How are downed animals moved and treated?
Noncompliance reports by USDA inspectors and documented observations by undercover investigators continue to show downed animals being dragged with chains, pushed with forklifts, and shocked or beaten excessively with cattle prods, despite the fact that some of these methods are clearly prohibited by existing regulations. However, production pressures fueled by the economic concerns of agribusiness inevitably lead to this abuse. Basic humane principles dictate that downed animals should be humanely euthanized on the spot, not subjected to stressful transportation or the agony of languishing for days to die on their own. The Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act provides the minimum level of regulation needed to close existing loopholes and ensures consistent, humane treatment for downed animals.
