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106-532: In recent years, the RSPCA Assured scheme has received criticism from media coverage of animal cruelty that has taken place on RSPCA Assured farms. In 1994, the RSPCA commissioned a survey of consumer attitudes to animal source food products in which 29% of respondents identified animal welfare as a factor influencing their purchase. In response to consumer concerns for welfare the RSPCA focused on improving

212-554: A Canadian murderer who uploaded YouTube videos of himself torturing and killing cats; Rubén Marrero Pernas, a man in Cuba who was found to be raping, torturing then killing dogs and recording the acts online for an audience; and Leighton Labute, a Canadian man who was arrested in 2020 for torturing and killing three hamsters, and uploading the video to social media. The video-sharing site YouTube has been criticized for hosting thousands of videos of real-life animal cruelty, especially

318-526: A Veterinary Health Plan with a veterinary surgeon and keep detailed health records. Freedom Food has been credited with increasing the popularity of free range and barn eggs in the UK. In 2007, 38.2% of total egg production in the UK came from non-cage systems compared to 15% in 1994. During this time the Freedom Food scheme included 150 million animals housed in approximately 1500 production units. By 2013, it

424-567: A ban on mutilation, at least 8 hours access to the outdoors for free-range birds, humane slaughter practices and stocking density of under 20 birds per square metre . The scheme does not guarantee animals are free-range but ensures that farmed animals have greater space indoors. The scheme states that "all hens must have sufficient freedom of movement to be able, without difficulty, to stand normally, turn around and stretch their wings" and "all hens must have sufficient space to able to perch or sit quietly without repeated disturbance". Members must keep

530-553: A behavior known as zoosadism , is considered one of the signs of certain psychopathologies , including antisocial personality disorder , also known as a psychopathic personality disorder. According to The New York Times , "[the FBI has found that a history of cruelty to animals is one of the traits that regularly appears in its computer records of serial rapists and murderers , and the standard diagnostic and treatment manual for psychiatric and emotional disorders lists cruelty to animals

636-780: A bucket of water is thrown over them. A review by the Scientific Veterinary Council of the European Commission states that repetitive " stereotypical " behavior has been found in "every detailed study" of pigs in gestation crates, but not in any other housing systems examined. A 2004 literature review by animal scientists determined that sows in stalls exhibited more "stereotypical" behavior than sows in group housing, but that animals housed in stalls had lower injury rates and higher farrowing rates. Some studies have shown that "sow behavior has been shown to differ among housing systems; often it seems to be

742-672: A comparably small number of studies, citing methodological flaws. In the European Union, the crates must not be used after the fourth week of pregnancy following a 2013 EU Directive. They are illegal at all times in the United Kingdom and Sweden. However, Denmark and Norway are some of the countries where gestation crates are still used in conventional pig farming operations. The use of gestation crates following mating will be phased out in New Zealand by 2015. However

848-680: A diagnostic criterion for conduct disorders ." "A survey of psychiatric patients who had repeatedly tortured dogs and cats found all of them had high levels of aggression toward people as well, including one patient who had murdered a young boy." Robert K. Ressler , an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's behavioral sciences unit, studied serial killers and noted, "Murderers like this ( Jeffrey Dahmer ) very often start by killing and torturing animals as kids." Acts of intentional animal cruelty or non-accidental injury may be indicators of serious psychological problems. According to

954-565: A donkey was bled to death for dramatic effect for the Danish film Manderlay (2005), in a scene later deleted from the film. There is a case of cruelty to animals in the South Korean film The Isle (2000), according to its director Kim Ki-Duk . In the film, a real frog is skinned alive while fish are mutilated. Seven animals were killed for the camera in the controversial Italian film Cannibal Holocaust (1980). The images in

1060-675: A fly with a book (S07E08). In the Hungarian Sons of the Stone-Hearted Man (1965), young wolves were actually killed for the sake of the film. In the Hungarian Judit Elek 's film Memories of a River (1990), 14 sheep were burned alive. On the set of Andrzej Wajda 's film The Ashes (1965), allegedly killed a horse. The SAG has contracted with the AHA for monitoring animal use during filming or while on

1166-428: A higher incidence of broken bones or injuries and another study finding that a common factor in mortality cases was leg weakness. The lameness contributed to these weakened bones is also in part due to the hardness of the concrete flooring, which inevitably leads to a higher incidence of injuries to the feet and or legs, not to mention shoulder sores and abrasions to the skin from rocks, sharp edges, and bolts fastening

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1272-676: A link between animal cruelty and violence towards humans. A 2009 study found that slaughterhouse employment increases total arrest rates, arrests for violent crimes, arrests for rape, and arrests for other sex offenses in comparison with other industries. A large national survey by the Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies found a "substantial overlap between companion animal abuse and child abuse" and that cruelty to animals "most frequently co-occurred with psychological abuse and less severe forms of physical child abuse." A history of torturing pets and small animals,

1378-683: A living hen trapped upside down, as well as sick hens alongside living ones. Hens with splayed legs, birds with bad feather loss, decomposing bodies and overcrowded nesting areas were also observed. The RSPCA suspended one of four farms involved. Animal Rising released a report in May 2024 that determined that in numerous instances, RSPCA Assured farms failed to meet the minimum legal standard for animal welfare. In August 2024, footage released from an RSPCA Assured slaughterhouse showed pigs with visible injuries and wounds as well as lameness, abnormal growths and other deformities being hit by workers and "rushed to

