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USDA Must Do More to Reduce Cruelty in Slaughter Plants

Dear John,

Billions of chickens and hundreds of millions of turkeys, ducks, pigs, cattle, and other animals are slaughtered for food in the United States each year. All too often, while they await slaughter and during the slaughter process, these animals are severely mistreated.

USDA inspection records describe live birds having their heads, legs, feathers, and wings ripped off. Animals are kicked, dropped, beaten, and held for hours or days outside plants without protection from extreme weather. Such incidents may violate state animal cruelty laws, but local officials often incorrectly believe they have no jurisdiction in such matters and that federal authority prevents them from charging slaughter plants or personnel with animal cruelty. Meanwhile, the USDA has done nothing to dispel this misguided notion, and even when USDA inspectors document abuse, the department does not notify state law enforcement officials.

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What You Can Do
Please urge the USDA to publish a public notice ([link removed]) explaining the circumstances in which local law enforcement or prosecution officials can and should enforce state animal cruelty statutes when farmed animals are abused in slaughter plants. Share our action alert with family, friends, and co-workers, and encourage them to take action, too. As always, thank you very much for your help!

Sincerely,

Zack Strong
Senior Policy Advisor & Senior Attorney
Farmed Animal Program

P.S. Follow us on Facebook ([link removed]), X (formerly Twitter) ([link removed]), and Instagram ([link removed]) for other important animal protection actions and news. Check out the latest edition of the AWI Quarterly ([link removed])!

Photo by Mercy for Animals

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Animal Welfare Institute
900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003
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The Animal Welfare Institute is a not-for-profit organization, founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. We seek better treatment of animals everywhere: in the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild.

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