Graphic Media: Mercy For Animals – Ducks In Despair, Secret Video Exposes Horrific Animal Abuse at Duck Factory Farm

“PLEASE SIGN THE PLEDGE BELOW…THIS IS HORRIFIC!!!”

Dynamic World of Ducks

Ducks are friendly animals who prefer to spend their days swimming in lakes or ponds. At night, ducks will sleep in groups called paddlings. Cleanliness is extremely important to ducks, who will spend hours grooming and preening their feathers and keeping their nests free of waste and garbage.

A new Mercy For Animals undercover investigation at one of the largest duck factory farms in the country has exposed rampant abuse and neglect of these gentle birds.

HORRIFIC!!

An MFA investigator working at Reichardt Duck Farm in California documented:

• Baby ducklings having the tips of their beaks burned with red-hot metal
• Ducks suffering from illness and injuries without proper veterinary care
• Birds trapped in or under the wire cage flooring left to slowly suffer and die
• Ducks having their throats cut while still conscious and able to feel pain

Following the undercover investigation, MFA immediately alerted law enforcement authorities to violations of California’s anti-cruelty laws and presented them with a detailed legal complaint and meticulously compiled evidence of the violations. The evidence demonstrated an ongoing pattern of cruelty, neglect, and needless suffering.

Perhaps the worst abuse factory-farmed ducks are forced to endure is life without access to water for swimming or bathing. As waterfowl, ducks evolved to spend most of their time in ponds or lakes. In fact, ducks require pools of water to maintain proper health and to regulate their body temperatures.

At Riechardt Duck Farm and most duck factory farms, these semi-aquatic animals are forced to spend their entire lives on barren, wire mesh flooring. Since their fragile legs were not meant for standing or walking for extended periods of time, let alone their entire lives, many factory-farmed ducks develop crippling leg deformities and injuries, such as “bumble foot,” a painful inflammatory infection of the bottoms of their feet.

Without access to water, ducks become stressed and start to exhibit abnormal behaviors, such as head shaking and excessive feather preening. Unable to properly clean themselves, factory-farmed ducks often develop infections and painful eye diseases that can lead to blindness. Sadly, the first and only pool of water factory-farmed ducks will see is the electrified bath as they are hanging upside down about to have their throats cut open at the slaughterhouse.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. And you can help change it. As MFA continues to expose the unconscionable cruelties inherent in factory farming, and to diligently pursue justice by aiding prosecutions of animal abusers, consumers still hold the greatest power of all to end the needless suffering and death of farmed animals by adopting a compassionate vegan diet.

SIGN THE PLEDGE…News Link:-http://www.mercyforanimals.org/ducks/#petition

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Published on 22 Oct 2014

Like chickens and turkeys, factory-farmed ducks are subjected to horrific abuse from the time they hatch until they are violently killed at the slaughterhouse. A new Mercy For Animals investigation at one of the nation’s largest duck factory farms exposes sickening cruelty and criminal neglect of these gentle birds. Take action at http://www.MercyForAnimals.org/Ducks

GRAPHIC VIDEO: SHELL TO HELL Mercy For Animals Investigation – Petition To Sign

“This is a sadistic, disgusting & shameful way, in which the Canadian hatchery’s treat baby chicks. Employees laugh & find it hilarious when chicks get stuck; or are thrown to a basket but miss & end up being injured. Seriously these workers have no morals or empathy for these new-born chicks; they are literally heartless. God help any animals they have at home, if they think it’s funny to watch these gentle innocent little chicks be ground up alive! As sentient beings, chicks are more than capable of feeling pain & distress etc. this practice needs to end: PERIOD. So please sign the petition. All animals who’s lives end for human consumption; should be treated with respect & kindness; from their first breath to their last!”

SHELL TO HELL Please sign the Petition:-http://mercyforanimals.ca/hatchery/#petition

A new Mercy For Animals Canada undercover investigation at a Maple Leaf-owned hatchery in Ontario reveals chicks thrown by their fragile wings, drowned in scalding water, and ground up alive.

