Posted September 29, 2009 by Marta Holmberg
The following is a guest blog from PETA’s Alisa Mullins. Please take a look and then make the pledge to try veganism.
-Marta
At a news conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, today, PETA unveiled footage from our five-month undercover investigation of a filthy factory dairy farm in Pennsylvania that supplies milk to St. Paul-based Land O’Lakes, the largest seller of branded butter in the U.S.
Our investigator documented abuse and neglect of cows and calves at the facility, including that cows who were in terrible pain and resisted standing were electro-shocked and jabbed with the blade of a pocket knife in an effort to force them to move and that sick and injured cows were left to languish—often so weak that they couldn’t even get out of their own waste—for days and even weeks without veterinary care. In one case, workers were told to wrap an elastic band around a cow’s gangrenous, infected teat in order to “amputate” it. The cow’s condition deteriorated for 11 days before she finally died.
It’s a violation of Pennsylvania law to neglect animals, deprive sick and injured animals of veterinary care, and deny animals clean and sanitary shelter. Charges against the farm’s owners have been approved and filed by a local magisterial district judge. The factory farmers are innocent until proven guilty, of course, but they would face up to 90 days in jail and $750 in fines if convicted.
We have also called on Land O’Lakes to buy milk only from farms that meet our 12-point animal welfare plan, which would prevent much of the suffering we documented at this farm.
For those of you who can’t stomach the thought of eating butter after watching that video, take a minute to tell Land O’Lakes to implement our 12-point animal welfare plan. Then check out one of the many vegan butter alternatives that are widely available. My personal favorite is Earth Balance margarine. It’s 100 percent vegan and free of trans fat, and it tastes even better than butter, at least to my taste buds. Best of all, it’s also 100 percent free of cruelty to cows and calves—as well as pus.
-Alisa
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Too long to explain here, it's long enough for a novel.
Well let's just say life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride. I love all my pets and would do anything for them. I have one dog, two cats, a ferret and my babygirl shaymin,(the cutest hedgehog alive) I'm into all different kinds of music. I'm a singer myself and love art.
Father loves to farm, be self sustainable, loves to read, he's a antiques/vintage auctioneer, art student, and looks like mr. Rogers. My mother is a Montessori teacher and is amazing with children, all about local organic foods, loves gardening, cooking etc. my sister who is nine years older than me was into indie music and introduced me to all sorts of things at a young age. This all rubbed of on me and from that base I grew into similar things. I'm an INFJ
I'm tall, a geek, nacho - obsessed, I love sewing and Cath Kidston, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.)
Jersey girl now I'm all country.
I love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
I want to get into marketing but not have to rely on people which have different morals and worldviews than I do to hire me. While I'm figuring this out, I want to show everyone what I believe in and spur them into action against injustices.
Life On A Tour Bus
I am Angela. When I am not helping animals I am listening to music, reading, or playing video games. My spirit animal is a fox and I love nature. What else is there to know? Want to know anything about me, need advice or anything message me :)
1152 days ago
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That is wrong!! This is a terrible world we live in these days!! something has to change!!
1243 days ago
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so sickening iz all i can say boutz dis
1331 days ago
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Goood choice!
I use earth balance butter tooo!
1332 days ago
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I cant believe this is going on in the U.S
thinking its a ‘educated nation’ …
imagine what can be happening in other places!!!
it makes me so sad to know we will never get rid of all these monsters that do this to animals.
we need to act fast and harder!!!!!!
1332 days ago
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It’s so sad what they’re doing to that poor cow. I hope the farm owners get what they deserve!
1332 days ago
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This makes me so angry! I live by there! UGH Why are people so savage?!
1333 days ago
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this is awful!
i hate to see a beautiful animal feel help less
1333 days ago
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This is soooo sickening and sad. I think that they need to go through with what those cows go through and then see how much they like kicking and shocking. Also those poor cows need to be released and I think that a group of us fellow Peta2 members should wash and nurse those cows back to health! Thats my comment and I’m sticking to it!
Kaelyn This is soooo sickening and sad. I think that they need to go through with what those cows go through and then see how much they like kicking and shocking. Also those poor cows need to be released and I think that a group of us fellow Peta2 members should wash and nurse those cows back to health! Thats my comment and I’m sticking to it!
Kaelyn <3
1333 days ago
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I’m so glad I’m already vegan and not supporting such horrible cruelty.
1333 days ago
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That’s so sickening and horrible. No words can even begin to describe how barbaric, cruel, and pointless this is. Ugh.
1333 days ago
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Those farm owners are sick, disgusting, monsters! To do that to a sweet innocent little cow!