Stop Suffocating Millions of Terrified Animals on the Way to Slaughter

Target: Thomas J. Vilsack, United States Secretary of Agriculture

Goal: Save countless pigs, chickens, cows, and sheep from being suffocated and trampled to death in transport vehicles.

Before even making it to the slaughterhouse, farm animals are exposed to tremendous amounts of suffering. Millions of animals die before they ever even get to the slaughter plant, due to the insufferable conditions of transport vehicles. Transit is almost always extremely stressful and dangerous for animals involved. Throughout trips that can last upwards of a few days pigs, chickens, cows, sheep, and other animals bound for slaughter are given little to no access to water or food. Vehicles are often extremely overcrowded and hot and scared, suffocating animals sustain severe injuries from trampling one another.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently published a series of recommendations pertaining to farm animal welfare improvements during transport. Among these improvements were more space for animals, lower temperatures in transport vehicles, and shorter journeys. EFSA has even gone as far as to develop direct temperature thresholds to be maintained in vehicles, as well as minimum space allowances per animal.

Sign this petition to demand the US enforce similar welfare improvements for farm animals in transport, as described by the EFSA.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Secretary Vilsack,

For years, the EFSA has recognized the tremendous suffering that farmed animals endure during transport and has dedicated vital resources towards improving welfare standards on transport vehicles. Recently, they published a series of animal welfare improvements including providing more space for animals in transit, lowering temperatures in transit vehicles, and transporting animals for shorter durations. The EFSA has even taken the time to develop precise temperature thresholds for vehicles and minimum space allowances for each and every animal.

The U.S., on the other hand, has few protections in place to protect animals during a tremendously stressful time. Hundreds of chickens, cows, pigs, sheep, goats and others are crammed into poorly ventilated, overcrowded vehicles, deprived of access to food and water for days. Millions die before even making it to a slaughterhouse.

We are asking you, Mr. Vilsack, to follow the EFSA’s lead and implement stricter regulations to improve the welfare of animals during transport to slaughter.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Izvora