Target: Angela Eagle, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs
Goal: Ensure appropriate punishment for those allegedly involved in slamming piglets to death and other cruelty.
Animal Justice Project (AJP) has brought to light shocking allegations of animal cruelty at Mere Farm in Barton upon Humber, North Lincolnshire, a site run by the Hull-based food supplier Cranswick. Disturbing footage appears to show workers engaging in “piglet-thumping,” where piglets are killed by slamming them against concrete floors. In addition, the footage reportedly reveals that some piglets were left gasping for over 20 minutes after impact. This has raised serious concerns regarding the standards of animal welfare upheld by those responsible for these vulnerable creatures.
Reports indicate that the cruelty didn’t stop at the brutality of piglet-thumping. Injured piglets were reportedly left untreated, with one believed to have suffered a ruptured eyeball and ignored for several days. Furthermore, testimonies allege workers physically assaulted a sow with metal shovels and displayed a chilling disregard for life by allowing dead piglets to remain among the living. Alleged examples of extreme neglect, such as not removing the bodies of deceased piglets and witnessing instances of cannibalism, present a harrowing picture of the suffering animals endure. Given that these allegations come shortly after Cranswick’s promise to ban piglet thumping at all its farms, it calls into question the integrity of the company’s animal welfare practices.
Demanding justice is not only necessary but imperative to uphold humane treatment of animals. This case exemplifies the urgent need for accountability and change within the agricultural system, particularly in how it manages the welfare of animals. Hence, there is a pressing demand for appropriate punishment for all allegedly involved in this egregious misconduct and for the removal of Tim Smith from his positions to ensure that such failures in animal welfare are addressed and prevented in the future.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Eagle,
The recent footage apparently revealing alarming acts of animal cruelty at Mere Farm, run by Cranswick, demands immediate attention and appropriate punitive measures. Reports indicate that employees engaged in abhorrent practices, such as slamming piglets against concrete floors—killing them through blunt force trauma—while leaving some of these innocent animals gasping for breath long after impact. This apparent shocking display of violence raises serious concerns regarding the enforcement of animal welfare standards within the industry.
Further disturbing evidence suggests an environment of neglect, where injured animals were left untreated, and dead piglets were observed amidst the living. Allegations of continued brutality, including the physical assault of a sow and the presence of necrosis and open wounds among other piglets, seemingly illustrate a systemic failure in animal care at this facility. Such horrific occurrences, particularly following Cranswick’s announcement to ban piglet thumping, exacerbate the need for accountability and reform in animal agriculture.
It is imperative that appropriate actions are taken against those allegedly responsible for these atrocities, including the dismissal of Tim Smith from positions of influence that oversee food strategy and welfare. The public deserves to know that our food system is rooted in compassion, not cruelty. Take a stand for animal welfare and ensure that severe penalties are enforced in this case to prevent further abuse and suffering.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Pixabay
