I received permission from Mercy of Animals to cross post their sad, sad
story of a pig. Some people may react with - duh? a pig story? Who cares? But yes, there are many of us who do care because we see in each animal the same God-given principle of life - which is much like our own. All animals
have basic needs and the need to be treated compassionately - which, as in the case of this pig and millions and millions like her, are not met. Just how difficult is it to be caring and humane?
Nathan Runkle, the author, grew up in farm country in southern Ohio. At an early age he realized how badly the animals and particularly - the chickens were being raised in his environs. It was not long before he became involved in making this cruelty known. As more young people joined him, he would one day be able to start Mercy for Animals. In his web site you will be able to find his story and the story of a pig tragedy - one of millions and probably billions of the pigs raised in horrible factory farms.
His account of Madeline, the pig:
"I want to share with you the story of a pig who was given only a number by the pork industry-#653. But today, I want to give this pig a name-Madeline.
Madeline was born into a factory farm in Pennsylvania, condemned to life as a breeding sow. An undercover investigator with Mercy for Animals came to know Madeline during his time documenting cruelty at the pig breeding facility earlier this year.
Madeline's misery started on her first day of life. The first sounds that Madeline heard were those of pigs banging the sides of their heads against the metal stalls that imprisoned them. The first smells that Madeline experienced were those of feces and urine-not fresh air, grass, or straw.
When she reached six months of age, a worker pushed Madeline into a narrow metal crate barely larger than her body. The gate slammed shut, remaining closed for nearly the next four months.
Days tuned to nights, but Madeline could not see the sun or the moon. Madeline couldn't even turn around. She couldn't walk, explore, socialize, or enjoy any of life's simple pleasures.
Time and time again Madeline gave birth on the cold and filthy floor of her crate. So intensively confined, Madeline could not nuzzle or comfort her babies. She could not protect them from danger. Madeline watched helplessly as workers grabbed her piglets by their legs and ears, dangled them upside down, then cut off parts of their bodies. Madeline fought to protect them but the bars of her crate were unforgiving.
Over time, Madeline's shoulders and face developed bloody sores. Eventually, Madeline's body gave out when she developed a prolapsed uterus. Workers knew of Madeline's condition, but said she wasn't worth treating. A worker took a can of spray pain and marked Madeline's back with a "K" for "kill."
Once Madeline's last litter of piglets was snatched from her side, a worker kicked Madeline out of her crate and led her down a narrow alley. He screamed and cursed at Madeline during her final moments.
Madeline's life ended with the second shot of a captive bolt gun to her head. She fell down and trashed about in a pool of her own blood.
The pork industry spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year to make sure that Madeline will only remain a number. That she will not be given a name. That her story will not be told. They spend hundreds of millions of dollars
convincing kindhearted people that pork comes from a grocery store-not the dirty and deprived reality of Madeline's existence.
But Mercy for Animals is determined to share Madeline's story. We are determined that consumers know the dark side to the other white meat. Our undercover investigators give up everything to penetrate the wall of America's factory farms, hatcheries, and slaughterhouses. They do the heart-breaking, stomach-turning work that few of us could imagine. Because of these investigators, more and more Americans are waking up to the power, and consequences, of their food choices.
MFA's work is truly breaking new ground -- opening hearts and minds, capturing headlines worldwide, sparking fierce discussion, legal action and corporate policy changes, and inspiring a new generation of vegetarians."
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If you want to help MFA with this important work, please consider supporting them with a monetary gift. By doing so you will be helping animals like Madeline - giving them the strong, powerful, and unwavering voice they deserve. Please visit Mercy for Animals on the Internet if you wish to do this.