals. All animals. But sometimes I will eat chicken and seafood although I try to eat vegetarian most of the time. But what I dont get is that it seems everybody wears leather shoes,leather purses or sit on leather seats in their automobiles. I find it hypocritical that peta can denounce anything that has to do with killing animals but do they use leather products? Also, I think a human life should be valued first over an animals life. For example, a human fetus's life is slaughtered in the womb -sliced and diced in its living space while still alive! should be way higher on the priority list in my book. Its kinda upside down to me where a chickens' life has more value than a human life.

Posted by: laura | August 19, 2009 09:53 PM

I also love pigs. They're a little mysterious to many but that's because they are raised away from human sight, in filthy, stinking, overheated giant barns in the midwest. The things these gentle, intelligent beings go through because of "man" are just heartbreaking. This trauma training is ridiculous. Someone somewhere doing needless work for the government contract money it brings in....Money...that's all it is...not research.

Posted by: Karen Saucedo | August 20, 2009 02:21 PM

As a newly turned Vegan, and a former Air Force enlisted Airman I was disgusted and enraged by this article. Yes the abused and starving humans living abroad (and in America) need our help...I think at this point we ALL need help of some kind or another. Abusing another person, or animal is horrendous and a sad mark against everyone as human beings. I wish there was something more to be done than firing off a few letters or outrage, but at the very least complaining and writing letters is still an act of rebellion!!

Posted by: Carmen | August 20, 2009 02:46 PM

this is sickening! what is wrong with the military and people? there is a distinct wrong and right in situations like this. we have a conscience for a reason.. put it to good use. this is pathetic and i am ashamed that this occurs because of my species.

Posted by: Brittany | August 20, 2009 04:38 PM

this is sickening! what is wrong with the military and people? there is a distinct wrong and right in situations like this. we have a conscience for a reason.. put it to good use. this is pathetic and i am ashamed that this occurs because of my species.

Posted by: Brittany | August 20, 2009 04:38 PM

God, our country is so pathetic sometimes. How can we allow these kinds of atrocities when other developed nations around the world have figured out perfectly good alternatives to using live animals for this type of training. It is so disheartening to see this type of shit when it seems like it has to take an act of Congress to make things right.

Posted by: Steve K. | August 20, 2009 05:45 PM

Although I think this is disgusting to do such things to animals, I find it just as gross that people think they should do it to human beings. Yes, criminals, terrorists, rapists etc are human scum. But, that doesn't give anyone the right to perform these heinous acts on them. Grow up people. I agree with taking them to an inner city hospital though. That's more than enought training.

Posted by: Jay | August 20, 2009 06:02 PM

This kind of stuff makes me ashamed to be an American. Numerous nations around the world have already stopped using live animals for this kind of trauma training, and PETA even recently helped get Bolivia to join this group. If the European Union and Bolivia can find alternatives to live animals so why can't we??? The Department of Defense needs to enter the 21st Century along with the rest of us.

Posted by: Steve | August 21, 2009 12:28 AM

You would think the USA military with all their technology and being a first world country would have the actual brain cell to find technological ways to reduce the impact on animals and the pain they need to endure.

Posted by: Marcelle | August 21, 2009 01:45 AM

This is pathetic as well as shameful act. Human should behave like a human being.

Posted by: Poonam Singh | August 21, 2009 04:05 AM

*Please read with an open mind. Not meant to offend anyone, honestly.

I agree with most everything everyone is saying, but being in the military myself and hearing the way all of you are talking and feeling about what we do as soldiers deeply saddened me. I've been overseas 2 times and I'm sure half of you have a close friend or relative serving there at this moment, right?

Don't get me wrong, animal cruelty "evil", I understand, but at the same time we rant and rave about how good it is to see the terrorist killed. True, there are other ways and methods to which these exercises may be done, but in order to get the real life grit that comes with seeing blood on a screaming patient and reacting quickly enough to rectify the situation is what these medics need. They can only learn so much from a book.

Think about this for a split sec. Would you let a doctor operate on your mother with cancer if he has only read books, never to have actually held a scalpel and perform surgery? Probably not. I wonder where they get their training?

I'm not defending the abuse, just opening an eye to a situation that maybe we might be able to slightly overlook.

Unlike thousands of seals "slaughtered for stupid fur" or thousands of livestock "butchered alive", these things we could live without.

Medical training for troops who are in harms way to protect our right to form this group and freely express our concern may not be too sinful eh?

Just something to think about.

