Farm Workers Convicted of Cruelty to Animals Following Investigations
Following undercover investigations and a complaint filed by Animal Equality Italy and animal protection organization Enpa, two employees of a massive Italian meat company have pled guilty to charges of cruelty to animals.
THE HISTORIC RULING: Four years after Animal Equality and Enpa initially filed a complaint against major Italian meat company Amadori, two employees have been finally charged with mistreating and neglecting pigs raised for meat. Their charges include, “maintaining breeding conditions such as to generate unnecessary suffering in animals.” One employee has been charged with three months in prison and €22,500, and the other will pay a fine of €1,600.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: This ruling finally sheds light on what animals are forced to endure to become meat in Italy. Amadori is a very well-known company in the country, comparable to the popularity of meat giant Tyson in the United States.
WHAT INVESTIGATORS WITNESSED ON THESE FARMS: Our investigators documented horrific suffering of animals at Amadori farms, including:
- Mother pigs kept in cages so small they couldn’t turn around or lay down comfortably.
- Pigs so tightly confined that they were unable to defend themselves against swarms of flies and mice among their cages.
- Pigs languishing in filth, with no dry or clean areas to rest.
- Chickens with little enrichment in massive sheds.
- Chickens left to suffer from untreated injuries.
WHAT ABOUT THE CHICKENS?: While we’re thrilled that a conviction was made for cruelty to pigs on the farms, the charges for cruelty to chickens were dismissed despite both Animal Equality and Enpa’s evidence of horrific suffering of chickens raised on the company’s farms. Chickens are arguably the most exploited land animals in the world. As we’ve documented time and time again, chickens raised for meat are bred to grow so large, so quickly, that their legs and organs often give out, unable to support their body’s massive size. They’re forced to live in dim, filthy sheds amid their own urine and waste. Many are still conscious when their throats are slit and they reach the scalding tanks at the slaughterhouse.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: The best thing you can do to help both pigs and chickens is to avoid eating them. Unfortunately cruelty is commonplace in modern farms, but we don’t have to support it! There are so many delicious plant-based alternatives available. Follow us on Facebook for more ways to get involved.
