A letter from Jane, an Animal Equality undercover investigator
As an investigator going undercover into factory farms, building a wall inside of you is normal to separate yourself from the terrible things you see.
It is a defense mechanism resulting from my experience and training.
Much of what I record with my camera is bleak, but I keep a few things close to my heart to keep me going.
There are moments I share with the animals I see.
When I was on the pig farm, and no one was looking, I would talk to the mother pig trapped behind the farrowing crate’s bars.
It was very hard to look into her eyes, knowing she could not escape. But for those brief moments, I wanted her to feel affection for once in her life.
When I saw the piglet being taken away, I saw the man was clutching a gun in his hand. I knew at that moment I would never see the piglet again. And I promised myself I would do everything possible to uncover the truth. If not for these animals, then for the animals just like them who are yet to be born.
Their memory, and the memories I hold of many others, keep me going.
I also have the support of the Animal Equality team. I work with them because they can turn those stories into real, concrete change.
Seeing a piece of footage I have recorded turn into a moment of national importance is powerful. It reminds me that every moment, no matter how terrible to witness, could be the spark that brings about change that helps animals.
The stories we tell are heard all over the world. They inspire people everywhere to take action for animals and make more compassionate choices in their lives.
SAVE ANIMALS FROM ABUSE
Pigs, cows, and other animals feel pain and deserve to be protected from abuse.
You can protect these intelligent animals by simply choosing plant‑based alternatives.
They also provide the evidence needed to drive global companies and governments to make unprecedented changes.
I know the Animal Equality team won’t stop.
And then there is you. I will probably never meet you, but I feel the warmth of your support everywhere I go.
The industry I am uncovering is immensely rich and powerful. They employ thousands and thousands of people, many more than animal advocates could ever afford to.
But animals stand a chance with you and all the other people who have chosen to fight for animals.
I know that seeing animals crying and screaming in pain is something nobody wants to see and that you wish you could stop all the suffering immediately…
But unfortunately, that isn’t possible.
As hard as it is for me, I have come to accept that the animals I see will never be saved. That is not something I have the power to do.
But you do have the power to save the animals of the future. The animals who are yet to be born and without your help will face the same fate as the animals you see today.
Animal Equality makes a difference for these animals with every investigation we release. But if we are going to succeed, we need your support.
I know you may feel like it won’t make a difference. I have faced many moments where change seems impossible.
Sometimes, it feels like nothing is happening; other times, it seems to all happen simultaneously. But change is happening constantly.
And the next big moment of change – like any of the vast victories that have been achieved in the past – could be right around the corner.
It could happen with the subsequent investigation.
Please, if you are in a position to give, support Animal Equality and future investigations by donating today.
Animal Equality relies on the support of people like you to continue exposing the cruelty that takes place in factory farms.
I know the next investigations we conduct are going to be important.
The simple fact that you’re reading this reminds me that my work is being felt beyond the concrete walls of the farms I work on. And I feel a sense of resolution that the stories of the mother pig and the other animals have made it out alive, even if they never did.
I hope you will support me. It means so much to me.
Thank you,
Jane
