I've seen some brutal cases of animal abuse but this is without doubt the sickest and most outrageous. I know what I'd like to do with the clamps these bastards are using. The video is graphic and you probably won't be able to watch but a little but please watch some of it. I hope it moves you to sign the petition from change.org.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest write in an open letter to Conklin Dairy Farm:
Mr. Conklin,
Our daughter came to us last night urging us to watch the video of the abuse at your plant. She was overcome with grief that human beings could inflict such cruelty and unconscious hatred at the most benign of creatures and their infants. The shocking images were too much for her father and me but we watched enough to know where it led.
There are moments in all our lives where we face our deepest, darkest truths.
This is your moment.
What will you do?
(snip)
We challenge you to have the courage, as the brave person who filmed this did, to open your doors and your hearts. Become the standard for safety and kindness and actually change -- change your mental state and spend the rest of your lives, and the lives of your descendants, trying to make your farm the leader in humane, clean, loving treatment of the very animals you profit from. You have the opportunity. Certainly one more than those helpless victims of your sick, tortured abuse.
This is your moment. From the ashes of your lives can you re-build yourselves?
We know it is possible, if you have the willingness. But do you?
We are all waiting for your outrage and the outrage of your children and families and friends.
We are all waiting for your next move because we certainly know what ours is....
Yes, saw this article -- human cruelty knows no bounds. Cruelty against animals should net the responsible parties far more time in jail than it is likely to. Often it's treated as a misdemeanor, but for the life of me I don't understand why -- the perpetrators ought to be locked away for decades, not get 90 days or even a year or two. I know people like to hierarchize offenses so that crimes against humans are treated more harshly, but what animal abusers do is no less evil than what a child abuser does: in both cases, the victim is helpless and may not be able to understand what is happening.
ReplyDeleteI didn't watch the video but I signed the petition. I agree with you about the clamps; I can think of a place I'd like to put them.
ReplyDeleteI too saw the article, but will not watch the video as these images would break my heart and drive me into an insane and helpless rage -- and stay in my mind forever. Two things do it for me: child and animal abuse, and I have no mercy in my heart for the perpetrators of either. And I too believe that animal abusers deserve much harsher punishment.
ReplyDeleteI will sign the petition, however -- thanks for sending it, Tnlib.
As horrendous as these barbaric abuses are the fact that these guys are getting such a thrill out of it is incredulous. I'm sure they go to the beer hall at the end of the day and then go home and beat their wives.
ReplyDeleteThere are some states which treat animal abuse as a felony. Interestingly, OK has the strictest laws. Go figure.
Thanks for signing the petition.
Most law enforcement officials are especially concerned by reports of animal abuse because, in their view, people who abuse animals eventually commit similar crimes against human beings. Regrettably, the SCOTUS seems to think otherwise. Earlier this year (April 20, 2010), the Supreme Court Listens to NRA in Striking Ban on Crush Videos:
ReplyDelete“In an 8-1 opinion with only Justice Samuel J. Alito dissenting, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal law prohibiting the creation, sale or possession of animal crush videos and other depictions of animal cruelty for commercial gain … the Court found the law is unconstitutionally overbroad, an infringement of the First Amendment … The Court worried, for example, that depiction of the "humane slaughter" of a stolen cow or hunting magazines with photos of animals killed during hunts would now be illegal ... however. Justice Alito said, " The Court strikes down in its entirety a valuable statute, 18 U. S. C. §48, that was enacted not to suppress speech, but to prevent horrific acts of animal cruelty-in particular, the creation and commercial exploitation of ‘crush videos,' a form of depraved entertainment that has no social value. The Court's approach, which has the practical effect of legalizing the sale of such videos and is thus likely to spur a resumption of their production, is unwarranted."
One of only two occasions when I found myself agreeing with Justice Alito. I did not have the fortitude to watch the video, but I did complete and forward the petition.
Otto: Thank you for signing.
ReplyDeleteI remember this decision and was infuriated by it.
A bunch of years ago, the American Humane Assn., which protects children as well as animals from cruelty, released a study showing that children who abuse animals grow up to be abusers. I'd be willing to bet that the abuse started at home.
BTW, as grim as this is, I posted the Huff Post article to my FB.
I, too, am unable to watch the video, as I would have nightmares over it.
ReplyDeleteThose who abuse animals would do the same to helpless humans as well. I believe this type of psycho would choose only helpless victims.
I signed the petitition and will send it around to my email contacts as well.
"The world is too much with us."
This time last year, I was deliberate immersing myself in information on the history and background of the food I eat and serve. Some of the information was painful to learn. As a result of my studies, I began a six-month experiment in veganism. I learned to cook and eat without animal products--and found it surprisingly easy. Following the six month challenge, I tried returning to eating animal products and found I simply couldn't anymore.
ReplyDeleteIt's a small thing to do, but it is contagious.
I won't watch this video because I've personally seen enough. I've signed the petition and will post the widget from Change.org on my blog to spread the word. I thank you for this post...change happens one conscience at a time.
I’ve been out of the blogosphere for a bit lately. I come back and see this! (I watched some of the video but couldn't watch it in its entirety--it was too painful!)
ReplyDeleteI have to tell you--I have tears running down my face and I can barely breathe.
I realize that dairy and beef cows aren’t pets BUT, I do NOT, I repeat, I do NOT condone brutality of animals in anyway shape or form. And I am sick to my stomach that those males, because they most certainly aren’t men, derived pleasure from their abuse to those helpless animals.
I’m in complete agreement with everyone else who mentioned that children and animals need to be protected from people who are without compassion and behave in such an evil manner and the laws need to be such that the punishment fits the crime!
I have to go now to calm my nerves, I’m literally shaking.
I WILL be signing the petition AND sending a letter to the owner of THAT farm!
Animal abuse is not a felony in Ohio. Each cruelty to animals count has a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.
ReplyDeleteSee why I love humans so much? It's a good thing I wasn't present or I'd be in jail by now.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet the redneck bastard hates unbelievers and liberals and votes Republican, loves Jesus, thinks we're taxed too much and is proud of our "Freedoms."
After all, does the Gummint own his cows? Do cows pay taxes? It's regulation that causes this kind of thing, you know
There are countries where there is no control at all, where people cut the paws off of living bears - one at a time - to serve in restaurants and where dogs are treated far, far worse than those cows. At least we have some degree of regulation.
No, seriously, there's nothing lower than the peasantry on any scale of humanity and that's a world wide thing and always has been, but it's our fault for tolerating it -- our fault for mumbling about freedom and how government is bad. We've always got an excuse for evil. Don't forget that half this dear country used to treat humans worse than that.
I do think it's very wrong to believe this is how dairy farms in general are operated however. I've been in enough of them and have known enough farmers to have serious doubts although there will always be horror stories. I don't think that mistreating animals is good for profits either and these scum buckets are surely employees, not owners.
The abuse at factory hog and veal farms is worse in many ways, but there continues to be a movement toward humane treatment and it's come a long way in recent years. It's worth reading Temple Grandin on the subject.
The power of the Internet is going to be an enemy of such people -- as we see. Years ago we probably wouldn't have seen or believed this and it's very likely to result in some legislative action as well as better control of dairy farm employees and the weeding out of such sick bastards. I just wish I could weed them out myself 'cause I'm really in the mood to blow off some kneecaps and maybe put those clamps on somebody's ballocks too.