MAPLE LEAF MISERY

Thrown, Drowned & Ground Up Alive: Canadian Hatchery Exposed

From February to March of 2014, a Mercy For Animals Canada undercover investigator worked at Horizon Poultry — a Maple Leaf-owned hatchery in Hanover, Ontario. Our hidden camera captured horrific animal cruelty and neglect, including:

EXPERT OPINIONS

After reviewing the undercover footage, Dr. Sara Shields, a leading expert in chicken welfare, stated: “[I]n a commercial hatchery, there is very little consideration for the behavioral biology of the animals, the pain, stress and fear they may experience as they are conveyed through the equipment, and little regard for the occasional animal who is mauled by the machinery. Much better safeguards are needed to ensure that every chick is treated humanely.”

Veterinarian Dr. Mary Richardson agreed, concluding: “Because there are huge numbers of birds being processed and speed is important, birds are given no more care than if they were widgets. The workers fling, throw and drop the birds without any regard for their welfare.”

NATURE

Newly hatched chicks have well-developed nervous systems and are sensitive and fragile. In nature, chicks are protected by their devoted mothers who have been known to put their own lives at risk for their babies.

HATCHERIES

In hatcheries, each worker is expected to process over 1,700 chicks an hour by callously grabbing and throwing them. The animals are treated as inanimate objects rather than the sensitive and intelligent animals they are.

NATURE

In nature, a mother hen peeps to her chicks while they are still in the eggs, and the chicks peep back to her. When hatched, chicks stay close to their mother and find warmth, comfort, and protection under her wings.

HATCHERIES

In hatcheries, mother hens are replaced with massive machines, fast-moving conveyor belts, harsh handling  and frightening noises. Young chicks are sorted, discarded, and treated as mere cogs in a machine.

HELP END CRUELTY TO CHICKS

In nature, newly hatched chicks find warmth and comfort under their mother’s wing. In hatcheries, their mothers are replaced with massive machines, fast-moving conveyor belts, harsh handling, and frightening noises. Young chicks are sorted, discarded, and treated like mere cogs in a machine.

Although cruelty and violence are standard practice for Canada’s hatcheries, caring consumers can help end the needless suffering of chicks and other farmed animals by choosing a compassionate vegan diet.

CRUELTY CRITICS

“Workers are clearly desensitized to the animals’ suffering, joking and laughing about playing ‘football’ with chicks who have fallen from the machines, animals being boiled alive or mangled in the macerator.”

John Sorenson, PhD

In  a commercial hatchery, there is very little consideration for the behavioral biology of the animals, the pain, stress and fear they may experience as they are conveyed through the equipment, and little regard for the occasional animal who is mauled by the machinery.”

Sara Shields, PhD

“Because there are huge numbers of birds being processed and speed is important, birds are given no more care than if they were widgets. The workers fling, throw and drop the birds without any regard for their welfare.”

Mary Richardson, DVM

WHAT THE INVESTIGATION EXPOSED:

• Chicks flung by their fragile wings and slammed into metal dividers
• Live chicks sent through a scalding washing machine, burned, and drowned
• Chicks overloaded and roughly crammed into macerators to be ground up alive

WATCH: Baby Chicks Ground Up Alive at Maple Leaf Hatchery

Published on 14 Apr 2014

New hidden-camera video taken by a Mercy For Animals Canada investigator exposes horrific cruelty to baby chicks at a Maple Leaf chicken hatchery. Workers fling birds by their fragile wings, slam them into metal dividers, drown them in scalding hot industrial washing machines, and roughly cram chicks into a macerator machine to be ground up alive. Learn more and take action at:http://www.MercyForAnimals.ca/Hatchery

Petition & News Link:-http://mercyforanimals.ca/hatchery/#petition – http://mercyforanimals.ca/hatchery/readmore.php

Rare Asian bird kKlled By Wind Turbine As Avid Spotters Watched

One of the world’s fastest birds has died after flying into a wind turbine as scores of people watched.