1484-476: A normal part of bullfighting and that death is rarely instantaneous. It further warns those attending bullfights to "be prepared to witness various failed attempts at killing the animal before it lies down." The " Toro Jubilo " or Toro embolado in Soria , Medinaceli , Spain, is a festival associated with animal cruelty. During this festival, balls of pitch are attached to a bull's horns and set on fire. The bull

1590-555: A piglet's tail without an anesthetic constitutes cruelty. Others would respond that it is a routine technique for meat production to prevent harm later in the pig's life. Additionally, laws governing animal cruelty vary from nation to nation. While it is routine practice in the United States , docking a piglet's tail as part of regular practice is prohibited in the European Union (EU). Utilitarian advocates argue from

1696-544: A pit below. A few days before giving birth, sows are moved to farrowing crates, which are slightly wider so they can lie down to nurse. Crates have 18-in. (46-cm) "troughs" on each side where the piglets can safely lie without being in danger of sow overlay (when the sow lies down on top of a piglet). Piglet survival also depends on selection pressure. Groups of piglets bred for higher survival showed no difference in mortality when weaned in farrowing crates and outdoor systems. Although farrowing crates have been used based on

1802-560: A puppy over a cliff during the Iraq conflict was popularised as an internet phenomenon and attracted widespread criticism of the soldier's actions for being an act of cruelty. Under all three of the conceptual approaches to animal cruelty discussed above, performing unnecessary experiments or demonstrations upon animals that cause them substantial pain or distress may be viewed as cruelty. Due to changes in ethical standards, this type of cruelty tends to be less common today than it used to be in

1908-426: A ring or a pit for gambling or the entertainment of the spectators. Rattlesnake round-ups , also known as rattlesnake rodeos , are annual events common in the rural Midwest and Southern United States , where the primary attractions are captured wild rattlesnakes which are sold, displayed, killed for food or animal products (such as snakeskin ) or released back into the wild. The largest rattlesnake round-up in

2014-620: A sow to live in an airline seat." Pork producers argue that gestation crates are needed because sows that are housed together in pens will fight, injuring or killing their fellow penmates. The same effect could be achieved with larger pens that kept the animals separate, but allowed them more freedom of movement. There are also other ways of reducing, but not eliminating, aggression besides gestation crates. These include eliminating overcrowding, not mixing pigs from different litters, providing straw or other bedding material, and providing sufficient food that not only meets nutritional needs but satisfies

2120-581: A super-fast speed, so fast that their bones, heart, and lungs often cannot keep up. Broiler chickens under six weeks old suffer painful crippling due to fast growth rates, whilst one in a hundred of these very young birds dies of heart failure. To reduce aggression in overcrowded conditions, shortly after birth piglets are castrated, their tails are amputated, and their teeth are clipped, and earmarked. Calves are sometimes raised in veal crates , which are small stalls that immobilize calves during their growth, reducing costs and preventing muscle development, making

2226-682: A vote in the Senate of 32-1 and in the Assembly 53-13 (with 9 abstentions) On 27 November 2014 Christie vetoed the bill. A new bill was introduced in 2020. Over 60 major food companies have policies to eliminate their use. Smithfield Foods , the largest pork producer in the United States, said in January 2007 that it will phase out gestation crates from its 187 piggeries over the next ten years because of concerns from its customers. In 2009

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2332-408: Is "not for the squeamish", advising spectators to "be prepared for blood". It details prolonged and profuse bleeding caused by horse-mounted lancers, the charging by the bull of a blindfolded, armored horse who is "sometimes doped up, and unaware of the proximity of the bull", the placing of barbed darts by banderilleros, followed by the matador's fatal sword thrust. It stresses that these procedures are

2438-606: Is evidence to show that consumers provided with accurate information about the process of meat production and the abuse that accompanies it has led to changes in their attitudes. The American Veterinary Medical Association accepts maceration subject to certain conditions, but recommends alternative methods of culling as more humane. Egg-laying hens are then transferred to " battery cages " where they are kept in high densities. Matheny and Leahy attribute osteoporosis in hens to this caging method. Broiler chickens suffer similar situations, in which they are fed steroids to grow at

2544-554: Is extremely motivated to do). It has been noted by NAWAC during this review that industry disagrees with this requirement and does not comply with this minimum standard." In 2014 Canada instituted a nationwide ban on new gestation crates. This ban however has been delayed another 5 years until 2029 and will not include existing installations. In the United States, they have been banned in Florida since 2002, Arizona since 2006, and California since late 2008. A Rhode Island law banning

2650-474: Is found in ancient cultures(e.g. Scapulimancy ), and some modern religions such as Santeria continue to do animal sacrifices for healing and other rituals. Taghairm was performed by ancient Scots to summon devils. According to some news reports, the Bunting birds was blinded before cooking. (The use of the bird as food is now prohibited.) The Homarus crabs is usually cooked alive. Alfred Brehm wrote

