Monday, February 18, 2008

The Meat Recall and Abu Ghraib

Just a few bad apples were guilty of abuse, right? Didn't have anything to do with higher-ups. Right?

Federal officials suspended operations at Westland/Hallmark after an undercover video from the Humane Society of the United States surfaced showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts.

Two former employees were charged Friday. Five felony counts of animal cruelty and three misdemeanors were filed against a pen manager. Three misdemeanor counts - illegal movement of a non-ambulatory animal - were filed against an employee who worked under that manager. Both were fired.

Authorities said the video showed workers kicking, shocking and otherwise abusing "downer" animals that were apparently too sick or injured to walk into the slaughterhouse. Some animals had water forced down their throats, San Bernardino County prosecutor Michael Ramos said.

No charges have been filed against Westland, but an investigation by federal authorities continues.


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1 comment:

Mark Prime (tpm/Confession Zero) said...

I find this to be rather repugnant. The video is disturbing. I shudder to think of how many people watched it and laughed...