The white-throated needletail, which is native to Asia, was spotted on the Isle of Harris, off the west coast of Scotland, this week and is believed to have arrived on Monday.

Bird spotters travelled to the island to catch a glimpse of the bird and many posted pictures on Twitter, but they then saw it die when it flew into a community-owned wind turbine on Wednesday.

The Rare Bird Alert, an on-line service that notifies users of sightings, had passed on reports of the white-throated needletail on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the service said users had told them the bird died on Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, the service tweeted: “The white-throated needletail on Harris flew into a wind turbine and has died, pathetic way for such an amazing bird to die.”

The needletail is a migrating bird and is black with white patches around its throat and undertail. It is small but has a large wingspan and is said to be able to fly up to 70mph.

A spokeswoman for the RSPB Scotland said they did not know the exact details of the case but migrating birds can be blown off course when travelling and the needletail may have lost its bearings and ended up in Harris.

She added: “Whilst the collision of this unusual visitor with a small domestic wind turbine is very unfortunate, incidents of this sort are really very rare.

“Careful choice of location and design of wind farms and turbines prevents, as much as possible, such occurrences happening on a large scale.

“Wind energy makes a vital contribution towards mitigating the impacts of climate change, which is the biggest threat to our native birds and wildlife.”

News Link:-http://news.stv.tv/scotland/231100-rare-asian-bird-killed-by-wind-turbine-while-migrating-to-scotland/

Animal group offers $5,000 reward

OMG…what possess anyone to be so cruel? Driving through so many birds is just bloody senseless. Obviously just done for fun, wouldn’t surprise me if it wasn’t a bunch of youths showing off to their friends…mind you…people who do things like this probably don’t have many friends because they are psychotic maniac’s!” 

LONG BEACH, Wash. — The reward for catching the driver who ripped through a flock of sea birds in Long Beach, killing 92 of them, has been topped up in a big way.

PETA seeks information about driver who killed 92 birds in Long Beach

Dunlins fly over a farm field flooded to provide wetland habitat for migratory shorebirds near La Conner, Wash., in this 2010 file photo. Some 92 were killed by a driver on Long Beach, Wash., Dec. 27. A reward is offered to help catch the person responsible.

The national group PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has offered $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

Sgt. Dan Chadwick of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is investigating.

“That’s a pretty good reward for any wildlife-related crime,” Chadwick said. “That will definitely get somebody’s attention.”

The money is in addition to the $500 reward already offered by the Wildlife Centre of the North Coast.

The dead sandpiper-type shorebirds called dunlin were found Dec. 27 north of the Cranberry Beach approach on Long Beach.

Two beachcombers out for a mid-day stroll near the Cranberry Beach entrance, walked by a large flock of dunlins. But when the pair returned 20 minutes later, carcasses littered the beach. Wide tire tracks were imprinted on the sand in a clear sign of a bird strike.

The couple alerted authorities and WDFW and the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office responded.

Stephanie Bell, associate director of PETA’s cruelty investigations, said its leadership was horrified.

“The alleged crime was vicious,” she said. “Many of the animals had torn wings and died of their injuries.”

Sharnelle Fee, director of the Wildlife Center of the North Coast, said the trauma the birds suffered is consistent with a collision with a motor vehicle.

“For these little birds, you really have to work hard to kill them,” Fee said. “You have to get up a good head of steam and blast through them. You can’t just mosey through. They run and fly fast.”

Seabirds and shorebirds are protected under Washington state law. It is illegal to harm or kill them.

“This senseless attack on these gentle birds isn’t just vicious and cruel – it’s also against state and federal wildlife protection and anti-cruelty laws,” said PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “Long Beach residents have good cause to be concerned: According to law-enforcement agencies and leading mental-health professionals, perpetrators of violent acts against animals are often repeat offenders who pose a serious threat to all animals – including humans.”

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police say a vehicle has to be travelling considerably faster than the posted 25 mph speed limit to hit these types of birds. Dunlins are able to reach speeds of 110 mph.

