2 Poultry Farms in BC Found Guilty of Animal Cruelty

​bc.ctvnews.ca/bowling-with-birds-tormenting-birds-cited-in-b-c-animal-cruelty-sentence-against-food-companies-1.5710355

2 poultry farms in Fraser Valley were convicted of animal cruelty after an investigation in 2018 lead to cruelty charges. Sofina Foods & Elite Farm Services were dealt $300, 000 in fines after videos emerged of blatant cruelty involving the treatment of chickens. The senior vice-president of both farms issued an apology, recognizing the lack of quality standards customers would expect in this case but both farms individually have yet to speak out regarding the conviction.

The videos that sealed the fate of both poultry farms depicted blatant animal cruelty and intentional animal abuse. Chickens were seen being slammed against crates aggressively, kicked, prodded, and "tormented", and the leg of an innocent chicken was torn off while it was still alive. The videos were disturbing to say the least and demonstrated a complete disregard for the well-being of animals that are already in a devastating position. As a result of the conviction, both facilities will be under a 3 year probation which includes training material review by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency & spot audits.

When you look at these situations, it's shocking, but we would be naïve to believe that this only happens when documented. Abuse to farm animals is rampant within this industry and I believe it can be attributed to a desensitizing of those who work in this industry. Even if I wasn't a vegetarian, I don't think I could bring myself to work in a place where animals were being slaughtered by the tens of thousands every day. People who work in these industries have desensitized themselves to the suffering and agony they are surrounded with. That is not to say that because of this, all employees are prone to abusing animals, but I believe it makes it easier to do so when you are already desensitized to their suffering. This happens on all farms, it's not limited to poultry. I've reported on abuse to cattle, pigs, turkeys, etc., i's happening throughout the industry as a whole.

​Look at ag-gag laws for example. These laws are designed to prevent people from exposing the abuse happening on factory farms. People are actually fighting for their right to continue to abuse animals, that's ultimately what this law boils down to. Their only motive is to protect their business and avoid fines / convictions when the welfare of their animals should be their top priority. Without these investigations, animal abuse would never be documented and standards would never be improved. It is only because of the diligent work of activists that these companies are being exposed and forced to improve their operations. 

At the end of the day, if you're continuing to eat meat, there's no guarantee about how that animal was treated prior to being killed. It may be acceptable to you that they are killed, but I can't believe that anyone would continue to support a farm that was documented kicking, punching, torturing, or abusing the animals prior to their death. It's time for a sweeping welfare improvement within this industry. More funds allocated to auditing these facilities frequently to ensure compliance. More cruelty charges / convictions and stricter punishments are necessary to put a stop to the needless cruelty these poor animals endure.

We must continue the fight for better treatment of farm animals. They are unwillingly killed for us to consume so at the very least, their lives should be uncomplicated and dealt with compassion until they are forcefully slaughtered.