2756-522: Is impossible to transport and slaughter vast numbers of large and highly-sensitive animals humanely". It has been suggested the number of animals hunted, kept as companions, used in laboratories, reared for the fur industry, raced, and used in zoos and circuses, is insignificant compared to farm animals, and therefore the "animal welfare issue" is numerically reducible to the "farm animal welfare issue". Similarly, it has been suggested by campaign groups that chickens, cows, pigs, and other farm animals are among

2862-452: Is not compromised. Some producers in Europe use a "free access" maternity pen configuration in which sows are in individual pens for the first four weeks of pregnancy but can "unlock" the stall by backing out and entering a common area. The producers observed that pregnant pigs will stay in the individual pens more than 90 percent of the time, and return to the same stall more than 90 percent of

2968-428: Is not much scientific evidence for this when considering the few large surveys that compare the mortality rate in commercial herds". The review goes on to describe several large studies dating from as early as 1983, the majority of which found no difference in piglet mortality rates between loose and crated sows. The review also details an argument as to why piglet mortality rates have been reported to be somewhat higher in

3074-484: Is not, can they reason nor can they talk? but, can they suffer? These arguments have prompted some to suggest that animals' well-being should enter a social welfare function directly, not just indirectly via its effect only on human well-being. Many countries have now formally recognized animal sentience and animal suffering , and have passed anti-cruelty legislation in response. Animal cruelty can be broken down into two main categories: active and passive. Passive cruelty

3180-475: Is the infliction of suffering or harm by humans upon non-human animals , either by omission (neglect) or by commission. More narrowly, it can be the causing of harm or suffering for specific achievements, such as killing animals for entertainment; cruelty to animals sometimes encompasses inflicting harm or suffering as an end in itself, referred to as zoosadism . Divergent approaches to laws concerning animal cruelty occur in different jurisdictions throughout

3286-646: Is then flushed into open-air pits known as lagoons . A few days before giving birth, sows are moved to farrowing crates where they are able to lie down, with an attached crate from which their piglets can nurse. There were 5.36 million breeding sows in the United States as of 2016, out of a total of 50.1 million pigs. Most pregnant sows in the US are kept in gestation crates. The crates are banned for new installations only in Austria and Canada, so many sows are still confined there in pig breeding facilities. They are banned in

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3392-417: Is then released into the streets and will run around in pain, often smashing into walls in an attempt to douse the fire as spectators attempt to dodge the animal. The pitch balls can burn for hours, and they burn the bull's horns, body, and eyes. The animal rights group PACMA has described the fiesta as "a clear example of animal mistreatment". Dog fighting is a sport that turns dogs against one another in

3498-419: Is typified by cases of neglect, in which the cruelty is a lack of action rather than the action itself. Oftentimes passive animal cruelty is accidental, born of ignorance. In many cases of neglect in which an investigator believes that the cruelty occurred out of ignorance, the investigator may attempt to educate the pet owner, then revisit the situation. In more severe cases, exigent circumstances may require that

3604-425: Is unnecessary and a cause of suffering, so the only way to ensure protection for animals is to end their status as property and to ensure that they are never viewed as a substance or as non-living things. Throughout history, some individuals, like Leonardo da Vinci for example, who once purchased caged birds in order to set them free, were concerned about cruelty to animals. His notebooks also record his anger with

3710-681: Is why we continually update our standards to drive up welfare for animals not just in the UK but around the world". In September 2024, vice-president of the RSPCA Brian May resigned over "damning evidence" of bad standards of animal welfare from RSPCA Assured. In response to footage of animal cruelty and allegations that RSPCA Assured has failed to meet its welfare standards the RSPCA launched an independent review including unannounced visits to more than 200 randomly chosen farms. Cruelty to animals Cruelty to animals , also called animal abuse , animal neglect or animal cruelty ,

3816-609: The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists which specified that the AHA should be "consulted in the use of animals 'when appropriate'", but the contract did not provide a structure for what "appropriate" meant, and had no enforcement powers. This contract expired in 1980. One of the most infamous examples of animal cruelty in the film was Michael Cimino 's flop Heaven's Gate (1980), in which numerous animals were brutalized and even killed during production. Cimino allegedly killed chickens and bled horses from

3922-552: The American Humane Association , 13% of intentional animal abuse cases involve domestic violence . As many as 71% of pet-owning women seeking shelter at safe houses have reported that their partner had threatened and/or hurt or killed one or more of their pets; 32% of these women reported that one or more of their children had also hurt or killed pets. Battered women report that they are hesitant from leaving their abusers because they fear what will happen to

4028-701: The Humane Society , are kept in gestation crates. In survey conducted in 2013, 90% of New Jersey voters were in favor of banning the crates. In June 2013, Governor Chris Christie vetoed S1921, a bill to ban pig gestation crates. which had passed in the General Assembly with a vote of 60-5 and the Senate 29–4. An attempt to override the veto did not come to a vote. In October 2014 the New Jersey Legislature adopted S998 with

4134-600: The Humane Society of the United States posing as employees. Agricultural organizations such as the American Farm Bureau Federation have successfully advocated for laws that tightly restrict secret photography or concealing information from farm employers. The following are lists of invasive procedures that cause pain, routinely performed on farm animals, and housing conditions that routinely cause animal welfare concerns. In one survey of United States homeowners, 68% of respondents said they consider