Intentionally killing even one bird is illegal in Washington. Perpetrators can face up to a year in jail and a $20,000 fine for killing a protected animal. In Oregon, the maximum penalty is a year in jail and a fine of $6,250.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PETA at  757-622-7382 or Sgt. Dan Chadwick of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at  360-581-3337.

For more information, visit PETA.org

News Link:– http://www.dailyastorian.com/news/local/animal-group-offers-reward/article_845a7d10-569a-11e2-aedf-0019bb2963f4.html

London Zoo’s penguins hit by outbreak of killer malaria

– Wet weather blamed for creating ideal conditions for mosquitoes

– 58 remaining birds receive specialist treatment

– No other penguins thought to be affected

Penguin deaths: six penguins have died from malaria at London Zoo

Penguins at London Zoo have been struck by a deadly strain of malaria that has killed six of the birds.

The outbreak is being put down to the exceptionally wet and muggy summer which created perfect conditions for mosquitoes which spread the disease.

The remaining 58 birds in the colony are being treated daily with specialist drugs supplied by the Hospital for Tropical Diseases to prevent them from contracting the illness as well.

Experts said penguins are particularly vulnerable to the avian form of malaria because they have not built up a resistance to it – unlike many native birds.

Avian malaria cannot be passed to humans, but it kills in the same way – by destroying oxygen carrying red blood cells.

Ben Sheldon, Professor of Ornithology at Oxford University said: “Avian malaria has been in the UK for centuries. Some birds seem largely unaffected by it and in others it causes high rates of death.

“Penguins come from a part of the world where they wouldn’t have been exposed to malaria. They haven’t had a chance to evolve resistance to it.

“Just like with human malaria the most effective way of controlling it is to stop mosquitoes biting. But we don’t have an equivalent of a bed net for penguins.”

Professor Sheldon said the penguins are likely to have caught malaria after a mosquito bit a native bird with the disease and then passed it on to them.

It cannot be passed directly from bird to bird or to humans.

Zoo keepers at ZSL London zoo are feeding their penguins at breakfast time with the medicine Primaquine, which can also be used to treat the disease in humans.

They have set up mosquito traps in the penguin enclosure and also spray lavender oil in the penguins’ nest boxes to deter mosquitoes. They have also planted lavender which the birds use to build their nests.

A spokeswoman said: “ZSL London Zoo routinely treats its colony of penguins against a strain of avian-malaria which is endemic to the UK wild bird population.

“Due to the exceptionally wet and muggy weather this summer, mosquito numbers were unusually high and ZSL’s keepers and vets decided to increase the penguins’ preventative anti-malarial medicine.

“Sadly, earlier this summer six penguins died of avian-malaria – a different strain to the one that affects humans.

“Avian-malaria is contracted directly from a mosquito bite and cannot be passed between birds.

“ZSL London Zoo’s keepers and vets continue to keep a close eye on the colony and all penguins appear healthy and well.”

She added: “Zoo keepers and vets work closely with our 58 penguins so they are able to quickly recognise any changes in their behaviour and no other birds have been affected by Avian malaria.”

There are very few physical symptoms of avian malaria, which make it difficult to diagnose. Symptoms that sometimes occur include loss of appetite and lethargy and these develop very quickly.

Some people have claimed there has been a rise in avian malaria in recent years due to climate change. But Professor Sheldon said there is not enough evidence to justify these claims.

News Link:-http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-zoos-penguins-hit-by-outbreak-of-killer-malaria-8204752.html

Councillor under fire for shooting animals in his back yard

A GREEN Party councillor is under fire after shooting animals dead in his back yard and posting the gruesome pictures on an online blog.

Mark Haworth-Booth — who stood as a Green candidate in last year’s local elections — boasts about his prowess with a shotgun alongside images of squirrels, rabbits and jackdaw birds.

But the gun-happy politician from North Devon denies any wrongdoing, insisting the animals are pests which were shot legally.