Sincerely,

James
Iraqi Veteran 07-09

Posted by: james | August 21, 2009 04:58 AM

This is Nazism 200% shocking sickening and just disgusting that it is 2009 .. and it reflects where we are as a whole in our development as human beings..... bullets bombs etc will injure us all it is senseless to try to justify that its okay as long as they know how to sew a leg back on using an animal to test their theories. War is wrong war on every level in every religion and on an intellictual and logical scientific level is wrong ....War is senseless and acomplishes nothing but misery,poverty and suffereing and devastation havent we learnt this yet from world war 1 and 2 ? Animals are not here to be used for our own stupidity because we make ourselves suffer why should an animal be part of that ? The problem is for all countries to disarm straighaway and for the UN to intervene peacefully ....violence will never make things better whether its towards ourselves or towards earths beautiful animals...Sometimes I cannot believe I was born a human being and am ashamed of mankind.

Posted by: elf | August 21, 2009 07:05 AM

Such cruelty for any animal to be used in military exercises. There are other ways to make your point in an exercise without stabbing and shooting animals. Pigs are as smart as dogs and don't deserve to be treated so inhumanely and why is this allowed.

Posted by: Leslie Rice | August 21, 2009 12:10 PM

I can not believe my eyes! This maybe part of the reason why some military people have such a hard time adjusting to a non-combat life style when they get out of the service! Cruelty to any animal is unacceptable and should be stopped at any cost.

Posted by: Peg | August 21, 2009 03:20 PM

Enough of our soldiers get tramatizing injuries as it is. Why don't they just practice on people that actually need the help. The main purpose is to save lives but in actuality they are taking away the lives of the animals. This doesn't make any sense to me. I'm sure they get enough experience and training in battle they should be going to help the injured soldiers instead. All living creatures deserve the right to live their lives and not be tortured.

Posted by: Jamie | August 21, 2009 06:04 PM

let them practice on michael vick

Posted by: mimi | August 21, 2009 07:05 PM

This is totlally INSANELY CRAZY why in the hell would they do that i mean they have no reason to do that! How would they feel if somebody did that to them for no reason!

Posted by: Caitlin | August 21, 2009 09:07 PM

Even though my son is in Iraq fighting this war on terror, I find it appalling that the military would use animals for trauma training. I am a registered nurse and learned all my training on mannequins. Even as an EMT, trauma training was done on mannequins. If it was good enough for me, then it is good enough for the military.

We do not need a 'miracle from God' in order to change the way people treat animals. Remember, it was God who said that the animals were their for nourishment and such. As a vegetarian, what we need is more people respecting animals and each other. This world has gotten to the point that people no longer respect other people so how can we expect them to respect animals? And no, God will not make people respect other people either. You only need to look at that ultra-religionist to see that is not happening.

Posted by: A R DuBaie | August 22, 2009 07:45 AM

As the mother of a son in Iraq, a former EMT, and a registered nurse, I also find it disturbing that the military uses animals for trauma training. I was trained for the same thing on mannequins. If it was good enough for me, then it should be good enough for the military.

As far as needing 'a miracle of God', wasn't it God that said that animals were put on the earth for nourishment and such? Seems to me that that is not respectful of animals. As a vegetarian, I feel that there is more a need for people to respect each other in this world. If we can't even respect each other, then how can we possibly expect them to respect the rights of animals.

Posted by: Athais | August 22, 2009 07:50 AM

You name it, any subject, a human somewhere does it.
What the hell else can I say - I think we should become extinct to save the animals because people that do good win a battle somewhere only to find some other travesty somewhere else - like an incurable plague.

Posted by: Kevin Isaac | August 22, 2009 03:43 PM

Its sad what they do.

Posted by: Jackson | August 22, 2009 04:50 PM

COBARDES, SOLDADOS ASQUEROSOS Y ENDEMONIADOS...SIENTO TANTO ODIO EN MI CORAZON EN CONTRA DE CUALQUIER ESTUPIDO QUE MALTRATE A UN ANIMAL INOCENTE.....
LA VIDA DE UN SER SIN SENTIMIENTOS NO MERECE NINGUN RESPETO DE MI PARTE.
USEN CRIMINALES, VIOLADORES Y LADRONES Y TAMBIEN A LOS SOLDADOS QUE ABUSARON A LOS INOCENTES PRISIONEROS DE LAS CARCELES DE IRAK INCLUSIVE A LOS MUGROSOS ENDOMONIADOS SOLDADOS QUE TIRARON AL PERRITO POR UN PRECIPICIO EN IRAK, PERO DEJEN A LOS ANIMALES EN PAZ PORQUE ELLOS SON MEJORES QUE NOSOTROS.
ELLOS SON CREACION DE DIOS Y TIENEN DERECHO A VIVIR EN ESTE MUNDO EN PAZ.

