Target: Tom Vilsack, United States Secretary of Agriculture
Goal: Strengthen animal welfare standards on farms throughout the U.S. and ban custom-exempt slaughter.
An undercover investigation of three USDA certified, custom-exempt slaughterhouses revealed gross violations of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. Workers at the three slaughterhouses—Operation Orlando Poultry, Operation Ali Meats, and Operation A-Poultry—were reportedly observed dragging animals inhumanely, stabbing them to death, slowing sawing off their heads, and skinning animals while still conscious. Investigators with Animal Recovery Mission allege that workers also failed to use any sort of stunning device to render the victims insensitive to pain and, so, they were fully conscious during the butchering process. Among the species found at the locations were goats, dogs and puppies, cows, donkeys, horses, sheep, rabbits, and many others.
Custom-exempt slaughterhouses, like the ones investigated here, are not uncommon throughout the United States. These facilities are exempt from federal inspection by the USDA and, as a result, can essentially do whatever they please with their animals. In addition to allowing inhumane treatment of animals, this laissez-faire way of slaughtering poses food safety risks for humans who consume the meat, especially in a time where bird flu is contaminating tens of thousands of live poultry.
Sign this petition to demand all slaughterhouses are federally inspected and stop allowing animals to be tortured in custom-exempt facilities.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
Animal Recovery Mission recently conducted an undercover investigation of three of Orlando’s USDA certified, custom-exempt slaughterhouses, and their reported findings are downright atrocious. According to investigators, animals were inhumanely dragged to slaughter, violently stabbed in the neck and chest, had their heads sawed off, and were skinned alive. And, as none of the three locations seemed to possess a stun gun, animals–including goats, sheep, puppies, dogs, horses, cows, rabbits, and others–remained fully conscious throughout the whole process and literally felt their skin being shredded from their bodies.
Sadly, these three slaughterhouses–namely Operation Orlando Poultry, Operation Ali Meats, and Operation A-Poultry–are only a few of the custom-exempt slaughterhouses that exist in the United States. Federal violations to animal welfare laws are already common on USDA regulated farms and slaughterhouses, so one could only imagine the horrors committed with no regulation at all. This lack of interest in the operations of custom-exempt slaughterhouses might also have dangerous implications for public health–especially in the face of bird flu resurgence–as there are no federal food safety inspections.
We are asking you, Mr. Vilsack, to demand that all slaughterhouses are federally inspected and to stop allowing animals to be tortured in custom-exempt slaughterhouses.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Garrett Ziegler
How the hell can any civilised country allow this atrocity to happen.For gods sake help these poor creatures.
My words exactly William – how can this wickedness be happening?. The people employed at these hell holes must be inhuman monsters … how the hell can they sleep at night!!!
Well, I don’t think they are from the US initially. The one place is called Ali Halal Meats. I think that speaks volumes
where is the ALF when you need them? They could take care of these places in one night.
More from the most cruel despicable animal ever to evolve. This planet is nothing more than a giant torture/death chamber for the other animals. And [too many] humans are nothing more than monsters when it comes to the nonhumans. There are just no words for the horrors that the other animals endure at the hands of the monsters-
I totally agree with you!
Man’s inhumanity to man is nothing compared to what man will do to the helpless and voiceless. It has to end.
HOW CRUEL CAN A HUMAN BEING ARE?? I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS!!!!!
How can this be allowed to happen? The world is turning its head to this painful and horrible torture. Why Why? These investigations must be ended. Arrest people in these slaughterhouses. There are laws.
What is being done immediately to shut these places of torture down? This is NOT cultural to skin animals alive, PUPPIES! For God’s sake! What is the USA Government?? It is an organisation that ALLOWS these unbearable atrocities to happen! Why is there animal welfare law when it is not enforced against so called cultural businesses that kill animals by excruciating torture? Such torture CANNOT be cultural, and even if it was it is unacceptable and extremely offensive to other peoples, causing us huge anxiety, and we should demand that it be stopped urgently.
This is almost beyond belief…especially in a so called civilized country, but it seem we can’t put ANYTHING past some vile members of the human race and these really have plumbed the very depths. They should all be taken out and skinned alive themselves…slowly and painfully. What UTTER lowlives.
CCTV should be made mandatory inside all slaughter houses. Can not believe that this happens in the USA. How much lower can this country get when is comes to animal abuse??
Animals feel pain roo. They should only hire compassionate and non abusive employees. The owners need to be compassionate too. God is very aware of how you treat his creatures.
Don’t lie and say dogs are involved. There is no eating of dog meat in the US.
Tom Vilsack…
STOP all these vicious atrocities..!! THERE IS NO REASON TO TREAT ANY BEING SO VICIOUSLY!
I IMPLORE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING!
GET ALL THESE HOUSES INSPECTED FREQUENTLY WITHOUT FAIL. If they don’t comply SHUT THEM DOWN…FINE THEM…SHUT THEM ALL DOWN.
HUMANS THAT TREAT ANIMALS LIKE THEY ARE NOTHING WILL ONE DAY PAY THE PIPER. THOSE THAT HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE THE CHANGES NECESSARY AND STAND COMPLICIT
WILL ONE DAY PAY FEEL WHAT EVERY INNOCENT BEING FELT!!!
The USDA, FDA and any government agency in charge of oversight should CLOSE THOSE PLACES PERMANENTLY.
Disgusting and totally inexcusable! I know it is unrealistic to expect everyone to choose a vegan lifestyle, which would be the best way of ending all this, but EVERYONE, vegan or not, should demand that the poor animals unfortunately destined for slaughter for food or any other human desired item, be treated humanely, with a level of respect. These animals need not be tortured, abused, and made to suffer every minute of their short lives…and when the time comes for their life to end, it should be done as quickly and painless as possible! It is all of our responsibility to protect and speak up for innocent animals with no voice of their own!
This is so horrible, to even think about! I cant believe the cruelty that is allowed to go on to helpless animals! Put yourself in their place! They feel pain too! And God knows how you are treating his own precious animals. How do they find souless people to work at these places, and commit these terrible things? Change our laws!PLEASE!
This is unforgivable.
Tell me, would they do this to their dogs, cats and hamsters, etc.! These people deserve a long jail time cleaning up farms, slaughter houses, fighting rings and rescue centres on chains. They need to learn that any animal has feelings like us.
This is beyond unimaginable! There is no reason for this barbaric cruelty! Please stop this despicable practice immediately.
Go vegan for the animals because this will continue because of peoples taste buds and profit.
These acts and the people who perform them, and those who allow it to happen, are acting in a totally Serious Illness of the mind. God spare us all.