4240-504: The U.S. National Pork Producers Council , which promotes pork as a food product and is a leading proponent of gestation crates, the American Veterinary Medical Association "recognize[s] gestation stalls and group housing systems as appropriate for providing for the well-being of sows during pregnancy." While the practice of immobilizing the animals in crates limits fighting, it subsequently increases

4346-779: The Animal Anti-Cruelty League in South Africa, have also monitored the use of animals in the film. Cruelty to animals has often been filmed on video and uploaded to social media websites or private Internet groups. This may involve large-scale, systematic operations; a notable example of this was a global monkey torture ring uncovered by the BBC in June 2023, where participants would produce and distribute videos of monkeys being hurt and killed. Individuals who have published animal cruelty content include Luka Magnotta ,

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4452-556: The Cartesian view of animals as mechanical beings. Charles Darwin , by presenting the theory of evolution , revolutionized the way that humans viewed their relationship with other species. Darwin believed that not only did human beings have a direct kinship with other animals, but the latter had social, mental, and moral lives too. Later, in The Descent of Man (1871), he wrote: "There is no fundamental difference between man and

4558-444: The Freedom Food logo and by 1996 Tesco were selling beef, chicken, lamb, pork, veal and egg products endorsed with the Freedom Food symbol. The Freedom Food scheme influenced the formation of animal welfare certification programs such as British Columbia SPCA Certified and Certified Humane in the United States. The RSPCA's criteria for the Freedom Food symbol on chickens included a ban on growth-promoting antibiotics in chicken feed,

4664-539: The Hays Office had the power to enforce this clause, the AHA often had access to sets to assess adherence to it. However, because the AHA's Hollywood office depended on the Hays Office for the right to monitor sets, the closure of the Hays Office in 1966 corresponded with an increase in animal cruelty on movie sets. By 1977, a three-year contract was in place between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and

4770-510: The Humane Society of the United States, roughly one-third of families suffering from domestic abuse indicated that at least one child had hurt or killed a pet. Animal sexual abuse, or bestiality , occurs when an individual exploits a non-human animal for their own sexual pleasure or for the pleasure of others. Bestiality is strongly associated by many with zoophilia , a paraphilia involving sexual attraction to non-human animals. Over

4876-598: The RSPCA was disturbed by the footage of dying pigs, starved chickens and eyeless fish on RSPCA Assured farms and commented that it is "utterly indefensible". He called on the charity to immediately suspend its ethical food labelling scheme as customers are being misled. The RSPCA have responded that it would investigate the allegations, but refused to suspend the RSPCA Assured scheme. RSPCA's chief executive Chris Sherwood has commented that "Without RSPCA Assured, millions of farmed animals would be left with even less protection... We know we need to do more and we want to do more, which

4982-518: The United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and Sweden, and in nine states in the US (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon and Rhode Island). However, farrowing crates, in which female breeding pigs can be kept for up to five weeks, are not banned in the UK. Opponents of the crates argue that they constitute animal abuse, while proponents say they are needed to prevent sows from fighting among themselves. Between 60 and 70 percent of sows are kept in crates during pregnancy in

5088-537: The United States is held in Sweetwater, Texas . Held every year since 1958, the event currently attracts approximately 30,000 visitors per year and in 2006 each annual round-up was said to result in the capture of 1% of the state's rattlesnake population. Rattlesnake round-ups became a concern by animal welfare groups and conservationists due to claims of animal cruelty. In response, some round-ups impose catch-size restrictions or releasing captured snakes back into

5194-423: The United States. In February 2022, billionaire investor Carl Icahn pressured McDonald's board of directors to increase the speed of phasing out gestation crates. Animal welfare advocates regard the use of gestation crates as one of the most inhumane features of intensive animal production. Temple Grandin of Colorado State University 's Department of Animal Science said in 2007: "... basically you're asking

5300-488: The United States. Each pregnancy lasts for three months, three weeks, and three days . Sows will have an average of 2.5 litters every year for two or three years, most of which is spent in the crates. They give birth to between five and eight litters before being culled from the herd. Some older sows may reach a size at which they have to sleep on their chests, unable to lie on their sides as pigs usually do. The floors are slatted to allow excrement and other waste to fall into

5406-644: The Veterinary School at Bristol University in the United Kingdom, "Sows on concrete in confinement stalls suffer abuse according to all the Five Freedoms ." These include freedom from hunger, discomfort, pain, distress, and freedom to express normal behavior. Sows that have to lay on concrete flooring can experience excessive heat loss and chronic physical discomfort, while this same concrete flooring can contribute to foot injuries, joint pain complications, and skin lesions  – due to

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5512-436: The animal be removed for veterinary care. Farm animals are generally produced in large, industrial facilities that house thousands of animals at high densities; these are sometimes called factory farms . The industrial nature of these facilities means that many routine procedures or animal husbandry practices impinge on the welfare of the animals and could be considered cruelty, with Henry Stephen Salt claiming in 1899 that "it

5618-410: The animal is having difficulty in coping and its welfare is poor." This behavior, such as bar-biting and other stereotypic behavior can also lead to other physical trauma, such as sores from frequent contact with the metal bars, and mouth sores from sham-chewing and bar-biting. They also show behavior that indicates learned helplessness , according to Morris, such as remaining passive when poked or when