Local rivals slammed his unusual hobby, saying it undermined his position as an environmentalist.

Joanne Bell, a former North Devon councillor, said: “Not only does Mark clearly enjoy taking his gun into his garden to shoot squirrels and birds but he actually takes pictures and posts them on his blog.

“He goes on to describe the dead animals in very poetic and flowery terms. He’s clearly proud of his prowess with the gun.”

But Mr Haworth-Booth defended his position and his blog — which he has since removed from the web.

He said: “I think I’m right in saying Jackdaws are considered a pest and grey squirrels are widely considered a menace to forestry.”

“I think anyone who’s seriously interested in the countryside would share my view of the grey squirrel.”

But the councillor did admit to feeling guilty after shooting the bird.

He added: “I looked at it before burying it and it was a beautiful creature, but I had checked with the RSPB to see if it’s classified as a pest.”

Under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, humans have a duty of care not to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal.

But “pests” like the grey squirrel can legally be killed in a humane way, such as a blow to the back of the head or shooting.

And if a bird is classed as a vermin, like a jackdaw, the landowner can legally shoot the animal.

An RSPCA spokesman said: “Wherever possible the RSPCA would always prefer alternative solutions and only if there is a serious problem and alternative means are ineffective or impractical should killing be contemplated.

“In this case control should be carried out legally, precisely targeted and carried out by the most humane method available in the circumstances.”

News Link:-http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4349429/Councillor-under-fire-for-shooting-animals-in-his-back-yard.html

Police seek person who killed, tortured birds

“What sort of person would commit such a brutal & heinous crime? What about kids?? Kids could have got in through the window. It takes a sick mind to do what they did!!  I just can’t see an adult doing this, else why didn’t they kill them all?…Whoever did it, they need to pay, big time!”  

Three birds have been found tortured and killed. Their owners were in the process of moving and came home to the grizzly discovery.

Bryanna Renner was in the middle of moving when she came home to a heartbreaking discovery.

“It was carnage, absolute carnage. It was disgusting blood everywhere feathers everywhere it was horrific,” said Renner.

Three of her five birds, two Lilac Crested Amazons and a Blue Capped Conure were dead.

Reportedly beaten, stabbed and sprayed with carpet cleaner and bleach.

Renner says she is devastated, because to her, Lacey, Hawkeye and Paulie were members of her family.

“They liked to talk,” said Renner. “They love being talked to, they love interacting with you.”

The Pennsylvania SPCA is now investigating. If someone is caught, they will face charges, officials said.

“In Pennsylvania the killing maiming torturing or disfiguring a domestic animal or fowl is punishable as a misdemeanor,” said Elizabeth Anderson with the PASPCA.

“All of the birds were confined to individual cages and of course they had no defense they had no way to get out or to escape.”

The Pennsylvania State Police are also investigating how the person or persons responsible got into Renner’s Kunkletown, Monroe County home.

Preliminarily it looks like someone entered through a window.

The two surviving birds were examined by a veterinarian and are now at Renner’s new home but she says she will never forget what happened. She can’t believe anyone could be so cruel.

“I just hope they are caught. I just want them to go to jail,” said Renner.

The SPCA is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the bird’s deaths.

Click this link for Video & news:-http://www.wfmz.com/news/Police-seek-person-who-killed-tortured-birds/-/121458/14212482/-/oysbky/-/index.html

Pigeon abuse is a multi-million-dollar enterprise

Pigeon racing is a hobby that fosters some $15 million a year in unlawful gambling countrywide and involves the killing of thousands of birds. This and more was discovered by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,who exposed the cruelty and corruptionof this practice after a 15-month undercover investigation.

The animal rights group presented law enforcement organaizations including the FBI with a book’s worth of evidence of what its lawyers say are illegalities in the pigeon racing “sport.” But the messy details are particularly disturbing:

The races involve trained homing pigeons, who are driven hundreds of miles away from their home environments and released. The bird that flies home the quickest wins. This initially seems innocent enough, but investigators learned that in many races – most of which are 600 plus miles – over 60 percent of the birds get lost or die from harsh weather, predators, hunters, electrical lines, or mere exhaustion.

