Posted November 23, 2010 by Rachelle Owen
It’s been more than 20 years since the “downed cow” from a PETA newsletter made countless people second guess their burger. Now, out of Texas comes another veggie-maker of a story.
A supervisor finally killed the cow by shooting her twice in the head with a handgun—a full 20 minutes after she should have been rendered unconscious with a captive-bolt gun.
PETA immediately filed a complaint with the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which responded by investigating the plant and initiating a “humane handling–related enforcement action.” Since then, the FSIS veterinarian at the plant has reportedly almost doubled the amount of time spent supervising the “stun and stick areas.”
Tragically, this is not an isolated incident. Because slaughter lines move so quickly and many workers are poorly trained, stunning with a captive-bolt gun (which fires a bolt into the animal’s brain) often fails to render animals unconscious. In fact, slaughter expert Temple Grandin advises slaughterhouses to strive for a failure rate of 5 percent (which adds up to millions of conscious cows who are slaughtered every year).
One slaughterhouse worker told The Washington Post that he frequently has to cut the legs off completely conscious cows. “They blink. They make noises,” he said. “They die piece by piece.”
Feeling sick to your stomach yet? Pledge to try veganism now!
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.
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 love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
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.
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.
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 :)
Stay loud!
905 days ago
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are you kidding me? how can anybody even live with being okay with that…to kill an innocent animal for a living.
this really hurts me, i recently went vegitarian and everybody keeps asking me why why why.
well obviously the facts are right here!
906 days ago
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I’m in tears right now. I am literally in tears.
907 days ago
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This is against natures law and nature ll take revenge
907 days ago
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You have to wonder how many of the people slaughtering animals call themselves Christians. The Bible specifically tells you how to slaughter an animal. It is considered a sin to do it otherwise. I’m not advocating killing animals, but there is a more humane way.
907 days ago
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I have been a vegetarian for over 3 years now and I do not regret it at all (who would? It’s great!), but I still see and hear things like this happening and it absolutely breaks my heart. Honestly, how could someone bear to do something like this to a living creature, who has feelings just like you and me? In my opinion, those who commit these acts are not human; they have no feelings, no heart, no soul. They’re scum.
907 days ago
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Its sad how people dont treat animals like human beings. That makes me sick how conscious cows are being killed, its horrific how cows in general are being killed for food but what makes it worse is that they are alive & having their legs chopped off. that is torture. People who work @ slaughter houses should be ashamed! People like that disgust me, it breaks my heart to even read such a thing :’(
909 days ago
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How can anyone do this to a living, feeling being?!
910 days ago
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i can barrely type. my body is feeling a bit weird after reading the tragic slaughter of innocent cows. iseriously, im starting to shake crazy. i dont think ths is safe. but after reading the Im going vegan. wish me luck guys. this is horrible…what they do to the animals:(
472 days ago
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good for you!i’m going vegan to!
911 days ago
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Even though I’m veg, this makes my heart hurt. How anyone can work at a slaughterhouse and still be able to go home to a family and sleep peacefully at night is beyond me.