5724-716: The animals in their absence. Animal abuse is sometimes used as a form of intimidation in domestic disputes. Cruelty to animals is one of the three components of the Macdonald triad , this behavior is considered to be one of the signs of violent antisocial behavior in children and adolescents. According to the studies used to form this model, cruelty to animals is a common (but not universal) behavior in children and adolescents who grow up to become serial killers and other violent criminals. It has also been found that children who are cruel to animals have often witnessed or been victims of abuse themselves. In two separate studies cited by

5830-573: The animals' stress levels, causing other health problems. The American Association of Swine Veterinarians adopted a position statement in 2002 specifying five standards of sow welfare and concluding, "Current scientific literature indicates that individual gestation stalls meet each of the aforementioned, provided the appropriate level of stockmanship is administered." The Washington Post reported in 2001 that researchers have not found sows in gestation crates to have elevated levels of stress hormones . The paper notes that this suggests their overall health

5936-400: The appetite. Other important means to reduce aggression among sows rely on alternative feeding methods, as many sows will compete with each other for food. These include trickle feeding systems, individual feeding stalls, and electronic sow feeding equipment, all of which resolve feed competition among pigs. Early veterinary studies seemed to support the use of gestation crates. According to

6042-419: The assumption that they reduce piglet mortality rates, there is little published evidence in support of this claim. The most comprehensive publication to date on this subject concluded that there is no significant effect of housing on overall piglet mortality, the authors stating that "Despite the fact that the crate system has been considered to reduce piglet mortality mainly through a reduction of crushing, there

6148-466: The behavior patterns that pigs would perform in more natural or less restricted conditions resulting in a negative impact on sow welfare." Paul Sundberg, a veterinarian and vice president of the U.S. National Pork Board, a leading proponent of gestation crates, told The Washington Post : "Farmers treat their animals well because that's just good business. The key to sow welfare isn't whether they are kept in individual crates or group housing, but whether

6254-462: The choice, pigs will relieve themselves far away from where they sleep and eat. Sows in crates bite the bars, chew even when they have no food, and press their water bottles obsessively, all reportedly signs of boredom. The Post (uncited reference) writes that a report by veterinarians for the European Union concluded that abnormal behavior in sows "develop[s] when the animal is severely or chronically frustrated. Hence their development indicates that

6360-486: The company stated it would no longer be able to phase them out in ten years due to recent low sales, but reversed the decision in 2011 after intense pressure from the Humane Society of the United States . In February 2012 McDonald's announced that it would begin working with suppliers to phase out the use of gestation crates in response to pressure from the Humane Society of the United States and other animal advocates. McDonald's purchases around one percent of all pork in

6466-731: The conditions in which these early domestic animals were kept." Remains of sheep and goats from the early Bronze Age show a marked decrease in bone thickness, reflecting calcium deficiencies "resulting from the combined effects of poor nutrition and intensive milking." Several religious traditions have promoted animal welfare as an important or fundamental concept, and encouraged vegetarianism or veganism . Examples include Buddhism , Jainism , Hinduism (with certain animals being considered sacred), and some forms of Judaism (many Orthodox Jews do not wear leather). René Descartes believed that non-humans are automata—complex machines with no soul, mind, or reason. In Cartesian dualism , consciousness

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6572-573: The crates are still legal for up to four weeks after farrowing. A review led by the Ministry for Primary Industries, in 2016, found that "The current code of welfare allows for up to 5% of sows to be retained in crates for a further week (following the 4 week maximum in crates post-farrowing) as nurse sows. This practice enables slowly growing or poorly performing piglets to be properly weaned. It has been noted that industry does not accept or comply with this requirement and some producers are exceeding both

6678-455: The crates in place. This same flooring is thought to contribute to toe lesions, with some reports claiming that up to 80% of crated sows suffer from this illness. Due to lack of exercise, sows may develop a number of additional physical conditions that compromise their overall well-being. Urinary tract infections may develop as a result of the pigs' immobility, which causes them to drink less frequently and consequently develop bacteria within

6784-547: The crates, passed in June 2012, took effect in June 2013. They are also being phased out in Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Oregon. Furthermore, 2018 California Proposition 12 prohibits pork from gestation crates from being sold in California, even if they were produced elsewhere, though implementation is stayed pending litigation. As of 2013 New Jersey had a pig population of about 9,000 none of which, according to

6890-523: The earliest animal welfare advocates to criticize the RSPCA's Freedom Food scheme in 1994. They argued that although the Freedom Food label is supposed to guarantee farm animals basic freedoms from distress, fear, hunger, injury and pain, the scheme tolerates painful practices such as beak trimming , sow stalls and tail docking . In January 2024, footage was shared showing RSPCA assured pig farm workers beating animals to death with an iron bar. Other animals were sick or paralysed, but left untreated. The farm

6996-457: The face before they were killed in a carbon dioxide gas chamber. Many of the pigs were from RSPCA Assured farms. The footage showed "animals were clearly frightened and writhing in agony as they were suffocated". The RSPCA called for an end to carbon dioxide killings while simultaneously allowing the use of RSPCA Assured branding on pigs killed using the method. In May 2024, hens were found suffering at several RSPCA Assured egg farms. Footage showed

