On the heels of recent Humane Society undercover investigations into chicken cruelty, pig cruelty, and Tennessee walking horse cruelty, a Mercy For Animals hidden-camera operation at a livestock auction in L.A. has revealed "an ongoing pattern of cruelty, egregious violence, and severe neglect," including:
After reviewing the footage, Temple Grandin, Ph.D., an animal welfare advisor to the USDA, wrote: "The handling was very rough and kicking animals is not acceptable. If this auction had been a federally inspected meat packing plant, they would have suspended inspection and shut them down."
MFA's exposé has prompted a further investigation by law enforcement, and seven employees and the auction's owner have been charged with a total of 21 counts of animal cruelty. The case is ongoing.
(Heads up -- footage is graphic.)
[thanks, kat!]