Left to Die in Texas - Massive pig cruelty case
Update: 7-28-06
The Brownsville Herald reports that nearly 150 pigs recently died after being left in a parked livestock trailer for several days outside a Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) facility. Temperatures during this time reportedly reached near 100 degrees, and without water or relief from the sweltering heat, the pigs are thought to have died from dehydration and heat exhaustion while locked inside the trailers. Part of a group of thousands of pigs in transit from Ohio to Mexico, they arrived at the TDA's Brownsville facility on June 26 and 27, 2006. The trailers were not opened until June 30.
The case is all the more appalling considering that the animals died while being held at a state agriculture facility, an institution that routinely handles and exports thousands of animals every month. Unfortunately, however, the case is far from anomalous, owing to the USDA's continued refusal to enforce the Twenty-Eight Hour Law for livestock. Although the law was intended to provide minimal comfort to farm animals during the extended transport distances they routinely are forced to endure, the USDA has inexplicably refused to enforce its own law for livestock on transport trailers, instead bowing to the livestock industry's desire to use and abuse farm animals for the sake of profit.
The abject lack of caring and empathy for animal welfare demonstrated by Texas Department of Agriculture officials holds serious implications for farm animals in Texas. In a letter sent to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs, Farm Sanctuary demanded that the agency: 1. take accountability for the deaths of the animals, whose suffering transpired apparently in full view of multiple TDA employees, 2. fully investigate and implement disciplinary measures against any and all TDA employees responsible for the deaths, and 3. establish a written protocol, developed with the assistance of local animal control agencies and animal welfare experts, for the humane treatment of livestock at their facilities.
Additionally, in a separate letter to the Cameron County & District Attorney, Farm Sanctuary has requested that at least 150 animal cruelty charges-one for each of the pigs' deaths-be filed against those responsible for the protracted suffering and deaths of the pigs at the TDA's Brownsville holding pen.
Although Texas' animal cruelty law only allows that the perpetrator(s) of this heinous cruelty may only be charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty, we may be able to see justice done in this case by making sure the perpetrators are charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty-one for each of the deaths-rather than a single misdemeanor count.
You can help!
1. Contact the Cameron County prosecutor's office and ask that they fully investigate and prosecute the individuals responsible for the deaths of 150 pigs at the Texas Dept. of Agriculture Export Facility in Brownsville, Texas. Be sure to request that prosecutors seek at least 150 counts of animal cruelty-one count for each pig who was killed by the cruel, deliberate negligence-against those responsible.
County & District Attorney Armando Villalobos, Esq.Cameron County974 E Harrison StBrownsville, TX 78520Fax: 956-544-0869
2. Contact the Texas Department of Agriculture and stress that they:
*take accountability for knowingly allowing these animals to suffer a protracted, cruel death;
*fully investigate and implement disciplinary measures against any and all TDA employees responsible for the deaths;
*and establish a written protocol, developed with the assistance of local animal control agencies and animal welfare experts, for the humane treatment of livestock at their facilities.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan CombsTexas Department of Agriculture 1700 North Congress AvenueStephen F. Austin Building, 11th FloorAustin, TX 78701Phone: (512) 463-7476Nationwide Toll Free Phone: (800) TELL-TDA (800-835-5832)Fax: (888) 223-8861
Update: TX Dept. of Ag and Cameron Co. District Attorney reply to Farm Sanctuary's letter
Update: 7-28-06
The Brownsville Herald reports that nearly 150 pigs recently died after being left in a parked livestock trailer for several days outside a Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) facility. Temperatures during this time reportedly reached near 100 degrees, and without water or relief from the sweltering heat, the pigs are thought to have died from dehydration and heat exhaustion while locked inside the trailers. Part of a group of thousands of pigs in transit from Ohio to Mexico, they arrived at the TDA's Brownsville facility on June 26 and 27, 2006. The trailers were not opened until June 30.
The case is all the more appalling considering that the animals died while being held at a state agriculture facility, an institution that routinely handles and exports thousands of animals every month. Unfortunately, however, the case is far from anomalous, owing to the USDA's continued refusal to enforce the Twenty-Eight Hour Law for livestock. Although the law was intended to provide minimal comfort to farm animals during the extended transport distances they routinely are forced to endure, the USDA has inexplicably refused to enforce its own law for livestock on transport trailers, instead bowing to the livestock industry's desire to use and abuse farm animals for the sake of profit.
The abject lack of caring and empathy for animal welfare demonstrated by Texas Department of Agriculture officials holds serious implications for farm animals in Texas. In a letter sent to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs, Farm Sanctuary demanded that the agency: 1. take accountability for the deaths of the animals, whose suffering transpired apparently in full view of multiple TDA employees, 2. fully investigate and implement disciplinary measures against any and all TDA employees responsible for the deaths, and 3. establish a written protocol, developed with the assistance of local animal control agencies and animal welfare experts, for the humane treatment of livestock at their facilities.
Additionally, in a separate letter to the Cameron County & District Attorney, Farm Sanctuary has requested that at least 150 animal cruelty charges-one for each of the pigs' deaths-be filed against those responsible for the protracted suffering and deaths of the pigs at the TDA's Brownsville holding pen.
Although Texas' animal cruelty law only allows that the perpetrator(s) of this heinous cruelty may only be charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty, we may be able to see justice done in this case by making sure the perpetrators are charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty-one for each of the deaths-rather than a single misdemeanor count.
You can help!
1. Contact the Cameron County prosecutor's office and ask that they fully investigate and prosecute the individuals responsible for the deaths of 150 pigs at the Texas Dept. of Agriculture Export Facility in Brownsville, Texas. Be sure to request that prosecutors seek at least 150 counts of animal cruelty-one count for each pig who was killed by the cruel, deliberate negligence-against those responsible.
County & District Attorney Armando Villalobos, Esq.Cameron County974 E Harrison StBrownsville, TX 78520Fax: 956-544-0869
2. Contact the Texas Department of Agriculture and stress that they:
*take accountability for knowingly allowing these animals to suffer a protracted, cruel death;
*fully investigate and implement disciplinary measures against any and all TDA employees responsible for the deaths;
*and establish a written protocol, developed with the assistance of local animal control agencies and animal welfare experts, for the humane treatment of livestock at their facilities.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan CombsTexas Department of Agriculture 1700 North Congress AvenueStephen F. Austin Building, 11th FloorAustin, TX 78701Phone: (512) 463-7476Nationwide Toll Free Phone: (800) TELL-TDA (800-835-5832)Fax: (888) 223-8861
Update: TX Dept. of Ag and Cameron Co. District Attorney reply to Farm Sanctuary's letter
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