7102-664: The fact that humans used their dominance to raise animals for slaughter. According to contemporary philosopher Nigel Warburton , for most of human history the dominant view has been that animals are there for humans to do with as they see fit. Sociologist David Nibert emphasizes that the process of domestication dramatically increased the exploitation of animals by humans, particularly in Eurasia . Much of this exploitation involved not only direct physical violence, but also structural violence as their systemic oppression and enslavement "resulted in their inability to meet their basic needs,

7208-425: The farm or premises to endure that the five freedoms are supported within the production or transportation system. Once enrolled, members of the scheme are subject to assessments to ensure the freedoms are being adhered to. Mandatory annual inspections and random spot checks by the RSPCA are utilized to ensure the welfare standards are being met. In 1995, supermarkets Tesco and Co-op were selling pork products with

7314-502: The feeding of one animal to another for entertainment and spectacle. Although some of these videos have been flagged as inappropriate by users, YouTube has generally declined to remove them, unlike videos that include copyright infringement . In 2021, YouTube banned staged animal rescue videos, where animals were purposely put in danger before being saved. The use of animals in the circus has been controversial since animal welfare groups have documented instances of animal cruelty during

7420-473: The film include the slow and graphic beheading and ripping apart of a turtle , a monkey being beheaded and its brains being consumed by natives and a spider being chopped apart. Cannibal Holocaust was only one film in a collective of similarly themed movies ( cannibal films ) that featured unstaged animal cruelty. Their influences were rooted in the films of Mondo filmmakers , which sometimes contained similar content. In several countries, Cannibal Holocaust

7526-475: The following about the capture of sea turtles in the 19th century: "The poor sea turtles are terribly tortured in the island of Ceylon. The buyers probably want to buy fresh meat, or the sellers don't want to bother with the slaughter, so they simply pull off the breastplate of the live animal and the buyer is cut the piece of meat he wants. And then the European is horrified to see the slow yawning and beating of

7632-794: The footage emerged. In September 2024, the Advertising Standards Authority launched an investigation into the RSPCA Assured adverts as complaints had been made that they contained misleading welfare claims. Also in September, the RSPCA suspended several Scottish salmon farms over allegations of animal abuse. In October 2024, undercover footage taken at an RSPCA Assured farm in Bridgwater showed injured animals with large growths living in cramped conditions with no access to clean water. An open letter signed by dozens of animal rights and welfare organisations calling for

7738-624: The gas chambers with excessive force." Some pigs were observed frothing at the mouth and heavily panting, signs of severe stress. The slaughterhouse also appeared to have "filthy, overcrowded pens" and "poor hygiene practices". Barrister Ayesha Smart, who specialises in animal welfare law, stated the video appeared to show "'multiple and clear breaches' of statutory welfare regulations." The RSPCA responded by stating that they had begun an immediate investigation. In September 2024, animal rights activists released undercover footage from two dairy farms supplying Marks & Spencers and Muller , one of which

7844-514: The heart of the extremely hardy, half-skinned animal, whose organ is usually sold last." Animal cruelty has long been an issue in filmmaking industry, with even some big-budget Hollywood films receiving criticism for allegedly harmful—and sometimes lethal—treatment of animals during production. Court decisions have addressed films that harm animals such as videos that in part depict dog fighting. The American Humane Association (AHA) has been associated with monitoring American film-making since

7950-513: The higher mammals in their mental faculties." Modern philosophers and intellectuals, such as Peter Singer and Tom Regan , have argued that animals' ability to feel pain as humans do makes their well-being worthy of equal consideration. There are many precursors of this train of thought. Jeremy Bentham , the founder of utilitarianism , famously wrote in his An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789): The question

8056-453: The immediate closure of the scheme was sent to the RSPCA's chief executive Chris Sherwood. The letter was also signed by celebrities such as Bryan Adams , Moby , Ricky Gervais and Joanna Lumley , doctors, vets and former RSPCA staff. The letter accused RPSA Assured of "welfare-washing animal cruelty and misleading the public". In January, 2024 the RSPCA vowed to reform treatment of chickens in UK. In June 2024, Chris Packham President of

8162-457: The last few years, there has been a rise of zoophiles advocating for the normalisation of bestiality. One such individual is Douglas Spink , who was convicted of allegedly owning a bestiality farm in which several animals such as dogs, horses and mice were found. Douglas Spink was the previous co-host of a zoophilic podcast under the name of Zooier than thou. The podcast aims to promote a more positive outlook on bestiality in an attempt to normalise

8268-423: The loss of self-determination, and the loss of opportunity to live in a natural way." He says that the remains of domesticated animals from thousands of years ago found during archeological excavations revealed numerous bone pathologies, which provide evidence of extreme suffering: Excavations from 8500 BCE revealed bone deformities in enslaved goats and cows and provided "some indication of stress, presumably due to

8374-407: The maximum 5% of sows allowed to be retained for this purpose and the amount of time that they are being retained (i.e. greater than the one week maximum as stated in the code)." And "The current code requires that sows in any farrowing system constructed after 3 December 2010, must be provided with material that can be manipulated until farrowing (to allow the sow to perform nesting behaviour which she

8480-400: The most numerous animals subjected to cruelty. For example, because male chickens do not lay eggs, newly hatched males are culled using macerators or grinders. Worldwide meat overconsumption is another factor that contributes to the miserable situation of farm animals. Many undercover investigators have exposed the animal cruelty taking place inside the factory farming industry and there

