Animal Science News Articles
In 2006, she described to National Public Radio (NPR) her experience watching cattle get vaccinated at feedlots during the 1970s. Some of the animals would just walk into the holding chutes, she said, while others refused. So Grandin did what no one else had bothered to do before: She went into the chutes herself. As she wrote in an essay for my book One Can Make a Difference, "[I]t seemed obvious to me to get down into the chute and see what the cattle were seeing." She realized that visual details such as shadows, a reflection off a truck's bumper or people standing up ahead were causing the animals to be fearful.
These insights led her to design cattle-restraining systems that are now used by half the meat plants in North America. "[P]eople just wanted to get out there and yell and scream and push and shove," Grandin told NPR, rather than "remove the things that the cattle were afraid of."
This may seem like a small victory--the cows are still going to be killed after all--but until the day that we get animals off the dinner plate altogether, is it too much to ask that we do everything we can to reduce the fear and suffering that they experience in the slaughterhouse?
PETA's campaigns against the cruel practices of fast-food chains and against the use of intensive confinement systems that do not even allow animals enough room to stand up, turn around or extend their limbs have improved the living and dying conditions for millions of animals. As the industries change and evolve, these improvements will apply to billions of animals every year.
The vast majority of people, if they care about animals--and consumer surveys show that they do--support such incremental changes, even if the increments are far from wholly satisfactory to the animals who would rather not be caged at all or hung upside down and killed. In November 2008, for example, California voters made history by approving a ballot measure to ban the use of veal crates, gestation crates and battery cages on factory farms. Last year, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a landmark bill that will phase out these same cruel devices in her state as well.
I completely understand the appeal of battle cries such as "Not bigger cages--empty cages!" and I encourage every kind soul who shares this sentiment to make a difference by going vegan. But, as Dr. Grandin has shown us, giving a little comfort and relief to animals who will be in those cages their whole lives is worth fighting for, even as some of us are demanding that those cages be emptied.
Ingrid E. Newkirk is the author of One Can Make a Difference and the president and founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510; http://www.PETA.org. Her latest book is The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights.
Readers' comments (4)
This is rich coming from a charity that thinks it's ok to use a Captive Bolt Gun on Dogs, Cats and Rabbits!!If you want to see a Freedom Food Farm, google Hillside Sanctuary and learn the truth!
I can't believe what I have just read. It is well documented that Freedom Food farms are amongst the worst conditions of all farms. You only need look at the report carried out by the sun newspaper and other media organisations and the horrific images to see how the RSPCA run freedom farms. The RSPCA are experts at deceiving the public. Installing cameras is a PR excercise. Lets await the real footage as it is leaked, the footage they won't want you to see.
The rspca need to get their own house in order before they continue dictating their diatribe in the media. 10 GSD`s and at least 55 other pet dogs were killed by the rspca in 2009 by the use of captive bolt guns which is been deemed as callous by the public.We do not need this self appointed military style charity destroying British farming practices by forcing ridiculous guidelines to which no one else in the EU adheres to.The Governments have done more than enough to destroy UK farming. So it is time the rspca were ignored and the overwhelming call for a full media covered enquirey as to how they have become above the law.
Warning over ‘misleading’ RSPCA lobbying campaign regarding Badger culling. Is this the same rspca that have a criminal record as reported in the media a number of years ago ? They are corrupt and totally out of touch with animal welfare. this has been proven time and time again.Just look up rspca kill Golden eagle on youtube.......
