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Farm responds to pig abuse video
DES MOINES (AP) -- The operators of an Iowa farm where an animal rights group captured video of workers abusing pigs said Thursday they are taking steps to ensure they stop mistreating animals.
MowMar LLP of Fairmont, Minn., said in a statement that it's "surprised and outraged" by the actions captured this summer in undercover video by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. MowMar purchased the Greene County, Iowa, farm last month from an Iowa company.
"As a family owned farm operation with over 30 years in the swine business, MowMar farms does not and will not tolerate the mistreatment of any animals under our husbandry and we take these PETA allegations very seriously," the company said.
MowMar officials said they met early Thursday with PETA officials to talk about what actions are being taken to correct the situation.
Among those are:
--Initiating an investigation of the incidents, policies and personnel that were in place prior to the acquisition of the farm.
--Firing employees who are found to have abused animals.
--Inviting an animal handling expert to the farm to review policies and procedures, and to serve as an independent authority providing additional guidance and best practices.
--Researching the use of video monitoring equipment as a tool to oversee herd care.
The company promised that any policies and procedures not consistent with generally accepted standards for the treatment of farm animals would be revised and strengthened.
"Current and future employees of MowMar and the farm management company will receive extensive training on our policies and the proper treatment of animals on our farms," the company said.
The PETA video, shot by undercover employees from June through this month, graphically depicts workers castrating piglets and cutting their tails off without anesthetic, slamming piglets who aren't deemed healthy enough on the ground to kill them, repeatedly kicking pigs, and hitting them with rods. In at least one instance, a pig had paint sprayed into its snout and onto its face.
Greene County Sheriff Tom Heater said Thursday that authorities have been interviewing employees at the hog farm near Bayard, about 60 miles west of Des Moines. There are a number of employees who still need to be interviewed, he said, but he hopes to meet soon with prosecutors and have charges filed by the middle of next week.
Heater added that the majority of the charges will center on cruelty to animals.
PETA is seeking prosecution of 18 people on animal cruelty violations. The group also wants to raise awareness about animal cruelty at factory farms.
"This isn't about one farm, of course -- it's about a culture of cruelty that exists everyplace we go undercover on a factory farm or slaughterhouse," said PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich. "... The take home message for this and all of our other many investigations is that eating factory farmed meat supports cruelty to animals."
Associated Press Writer Luke Meredith in Des Moines contributed to this report.
MowMar LLP of Fairmont, Minn., said in a statement that it's "surprised and outraged" by the actions captured this summer in undercover video by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. MowMar purchased the Greene County, Iowa, farm last month from an Iowa company.
"As a family owned farm operation with over 30 years in the swine business, MowMar farms does not and will not tolerate the mistreatment of any animals under our husbandry and we take these PETA allegations very seriously," the company said.
MowMar officials said they met early Thursday with PETA officials to talk about what actions are being taken to correct the situation.
Among those are:
--Initiating an investigation of the incidents, policies and personnel that were in place prior to the acquisition of the farm.
--Firing employees who are found to have abused animals.
--Inviting an animal handling expert to the farm to review policies and procedures, and to serve as an independent authority providing additional guidance and best practices.
--Researching the use of video monitoring equipment as a tool to oversee herd care.
The company promised that any policies and procedures not consistent with generally accepted standards for the treatment of farm animals would be revised and strengthened.
"Current and future employees of MowMar and the farm management company will receive extensive training on our policies and the proper treatment of animals on our farms," the company said.
The PETA video, shot by undercover employees from June through this month, graphically depicts workers castrating piglets and cutting their tails off without anesthetic, slamming piglets who aren't deemed healthy enough on the ground to kill them, repeatedly kicking pigs, and hitting them with rods. In at least one instance, a pig had paint sprayed into its snout and onto its face.
Greene County Sheriff Tom Heater said Thursday that authorities have been interviewing employees at the hog farm near Bayard, about 60 miles west of Des Moines. There are a number of employees who still need to be interviewed, he said, but he hopes to meet soon with prosecutors and have charges filed by the middle of next week.
Heater added that the majority of the charges will center on cruelty to animals.
PETA is seeking prosecution of 18 people on animal cruelty violations. The group also wants to raise awareness about animal cruelty at factory farms.
"This isn't about one farm, of course -- it's about a culture of cruelty that exists everyplace we go undercover on a factory farm or slaughterhouse," said PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich. "... The take home message for this and all of our other many investigations is that eating factory farmed meat supports cruelty to animals."
Associated Press Writer Luke Meredith in Des Moines contributed to this report.