8586-402: The neck to gather samples of their blood to smear on actors for Heaven's Gate , and also allegedly had a horse blown up with dynamite while shooting a battle sequence, the shot of which made it into the film. This film played a large part in renewed scrutiny of animal cruelty in films and led to renewed official on-set jurisdiction to monitor the treatment of animals by the AHA in 1980. After

8692-560: The non-housing component (i.e., direction of bar, other substances present) of the system that is responsible for the behavior displayed by the sow." Many other health related issues are to be found among pigs confined within gestation crates as opposed to group housing systems. Some of these include urinary tract infections, respiratory disease, skin lesions (e.g. pressure sores), excessive heat-loss, bone density, muscle health, cardiovascular health, foot injuries, damage to joints, and even lameness. According to John Webster, head of

8798-811: The past. For example, schoolroom demonstrations of oxygen depletion routinely suffocated birds by placing them under a glass cover, and animals were suffocated in the Cave of Dogs to demonstrate the density and toxicity of carbon dioxide to curious travelers on the Grand Tour . Sow stall A gestation crate , also known as a sow stall , is a metal enclosure in which a farmed sow used for breeding may be kept during pregnancy. A standard crate measures 6.6 ft x 2.0 ft (2 m x 60 cm). Sow stalls contain no bedding material and are instead floored with slatted plastic, concrete or metal to allow waste to be efficiently collected below. This waste

8904-638: The patron of the British Animals in War Memorial , stated that animals adapt to what humans want them to do, but that they will not do things that they do not want to, even with training. Animal participation in the human conflict was commemorated in the United Kingdom in 2004 with the erection of the Animals in War Memorial in Hyde Park , London . In 2008 a video of a US Marine throwing

9010-430: The pigs' prolonged contact with an unusually hard surface and chronic inactivity. Poor cardiovascular health, bone density issues, and poor muscle health all have been attributed to lack of exercise. The decreased amount of muscle mass makes even simple movements difficult, while one study found that crated sows had two thirds the bone density of non-crated sows, with researchers concluding that weakened bones led to

9116-495: The position of costs and benefits and vary in their conclusions as to the allowable treatment of animals. Some utilitarians argue for a weaker approach that is closer to the animal welfare position, whereas others argue for a position that is similar to animal rights. Animal rights theorists criticize these positions, arguing that the words "unnecessary" and "humane" are subject to widely differing interpretations and that animals have basic rights. They say that most animal use itself

9222-472: The price of meat a more important issue. Animal welfare activists suggest a total ban on fur production due to the suffering inflicted on animals, especially minks. It has been suggested that fur production is immoral as fur clothes are luxury items. Minks are solitary and territorial animals; however, in fur farms, they are raised in cages and skinned after being killed either by breaking their necks or using lethal gas. There are studies providing evidence of

9328-441: The promotion of humane farming, transportation, marketing and slaughter of farm animals by implementing a set of rearing and handling standards". The RSPCA have stated that their certified farms offer a higher standard of care to animals than is legally required. In 2023, Greggs switched to RSPCA Assured pork. As of 2024, RSPCA Assured covers almost 4,000 farms and supermarkets. Ruth Harrison , Joanne Bower and Joyce D’Silva were

9434-670: The release of the film Jesse James (1939), in which a horse was pushed off a plank and drowned in a body of water after having fallen 40 feet into it. Initially, monitoring of animal cruelty was a partnership between the AHA and the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (also called the Hays office) through the Motion Picture Production Code . Provisions in the code discouraged "apparent cruelty to children and animals", and because

9540-435: The release of the film Reds (1981), the star and director of the picture, Warren Beatty apologized for his Spanish film crew's use of tripwires on horses while filming a battle scene, when Beatty was not present. Tripwires were used against horses when Rambo III (1988) and The 13th Warrior (1999) were being filmed. A water buffalo was sliced nearly in half during the production of Apocalypse Now (1979), while

9646-486: The resulting meat a pale color, preferred by consumers. In the United States, animal cruelty such as soring , which is illegal, sometimes occurs on farms and ranches, as does lawful but cruel treatment such as livestock branding . Since ag-gag laws prohibit video or photographic documentation of farm activities, these practices have been documented by secret photography taken by whistleblowers or undercover operatives from such organizations as Mercy for Animals and

9752-481: The set. Compliance with this arrangement is voluntary and only applies to films made in the United States. Films monitored by the American Humane Association may bear one of their end-credit messages. Many productions, including those made in the United States, do not advise AHA or SAG of animal use in films, so there is no oversight. Some other animal welfare organizations worldwide, such as

9858-512: The sexual exploitation of animals for the gratification of humans. Many times, when Asiatic elephants are captured in Thailand , handlers use a technique known as the training crush , in which "handlers use sleep-deprivation, hunger, and thirst to 'break' the elephants' spirit and make them submissive to their owners"; moreover, handlers drive nails into the elephants' ears and feet. The practice of cruelty to animals for divination purposes

