Let Obama Know ALL "Downers" Deserve Better

FROM Farm Sanctuary

Tell Obama to extend to pigs and other farmed animals the same USDA rules that ban the slaughter of cattle who become downed at any time.

CONTACT

Sign an online petition

And/Or better yet, make direct contact:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20500
phone (202) 456-1111
web email form

INFORMATION / TALKING POINTS

Every day in the U.S., pigs and other farm animals too sick, injured or weak to stand or walk on their own are being dragged, beaten, pushed with forklifts, or shocked with electric prods – anything, no matter how cruel – to get them onto slaughterhouse kill floors. Others are simply being cast aside and left to suffer for hours or days without food, water or veterinary care, and many will die from this neglect.

Called “downers,” these animals – many of whom are the unwitting victims of factory farm stresses and irresponsible transportation methods – endure horrors that are scarcely imaginable. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Since 1986, Farm Sanctuary has made great strides for suffering animals through our No Downers Campaign, and most recently, our work led to President Barack Obama’s announcement of a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rule that bans the slaughter of cattle who become downed at any time. But while this is a step in the right direction, downed pigs and other farm animals deserve protection too.

Seven years ago Congress told the USDA to issue regulations to prevent the abuse of downed pigs and other animals, but the agency has failed to do so. As a result, downer pigs – an estimated 100,000 to more than 900,000 a year – are subjected to intolerable cruelty. For the sake of these animals, isn’t it time for a change? We say, “YES it is!”

With recent national media attention on this issue, we’ve reached a critical point for creating meaningful change for downed pigs and other suffering animals, and we must seize this opportunity while we still have it. Please help by signing our Petition for the Pigs! And, once you have done that, please tell at least five friends, co-workers or family members about this petition and ask them to sign too. After all, every new name on the petition means more progress for animals. We cannot do this without you!

Thank you for everything you do for animals!