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Get Real wrote on Sep 18, 2008 6:45 PM:
" Family farm right! And anyway, large and small livestock owners treat the animals this way, it is the norm, not all but more do then don't. And I would bet a porkchop that the local authorities were asked to do something long before and like always in all these cities and counties they did a big fat nothing, they are lazy and don't care and I include the county supervisors (many with their hands in the pot) police and the county attorneys. Why does the public have to go to the extreme to get the laws followed to protect animals? And as far as those that abuse them, there is something sick and deviant about these people, not anyone I would want to see as a husband or a father.
As usual PETA had to do the local authorities work.
Thanks to the whistle blower, you are a hero.
And to those that own and make a buck on these factory farms you are as bad as the abusers! Just like agri prossesors, plead ignorant and the victim, didn't get them off and I hope the owners of this place don't either. The buck stops with these owners and send the workers down the road with them. DISGUSTING! "
As usual PETA had to do the local authorities work.
Thanks to the whistle blower, you are a hero.
And to those that own and make a buck on these factory farms you are as bad as the abusers! Just like agri prossesors, plead ignorant and the victim, didn't get them off and I hope the owners of this place don't either. The buck stops with these owners and send the workers down the road with them. DISGUSTING! "
Reader54 wrote on Sep 19, 2008 8:50 AM:
" Let's get back to reality on this folks. No it should not have occurred, but these are pigs who will soon be a delicious main course sitting on a plate being eaten and enjoyed!
Let's focus on some important issues. "
Let's focus on some important issues. "
prettypet wrote on Sep 19, 2008 1:18 PM:
" Reader54... I can find only a few words that can describe your little tid-bit of a comment. Pitiful and inhumane!!! These animals are facing death at some time in their lives, but that doesn't mean they should be mistreated in the meantime! Everything the good Lord made and put on this earth deserves a life, no matter how short or long, to be lived without being beaten, kicked, smacked with boards, sodomized with metal rods and spray painted in the face while nursing. Let alone killing baby pigs they didn't feel worthy of living by slamming them to the concrete floor. "
Reader54 wrote on Sep 19, 2008 2:17 PM:
" Hey Pretty..... Take a look back at my post--- "....No it should not have occurred....." "
subl1m1nal wrote on Sep 19, 2008 3:41 PM:
" Reader54, torturing something that has no reason to be tortured is a bad thing, and very newsworthy. Remember, that's was what WWII was about. You're right that the pigs will soon be dead, but should we go and torture people dying in hospitals? It's a farm, not a concentration camp. "
taxpayer wrote on Sep 19, 2008 4:55 PM:
" This is an important issue reader 54 because lets not for get that people that will treat animals this way will also treat people this way. Want one of these wonderful people raising a grandchild or babysitting a child of yours or afamily members? This would be like beating and kicking a prisoner on death row. Oh well hes just going to be dead soon anyway. Its the mind set reader 54. Until they are your meal they are intelligent and they are alive. "
Get Real wrote on Sep 20, 2008 7:19 AM:
" Reader 54 is what we have all to often in Iowa. Ignorance and a lack of compassion, no wonder the world is a mess. And he can say it shouldn't have happened and blink his eye and move on, that is just talk, politically correct talk. Or another word for it, BS! "
prettypet wrote on Sep 20, 2008 11:35 AM:
" Reader54, I saw your flippant comment that it "should not have occurred", and the very next sentence referring to your delicious meal on your tble. It is people like you that teaches others that it is o.k. to mistreat animals, cause after all, they are just an animal right?? It makes me sick to think of these kind of people having kids and teaching them the same values that they have. It is wrong to hurt intentionally hurt any animal or person!! As you can plainly see, I am not the only one that feels this way. "
Get Real wrote on Sep 20, 2008 7:41 PM:
" Prettypet we aren't the only ones that feel this way, but unfortunately in a state that loves to eat meat and doesn't care how it is killed or treated as long as they fill their bellys AND being one of the top 3 puppymill states in the nation, I am afraid we are the minority. (and I'm suprise more ignorance (like 54) even out of making it a joke haven't appeared, they usually do)And all that don't even blink over animal cruelty will sit in their favorite spot in their favorite pew tomorrow and hold their hypocrital heads high except when they bow to pray. Maybe they'll at least go out in the back 40 and pat their chained/penned dog on the head if it's lucky! What a lack of compassion world we live in, and yes their spawn act the same way if they don't break the cycle of their selfish parents. "
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prettypet wrote on Sep 18, 2008 6:37 PM: