Last year, another investigator and I visited 18 live animal markets in the San Francisco Bay Area. The cruelty we saw was horrendous. We documented animals kept in crowded tanks and cages, fish that were dismembered but still alive and conscious, turtles being cut open while still alive, and live animals suffocating in plastic bags.
National Geographicpublished an article on this investigation, noting, “the goal of Animal Outlook’s investigation is to make sure that existing laws are enforced, but also to raise awareness about the exploitation of animals ‘no matter if they are fish, frogs, turtles, cows or pigs.’ Ultimately…’we would like to build a world that is kinder to animals.’” Every investigation we do reveals the horrors of the system. We fight for these animals and for a vegan world.
Left: A dead fish upside down in a tank
Right: Frogs in a tub with only a small amount of water
We handed over our footage and photos to the Animal Outlook legal team who submitted a letter to the San Francisco Commission of Animal Care and Control (ACC) , to notify it of the multiple animal protection law violations documented by our investigators, and requested that they investigate and enforce these laws. The ACC followed up on our complaint and enforced the law against a market vendor for cutting a live turtle in front of them.
While enforcement of cruelty laws against abusers like live market vendors is a rare positive step, we are not stopping in our fight to hold the abusers accountable for the suffering of countless animals at these live markets.
Continuing our efforts, we asked San Francisco residents to add their names to a letter to San Francisco’s Commission of Animal Control and Welfare, which formally advises San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors and the City Administrator on matters pertaining to animal protection. The letter raises our concerns about the recurring animal cruelty at live markets, which violates both San Francisco and California law, and asks the Commission to issue formal recommendations to the City Administrator to crack down on animal cruelty at these live markets.
Our work doesn’t stop once an investigation ends. We continuously fight for justice for abused animals and to prevent the further suffering of millions more animals.
We eagerly await the day when there is no longer a need to fight hard on behalf of animals. If you are not already vegan, you can make a difference for animals today by leaving them off your plate. And help us in using these stories to educate and empower everyone to stand up for animals by going vegan.
Thank you for your kindness. I know that together we will build a better tomorrow for all animals.
With gratitude,
Jay
Undercover Investigator
P.S. Are you a San Francisco resident? You can make your voice heard at the next Commission of Animal Control and Welfare meeting on May 11 at 5:30 pm. For more details, click here.
As a non-profit organization, Animal Outlook relies on donations from caring, generous people like you. Every dollar matters. Your support makes a world of difference to farmed animals.
