The Issues

FOOD Chickens- Chickens are given drugs to make them grow faster. Some cripple under their own weight, making it impossible to reach food. Eventually they die of starvation. Others are put into shackles and have their throat's cut without any sedation. Turkeys- Beating them with metal rods is legal. I think that's enough to give you an idea of what they go through. Egg Laying Hens- Egg laying hens are crammed into tiny metal cages, these crowded conditions cause some to go crazy and peck one another. Their beaks (which have many nerve endings in them) are cut off with a hot blade because of this. They are unable to do anything natural, not even spread a wing. It takes thirty four hours in these conditions to lay ONE egg. Many have broken bones and die of starvation or hemorhaging. Cattle- They are branded repeatedly and have their scrotums and horns cut off without pain killers. They are electrocuted to go a certain direction in auctions. Cows with cancerous wound's and puss filled sores are USDA approved meat and are untreated. They are tied upside down as their throats are slit while moaning in pain. Dairy Cows- 40% of dairy cows are crippled before they reach the slaughter house. They are impregnated to keep the milk flowing and their calves go to the veal industry. Veal calves can hardly walk because their muscles have atrophied. If you buy milk you are supporting the veal industry. Dairy cows are hooked up to machines that injure them a few times a day. Over one-hundred thousand are unable to walk off of the transport trucks every year, yet they are slaughtered for food anyway. Pigs- Mother pigs are kept in tiny pins during pregnancy, unable to turn around. Many go insane from being crowded. Shortly after birth baby pigs ears are mutilated, their teeth and tails are cut off and they are castrated, all with no pain killers. They sadly squeal and try to break free. Pigs that dont grow quickly enough are slammed head first into the floor. Other's grow so quickly they are crippled from their own drug induced weight. Ill or injured pigs aren't put out of their misery, but are kept alive until slaughter. Those who cant make it to slaughter are shot with a bolt gun so they don't waste the company's money by eating feed. Moving them by hitting them with steel gate rods is common. They are crammed into trucks so tightly, that the weight of the other terrified pigs causes their limbs to break. They often freeze to the sides of the trucks or die of dehydration. One hundred thousand pigs arrive to the slaughter house dead every year. Some have their throats slit while they are still conscious. Some are burned alive in the scalding tank for hair removal. They are dangled upside down while their throats are slit, wiggling around and squealing, trying to get loose. MATERIAL Leather- Leather is made from several animals; cows, pigs, goats, sheep, alligators, ostriches, and kangoroos. Sometimes even dogs and cats, who are also killed for their meat (in china) which sends their skins all around the world. Many animals are skinned alive. Its bad for the envirnment because of the toxins used in tanning it. FUR Beavers- At one time beavers were hunted almost to extinction. Now they aren't, but they are still in danger of it. The traps used to catch or kill them cause them painful suffering. If they are not caught on target or killed immediately they drown, taking up to twenty minutes to pass away. Rabbits- Like other animals raised for their fur, they are kept in tiny cages surrounded in their own urine and waste. The cages are so small they are unable to do anything natural such as digging, hopping, or playing. They are killed by having their necks snapped or their heads bashed in, afterwards they are decapitated. Foxes- Raised in factory farms, they are cramped in tiny, waste filled wire cages. Many live for years in these conditions before they are killed. Others are caught in traps which cut into their legs and are beaten to death when the trappers arrive (sometimes days or even weeks later) if they aren't already dead. Minks- Minks raised on factory farms are kept in small cages with no water to swim in. They have a natural urge to swim and are depressed because they are unable to do so. Chinchillas- Chinchillas are bred by fur farmers. On one particular fur farm people witnessed them having painful seizures from being electrocuted or having their necks snapped while they were fully conscious. Raccoons- Hunted by starving dogs as some foxes are, they are also caught in the same traps (steel jaw leg hold traps.) ENTERTAINMENT The Circus- Animals in circus acts dont perform tricks because they want to but, because they are afraid to see what happens if they dont. Animal trainers use whips, sticks, and electric prods to force them to perform. TESTING Approxamately ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN MILLION animals are experemented on and murdered yearly in the U.S. Testing includes forcably feeding rats chemicals, cutting muscle tissue from dogs thighs, and putting baby monkeys in isolation chambers away from their mothers. You are supporting this by buying products.