ANIMALS

It has been said that we will never find peace as long as we continue to exploit, abuse and kill animals.

Animal suffering is prevalent in many areas. Those areas include: 1) Animals raised for food, 2) Animals used in research, 3) Animals used for clothing, 4) Animals used for entertainment & sport.

It may be hard to learn what happens to these animals, and even harder to see the documented video footage, but we owe it to the billions who suffer to bear witness and learn the truth. Only then can we make the decision to choose compassion and end animal suffering.

In the U.S. alone, over 10 billion farm animals are slaughtered each year for human consumption. These figures don't even include the billions of fish and other aquatic species that are raised, harvested or trapped for food.

Farm animals that are raised for food seldom see sunshine, as they are raised in large metal "warehouses" or CAFO's, also known as factory farms and live in overcrowded cages in their own filth. The horror only gets worse when they are transported to the slaughterhouse, where they are slaughtered in a high speed production-line method as if they are inanimate objects. Methods of "humane" slaughter are rarely enforced, which means the animals are often cut, skinned, dismembered, scalded and/or drowned while still alive. Birds, who represent more than 85% of the farm animals killed for food are not even included in regulations of "humane" slaughter. The average age for a chicken large enough for slaughter (thanks to growth hormones) is about 6 weeks old.

Animals in the egg & dairy industries are born into a life of anguish, as these industries are inherently cruel. Egg-laying hens are cramped several into a cage the size of a piece of paper and are continually forced to "molt". The female chicks become egg-laying hens like their mothers and are separated from them immediately after birth. The male chicks are a breed that is of no use to that industry, so they are suffocated, crushed or ground up as soon as they are hatched. As for the dairy industry, mother cows are kept in a constant state of impregnation and lactation. Like the egg industry, female calves are immediately separated from their mothers and go back into the system. Male calves are immediately separated also, but they are sent to live their short lives as veal calves, chained to a wooden crate. There is a direct link between the dairy industry and the veal industry.

Fish and other aquatic species are either farmed or caught in the wild by trolling nets, that often sweep up anything in their reach. Many of these aquatics are crushed or suffocate to death, but most are slit open and gutted while conscious, or boiled alive.

Visit our Resources page for links to more information on the endless terror of factory farms, fish farms, animal transport and slaughterhouses. We also have resources for making the transition to a plant-based, vegetarian/vegan diet. It is important to note that vegetarians save nearly 100 animals per year and vegans save even more lives each year by not supporting the egg & dairy industries.

It is estimated that up to 70 million animals are killed each year in U.S. research labs. These animals are subjected to painful medical experiments, drug testing, psychological experiments and cosmetics & household products testing. Animals in research labs are seldom given any anesthetic or pain relief. Many just suffer to death. Rats, mice and birds make up the largest numbers of animals used in experiments and these animals are not even recognized under the Animal Welfare Act. Animals are also used in classroom dissection. Frogs, mice, cats and dogs are killed for the purpose of dissection in biology classes. Many of the animals used for research are unwanted pets or strays that end up at the local animal shelters or city pounds (which are usually filled to capacity and have extremely high euthanasia rates), or they are raised on breeding farms, also know as pet mills.

Visit our Resources page for links for more information on the horrors of vivisection, animal testing, and animal research. We also have resources for cruelty-free shopping and ways to support companies and organizations that do not test on animals. In addition, many cruelty-free products are also vegetarian or "certified vegan".

Millions of animals are killed just for their fur or skin. Fur Farms are no different from Factory Farms and Research Labs, as the animals all live in filthy cages and suffer terribly, ultimately having a violent death all in the name of fashion. Since animals raised for fur are most valued because of their coat, they are typically killed by anal/vaginal electrocution or by having their neck broken. Many, especially on Chinese fur farms, are hit on the head and then skinned alive while still conscious.

Visit our Resources page for more information on the suffering animals endure on fur farms and in the leather, silk & wool industries. It should be noted that the leather industry is directly linked to the factory farming and slaughterhouse industries. We can direct you to resources that support compassionate clothing and accessory choices that are free of animal fur and skins.

The animals you see at the rodeo, circus, aquarium or zoo also live most of their lives in cages and are forced to perform in ways that are unnatural. These animals are often trained (even beaten)into submission in order to do a silly dance, dive or be roped and tackled to the ground for a paying crowd. It's not surprising that many animals die in captivity or lash out at people who "train" them. In addition, animals are hunted for sport or trophy. Cage-hunting allows anyone that pays a fee a "guaranteed trophy kill", where they can shoot a docile animal in a cage. These animals are often retired exotic animals from a circus or zoo.

Visit our Resources page for more information on the cruelty and abuse that goes on in rodeos, animal circuses and some zoos & aquariums, as well as trophy hunting and caged hunts. We can direct you to entertainment alternatives where animals are not used and therefore do not suffer. We can also refer you to animal sanctuaries where you can enjoy the beauty of living, exotic animals that have been rescued and rehabilitated and now live in peace.