Furthermore, some activists believe that the deliberate separation of a pigeon from its home and family causes severe emotional trauma; this could also play a factor in some of the birds’ deaths while in transit.

Supporting this, said PETA, is the fact that, “Pigeons are complex problem-solvers and have tested even higher than cats, dogs, and primates on intelligence tests. They are loyal mates and doting parents – the mothers and fathers take turns caring for their hatchlings. Pigeon racers exploit these qualities by removing birds from their mates and babies so that they will be frantic and fly home faster. Once the racing season is complete and the babies are no longer needed, they’re often killed.”

Indeed, the group’s undercover probe obtained audial and visual evidence that only 40 percent of pigeons that were raced survived.

In addition to the abuse, pigeon racing organizations – in particular the Bronx Homing Pigeon Club – secretly dish out hundreds of thousands of dollars for winning bets on races. In New York, where that club is located, a horse is the only animal that can be legally raced for gambling purposes.

Read the rest of this story below-

News Link:-http://peoplesworld.org/pigeon-abuse-is-a-multi-million-dollar-enterprise/

Largo man charged with animal cruelty in shooting, killing Little Egret

LARGO — A 47-year-old man was charged with animal cruelty after he shot, maimed and then killed a little egret, according to police.

Jere Martin Patterson Jr. told Largo police that the bird was trying to eat his 6-month-old kitten, so he chased it — but did not kill the egret.

He was charged Friday in the incident that took place in the mobile home park where he lives at 620 Clearwater Road N, according to a Largo police report.

Patterson shot the bird multiple times with a BB gun, police said. Then he captured the injured bird, according to police, and killed it. The egret suffered “multiple fractures to the wing and neck area,” the report said.

After killing the bird, police said, Patterson stuffed its carcass inside a plastic trash bag and put it in a large bin at Keystone Mobile Home Park.

Patterson told officers that he chased after the bird and kicked it, according to the report, but did not kill it. He was booked into the Pinellas County jail, where he was being held Saturday in lieu of $5,000 bail.

News Link:-http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/largo-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-in-shooting-killing-little-egret/1226337

Chilling Cruelty in the Down Industry – YouTube

Footage from Hungary and China, where most down originates, exposes down’s true cost. Find out why compassionate people are ditching down!

The coldhearted and cruel down industry often plucks geese alive in order to get their down— the soft layer of feathers closest to a bird’s skin. These feathers are used to produce clothing and comforters, but for geese, the down industry’s methods are anything but comfortable.

Undercover video footage shows employees on goose farms pulling fistfuls of feathers out of live birds, often causing bloody wounds as the animals shriek in terror. The frightened animals are often squeezed upside down between workers’ knees during the painful procedure—in one instance, an investigator photographed aworker who was sitting on a goose’s neck in order to prevent her from escaping.

Live plucking causes birds considerable pain and distress. Once their feathers are ripped out, many of the birds, paralyzed with fear, are left with gaping wounds—some even die as a result of the procedure. Workers often sew the birds’ skin back together without using any anesthetics.

That’s not all—buying down can also support the cruelty of the foie gras and meat industries because many farmers who raise birds for food make an extra profit by selling their feathers as well. When these birds are slaughtered, they often have their throats cut or are dumped into tanks of scalding-hot water while they’re still conscious.

It’s impossible to tell whether the down used in the products you buy was obtained from live-plucked birds. The only way to stop live plucking and ensure that no birds suffer for your clothing or bedding is to choose cruelty-free materials. Please make the compassionate choice to sign the pledge to go down-free now!

If you haven’t already done so, please share this information on Facebook and Twitter with everyone you know so that they, too, can make the compassionate choice to pledge to be down-free. You can also spread the word to everyone that you come in contact with by wearing “Down Hurts” merchandise! That way, everyone will know that the down industry abuses birds.

Click the following to find out how you can help:-down-investigation.aspx