The Next Step in Saving Abused Farm Animals

More than 40,000 Change.org community members have called for authorities to shut down Conklin Dairy and charge the employees, including the owner, with animal cruelty for the sadistic abuse of cows and young calves caught on video.

In California, the Santa Cruz District Attorney's office has decided not to press charges after an undercover investigation showed employees of Cal-Cruz Hatcheries throwing newborn chicks across the room and leaving them caught in machinery to die slowly. Hundreds of Change.org community members have asked the D.A. to reconsider their decision not to prosecute.

If you've signed the petitions, and now you're watching the cases fight their way through the tangled web of the political and legal systems, what else can you do for the animals?

In addition to reconsidering your food choices - what you eat and where you get it from - the Farm Animal Adoption Network needs your help. And they need your help now.

Farm Sanctuary, the nation's leading farm animal protection organization, runs two sanctuaries and have rescued thousands of farm animals. Farm Sanctuary took in 38 ducklings from Cal-Cruz Hatcheries, and they've offered to take in all of the animals from Conklin Dairy. They help animals from smaller, low-profile cases, too. They recently rescued six male calves who had been left for dead, without food or water. They do amazing work, but they can't do it alone. That's why they've connected with people across the country to form the Farm Animal Adoption Network. 

Rescuing a farm animal isn't like rescuing dogs and cats. It's not that cows, chickens, pigs, or goats are any less grateful for a new lease on life, or that you won't bond with them as part of your family. But not as many people have the space for farm animals or access to vets who treat them. You may live in a city that doesn't allow farm animals as pets. And, sadly, many people only see these animals as food, not companions. There simply aren't as many potential adopters out there, which is why Farm Sanctuary is trying to bring everyone together who can help.

This past week, two other cases concerning cruelty at factory farms hit the news. In an historic settlement, following yet another undercover investigation by Mercy for Animals, Quality Egg of New England agreed to pay over $130,000 in fines and restitutions for the poor quality of life afforded their hens. They also agreed to unannounced inspections of their factory farm. In Vermont, criminal charges have been filed against two former employees of Bushway Packaging, Inc., a veal processing plant which was shut down by the USDA after video footage captured last year by the Humane Society of the United States showed unimaginable abuses, including an attempt to skin a calf alive.

These undercover investigations are exposing the dirty secrets of factory farming. The fact that people — and courts — are starting to pay more attention is a good sign for the future of farm animals. As more of these cases are uncovered all the time, the animals need you to be their voice in the decisions you make as a consumer and a citizen. But the animals also need you to give them a chance at a decent life.

If you can give a rescued farm animal a permanent, safe home, join the Farm Animal Adoption Network today.

Photo credit: Farm Sanctuary