9964-946: The time. However, other veterinary studies contradict those earlier studies. A 1997 report of the Scientific Veterinary Committee of the European Union, where a gestation crate ban went into effect in 2013, noted that because "overall welfare appears to be better when sows are not confined throughout gestation, sows should preferably be kept in groups." Likewise in 2008, the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production, after 2.5 years of research, recommended "the phase-out, within 10 years, of all intensive confinement systems that restrict natural movement and normal behaviors, including swine gestation crates." Many studies have shown that sows in crates exhibit behavior such as bar-biting, head weaving, and tongue rolling, indicating chronic frustration. When given

10070-424: The training of performing animals. Animal abuse in circuses has been documented such as keeping them in small enclosures, lack of veterinary care, abusive training methods, and lack of oversight by regulating bodies. Animal trainers have argued that some criticism is not based on fact, including beliefs that shouting makes the animals believe the trainer is going to hurt them, that caging is cruel and common, and that

10176-442: The transportation of live farm animals. The RSPCA led a national advertising campaign which contained a picture of sheep in a dual-level transporter with the headline "Before they're roasted in garlic and rosemary, they're soaked in urine and excrement". The success of the campaign influenced the development of Freedom Food. RSPCA Assured was established as Freedom Food in 1994, inspired by the five freedoms . The Freedom Food program

10282-477: The urinary tract. Though this same illness is contributed to the fact that sows are forced to lie, or sit, in their own feces  – another reason some think there is a higher incidence of respiratory disease among sows confined in gestation crates. In a symposium held in 2002 on swine housing and well-being, Edmond A. Pajor, Associate Professor at Purdue University , told the audience that "In gestation stalls, sows are prevented from performing many of

10388-628: The use of whips, chains or training harms animals. Bolivia has enacted what animal rights activists called the world's first ban on all animals in circuses. Bullfighting is criticized by animal rights or animal welfare activists, referring to it as a cruel or barbaric blood sport in which the bull suffers severe stress and slow, torturous death. Several activist groups undertake anti-bullfighting actions in Spain and other countries. In Spain, opponents of bullfighting are referred to as anti-taurinos. The Bulletpoint Bullfight warns that bullfighting

10494-557: The wild. Military animals are creatures that have been employed by humankind for use in warfare . They are a specific application of working animals . Examples include horses , dogs and dolphins . Only recently has the involvement of animals in war been questioned, and practices such as using animals for fighting, as living bombs or for military testing purposes (such as during the Bikini atomic experiments ) may now be criticized for being cruel. Princess Anne, Princess Royal ,

10600-484: The world. For example, some laws govern methods of killing animals for food, clothing, or other products, and other laws concern the keeping of animals for entertainment, education, research, or pets. There are several conceptual approaches to the issue of cruelty to animals. Even though some practices, like animal fighting , are widely acknowledged as cruel, not all people and nations have the same definition of what constitutes animal cruelty. Many would claim that docking

10706-421: Was RSPCA Assured. The footage showed workers repeatedly punching and kicking cows, hitting them with poles and chains, and shouting abuse at them. In one video, a worker is seen "angrily running after a cow and swearing before he pulls a screwdriver or another tool from his pocket and jabs it into the cow’s side." In another, a worker slaps a calf in the face. The farm was suspended from the RSPCA Assured scheme once

10812-450: Was banned or allowed for release with most of the animal cruelty edited out. Other examples: In the film Malèna (2000), the young boys burn ants with the sun's rays. In the movie A Real Young Girl (1976), the heroine tears apart an earthworm. In Anatomy of Hell (2004), a little boy tramples a small remnant (real footage?). The female protagonist of The Onedin Line -series kills

10918-525: Was designed to allow farm animals "to enjoy a decent life, reflecting an existence as closely as possible to the ideal of the Five Freedoms". The program aimed to establish minimum welfare standards from the birth to death of farm animals. Livestock products meeting the welfare standards were eligible to be labelled "Freedom Food, RSPCA Monitored". Before a farmer, haulier or abattoir can join Freedom Food, an RSPCA approved accessor carries out an audit on

11024-564: Was reported that 70% of salmon, 54% of ducks and 31% of pigs were raised under the scheme in the UK. Freedom Food had 2000 labelled product lines. In 2012, Freedom Food managed 98% of the free-range egg market in the UK. In 2013, McDonald's UK switched to Freedom Food produced pork. In 2015, Freedom Food was rebranded as RSPCA Assured. It was reported in 2015 that RSPCA Assured has more than 3500 business participants, covering 43 million land animals and 140 million salmon. RSPCA Assured defines its objective as "to prevent cruelty to animals through

11130-638: Was suspended after the footage emerged. In March 2024, footage emerged from inside four free-range egg farms that were part of the RSPCA Assured scheme. Many of the hens are bloodied and bald, having plucked out their own feathers due to stress. Some hens were unable to access fresh water, while others were missing feet. Piles of dead birds filled bins. In March 2024, animal rights activists filmed inside an RSPCA Assured chicken hatchery. Chicks were crushed under trolley wheels and trodden on and thrown into crates. Some chicks were left injured and bloodied by accidents. In April 2024, workers were filmed hitting pigs in

11236-572: Was unique to human among all other animals and linked to physical matter by divine grace. However, close analysis shows that many human features such as complex sign usage, tool use , and self-consciousness can be found in some animals. In 2012, a prominent group of neuroscientists signed the Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness . It stated that humans are not the only conscious beings, and that many other animals, including all mammals and birds, also possess consciousness, challenging

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