Posted by: MARCIA | August 22, 2009 06:03 PM

Financed by our tax $$'s. Another way to make our military boys and girls go psycho in the head.

Posted by: Sandra Gardner | August 23, 2009 05:50 PM

Violence is never the answer.

Posted by: Linda | August 23, 2009 08:59 PM

First of all the military is not going around killing pigs just for the hell of it, they are doing this to train our soldiers so they can fight better, and more accuratly.

Posted by: Jake Davis | August 24, 2009 11:51 AM

this has to be ban all animals have to be respected

Posted by: lorii hernandez | August 26, 2009 08:05 AM

The military & government do a lot that we don't really find out about, until it's too late. This article digusted me, and who wouldn't be? I don't understand how we could live in such a country that allows this kind of treatment, not to mention what else goes on behind the scenes. Ick.

Posted by: Kaitlin | August 26, 2009 05:35 PM

Some of these comments have me appalled. You're suggesting using people to conduct these experiments? That's just as bad as using animals which makes you no different than David Bishop.

I'm glad this has been brought to the public's attention and I'm also very happy that PETA is doing something about it, but some of you people are down-right scary. Get a grip.

Linda, I completely disagree with you and you didn't read the post. As a nurse, I know there are other methods available for training medical personnel to deal with trauma. This has nothing to do with "fighting" but if you think it does, perhaps you have some inside information you'd like to share?

This is really disgusting.

Posted by: Susan | August 26, 2009 10:44 PM

ok guys, lets not get too out of hand here. i love animals and try my best to stay away from products that involve animals in anyway, but before you go bashing other people( which isn't a hard thing to do)think about how much you add to proctor and gamble by buying arm&hammer and crest toothpaste. How many of you wear shoes that are leather because lets be honest its hard to find a dress shoe that isnt leather. How many of you drive cars that have leather seats. Lets think of where that leather comes from. How bout this? Every person dreams of starting a family one day, whats the big diper brand to buy. Pampers. They test on animals. I dont think i need to state anymore facts. Its takes a lot of courage to change something in your own life so why not step up and change something in your life rather then take the easy way out and bash on others because you've forgotten exactly how much every single one of you adds to the on going problem of animal cruelty.

Posted by: jay | August 27, 2009 02:32 PM

I feel that if this type of training should continue, instead of using animals, human volunteers such as people with terminal illnesses or inmates serving death sentences can agree to help.
I see it like this. A human would speak out and sign an agreement releasing their permission to practice on them, ANIMALS CANT!!!!! WOULD YOU MAKE A HUMAN WHO CAN SAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO DIE DO THIS AGAINST THEIR OWN WILL???

Posted by: Steve Vargas | August 27, 2009 02:39 PM

I think that this is sick and wrong as these animals have no say in whether to die or live. I think that it's great that PETA are raising these issues.

Posted by: Dave | August 27, 2009 06:01 PM

It is not nice to know how US military is training soldiers. I'm from Finland and I've never heard about this "trauma training" before. We don't have such concrete training in Finnish military. Okay, I can understand that your country is having many situations in other countries and your soldiers have to be prepared for the real thing. But still I hope you'd find another way for this. Because, in my opinion, eventhough how bad you'd need an example of a screaming patient, it is not right to make animals suffer just because humans can't live in peace in this world. Animals can.

Posted by: Leena | August 29, 2009 06:34 AM

This is why every country on the planet thinks the USA are a bunch of assholes! I wonder sometimes, and reading bullshit like this makes me ashamed to be American.
"ARMY - Be all you can be." "And torture animals too?"

Hopefully the jackass who came up with this idea drives over an IED.

Oh and I guess we can stop buying California Avocados too!!

Posted by: Christopher Rice | August 31, 2009 06:31 PM

we can learn to save people by killing pigs or we can kill people to learn how to save people your choice.

Posted by: Andrew | September 2, 2009 03:12 PM

Animal abuse is awful. As a new vegan I am just so thankful that there is good people like you guys out there!

Posted by: Miriam Coultas | September 3, 2009 06:48 PM

The military has obviously not progressed out of the dark ages--torturing and killing poor ,defenseless creatures,all in the name of Trauma training?! I dare say that pig anatomy and human anatomy are 100% different ,what possible use for this could the military have,other than being intentionally cruel--because after all,it's "just a farm animal"-things have got to change,for the better.It's time everyone stepped forward,not backward.Farm animals need better protection!

