Janet Enoch, SHARK
SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness
October 2018
When Florence hit the state, North Carolina’s flesh farmers locked the doors of their animal buildings, abandoning millions of animals of various species to slowly drown, or if not drown, then to die from neglect over the days that followed... Between insurance payouts and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s indemnification program, agribusinesses can comfortably repair and rebuild their flood-or-fire-damaged buildings and quickly restock millions of new individuals, the same as they always do whenever weather or diseases such as avian influenza devastate their “inventory.”
A few days ago we sent you an update regarding the SHARK team’s efforts
in hurricane-ravaged North Carolina. The team has now returned home, and I
have some thoughts about what we saw and documented.
We saw numerous signs in North Carolina, a couple of which are included in
this update (see below) which show that farmers want respect from society. I
understand that desire. Everyone in all walks of life would like some
respect. Respect, however, is not an entitlement, a gift or a right. Respect
is something that can only be earned.
The question in this case is, have North Carolina’s famers earned respect? The clear answer to this question is simply - no - respect has not been earned:
When Florence hit the state, North Carolina’s flesh farmers locked the
doors of their animal buildings, abandoning millions of animals of various
species to slowly drown, or if not drown, then to die from neglect over the
days that followed.
We’ve included two graphic photos (although not the most graphic) in this
update not to make you depressed or angry, but merely to leave no doubt
about the truth.
Drowned, rotting pigs are left to float down North Carolina rivers
This body was deposited under a bridge support by flood waters
The magnitude of irresponsibility on the part of the farmers, and
suffering on the part of the victims, is incalculable.
You won’t find these farmers shedding so much as a tear for the suffering of
their victims. As United Poultry Concerns President Karen Davis wrote in her
editorial in the blog Animals 24-7:
Between insurance payouts and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
indemnification program, agribusinesses can comfortably repair and rebuild
their flood-or-fire-damaged buildings and quickly restock millions of new
individuals, the same as they always do whenever weather or diseases such as
avian influenza devastate their “inventory.”
One could argue that it is impossible for flesh producers to take care of so
many animals in a disaster. In that case I say, either find a way or reduce
the number of animals, or better yet, get out of the flesh business.
The criminal behavior of North Carolina’s flesh farmers goes well beyond
their callous attitude toward the victims on their property. The
compromising of their waste ponds dumped millions of gallons of poisons into
the rivers, turning them toxic for wildlife. I watched eels and other
animals dead and dying at the Cape Fear river's shoreline, and one can only
guess what longterm effects these poisons will inflict on humans as well.
After what I personally witnessed close up and personal, North Carolina’s
farmers will have to look elsewhere for thanks, support or respect.
Number of animals killed in the world by the fishing, meat, dairy and egg industries, since you opened this webpage.
0 marine animals
0 chickens
0 ducks
0 pigs
0 rabbits
0 turkeys
0 geese
0 sheep
0 goats
0 cows / calves
0 rodents
0 pigeons/other birds
0 buffaloes
0 dogs
0 cats
0 horses
0 donkeys and mules
0 camels / camelids