Posted by: Catherine Walker | September 3, 2009 09:22 PM

I am a Buddhist who believe that all sentient beings should be respected and treated in a humane way. Harming or killing animals is a moral crime that should be stopped as soon as possible.

Posted by: Yu Hsi Chen | September 4, 2009 07:59 AM

MURDER! Why add to the body count of this illegal and unjust war, by the senseless murder of these innocent pigs. Why can't the Army just shoot some more Iraqis civilians and then practice on them? Only someone as evil as Dick Cheney could fund this from his secret underground lair. These crimes against humanity should be tried in the Hague. I heard that McDonalds funds the whole atrocity so they can buy the pigs and use them to make sausage Mcmuffins and they process them while they are still alive. Me and my group will be marching on the post office in Akron Ohio on 09/11 to bring this genocide to light. I also heard they are testing biological weapons on the pigs and thats where the new swine flu came from, clearly seen in the photos the soldiers are wearing chemical warfare equipment to detect the new mutated viruses as they develop. Don't let them fool you, we will all reap the whirlwind of their diabolical plot to mother earth to her knees. RISE UP! RISE UP! people before it too late.

Posted by: Sunset Jenkins III | September 8, 2009 06:41 PM

The training done on these animals is necessary to train Medics and Corpsmen in battle field medicine. The anatomy is so very close to that of humans.

So while they are saving wounded warriors on the battlefield, you people complain about a pig.

Posted by: Jared Dull | September 14, 2009 10:15 AM

Look Mister Jered Dull, there is no need to go around stabbing pigs for this kind of training. It's emergency medical training, if you're learning to act quick and fast while 13 other people are running around you trying to help the same guy, those military doctors can find this work somewhere else, oh like on real human patients that are already sick and injured. There is no need to have a pig stabbed when a man in the city was already stabbed and seeking help, that doctor could be working on him instead of a perfectly healthy pig. Therefore, it is NOT necessary to stab a poor pig that didn't do anything but be born.

Posted by: Tempest Phebus | October 6, 2009 07:23 AM

Thank you soldiers for using animals instead of real humans, all these idiots commenting on this saying to use humans can go test in place of the pigs.

Posted by: I dont give a shit about animals | October 13, 2009 08:44 PM

Jeez...some of the people commenting here are INSANE, I love pigs (if you dont believe me, you should see my desk), but come on...putting another human being in their place? Even people on death row, rapists, etc. is completely against everything you supposedly stand for. As a human, you are an animal. Putting another human in place of another animal is the same as killing that animal...military testing on animals is wrong, and there are other methods of testing this that would be much more reliable on the field, but come on...If you people are so "pro-life" for animals, the least you could possibly do for your OWN SPECIES is admit the fact that killing a prisoner would be the equal of killing a pig. Both are living creatures, and neither should be killed by the military (or anyone for that matter..)...the way people speak here is laughable as I know none of you would actually be able to stand there and watch as a prisoner-OR-pig is torn apart by another person. If you have ever seen another person being killed, a million thoughts race through your head, just like if you see an animal being killed. Please, if you are going to "care", you should feel compassion for ALL living things, including humans. Some death row inmates have been proven not guilty, what happens if you watched one of them get torn apart just to find out they never hurt anything in their life?

Posted by: AH | October 17, 2009 03:27 AM

LIES! LIES! LIES! There is no difference between what is going on here (IN SECRET I MIGHT ADD) than any other case of genocide. Created by white men behind locked doors in secret. Lets keep- Guantanamo open and put the real criminals in there, these so called "medics" completely different than so called terrorists we currently imprison there, simply good family men trying to get back to their country. These issues and more will be addressed at our next "SING/SOY IN" at the Post Office in Akron, Ohio on Veteran's Day 2009. My spitual life partner in body and soul [Madou Al-Jihad] will be enlightening people to the truth behind Dick Cheney and other evil conspirators to rid Mother Earth of her natural bounty such our friends the swine. Madou and I have come to know each other on so many levels, he calls me his "Little Sharmuta."

Posted by: Sunset Jenkins III | October 19, 2009 06:41 PM

OKAY! Can we not have a civil discourse about such terrible and vital issues without fear of reprisal?!! Which disicple of Dick Cheney covered by self-converted 1987 bio-diesel / hybrid VW Rabbit with pig blood, intestines and feces?!!! I would love to enlighten you to our cause. Please e-mail me at summersunset100@hotmail.com. Or just see me at open mic night at the Akron, Ohio "Sing / Soy In." Madou refuses to ride in my car. He tells me that it smells of the infidel.

Posted by: sunset jenkins III | October 21, 2009 06:25 PM