Recently-released undercover video footage shows how U.S.-based live animal markets continue to cram animals into overcrowded floor-to-ceiling cages amid the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.
An animal cruelty investigator from Animal Outlook, a Washington, D.C.-based animal welfare nonprofit, visited several live animal markets in southern California.
Wearing a hidden camera, the investigator captured shocking images of birds packed tightly together in wire cages stacked on top of each other, live chickens shackled upside down on slaughter lines, and feces and urine caked on floors in the facilities.
The investigator also observed rough, inhumane handling of animals by workers, who threw the birds around or dangled rabbits by their delicate ears.
Stressed animals have weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to viruses and bacteria that thrive in the unsanitary and cruel conditions associated with factory farms and other live animal markets. Multiple studies, including a United Nations (UN) report published this July, have linked former zoonotic disease outbreaks, including swine and bird flus, to live animal markets and factory farms.
“Pandemics such as the COVID-19 outbreak are a predictable and predicted outcome of how people source and grow food, trade and consume animals, and alter environments,” the report noted.
Image via undercover footage from Animal Outlook.
As of December, the COVID-19 virus had surfaced in more than 500 U.S. meatpacking plants, infecting close to 50,000 workers and killing more than 200 workers, according to the Food Environment Reporting Network.
The UN study reported that three of the leading factors believed to contribute to zoonotic diseases “jumping species” from animals to humans — and thus creating global pandemics — are the increased demand for animal protein, the rise in intense and unsustainable animal agriculture practices, and the increased use and exploitation of wildlife.
For Animal Outlook and other animal welfare and human rights organizations, the solution is clear: fix our broken food system.
Image via undercover footage from Animal Outlook.
“It’s time to rethink our food system. The current one is broken beyond repair,” Animal Outlook wrote on its website. “As a society, we must demand better because we all deserve better. We must stop these systems of destruction. It’s up to us to hold the animal agriculture industry and our government accountable.”
You do know that this is irresponsible, right? So why allow it?
be kind!!!!
All these animal markets really do need to be shut down. Look at what is happening in this world and it’s just going to get worse.
OMG!!! This is Horrific!!! Praying this ENDS!!!
We all need to go vegan to put an end to the cruel practices to produce meat that we no longer need. The supermarkets are full of healthier alternatives now a days so there is no excuse. Meat is killing people and the animals suffer every day. Definately time for change and to stop all these pandemics that arise from farms, slaughterhouses and is then on all meat packaging.
Apparently these people do not care about anything; people or animals. It seems as though a lot of people care about Climate Control hurting the earth, which is okay that they care, but, they should care about the abuse animals have to endure. And ultimately, the people may pay the price for these horrible places to operate by passing more viruses on to the people.
Try doing these things to yourselves , this is disgusting behavior and ignorant people may not realize it but animals have feelings and emotions also
Try doing these things to yourselves , this is disgusting behavior and ignorant people may not realize it but animals have feelings and emotions also
This is horrible. Pls stop this cruelty to animals.
How can the comments be so dam friendly when all I can see is animal torture? What is one to say oh it’s so nice to see this stuff or I see how nice the animals get treated in these slaughterhouses wow they cut throats so good. Nice and friendly just the way we are asked to do. Bull crap I hope every single person that works in these places get hit by the semi that carried these poor animals in. I have nothing but hatred for these inhumane bastards. Hey there is your niceness
Thank you, when you see this type of horror and torture you have to let it out I agree with you totally thanks for saying what’s on your mind
Do you WANT a new pandemic? Just how stupid are you people? Shut this idiocy down!
YES YES YES
NO, we do NOT have to be IDIOTS. NO, we do NOT have to eat hundreds of pounds of meat per person per year. NO, WE DO NOT HAVE TO TREAT LIVING CREATURES LIKE INANIMATE OBJECTS!!! HOW IN THE HELL WOULD YOU LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN TO YOU, OR YOUR CHILDREN? But you think it’s OK to do it to our fellow creatures? O HELL No.
Yes we need to set new values and stop horrifying ways of torturing and killing animals. Do we ask ourselves ever why so many cancers and other health issues?
This is unbelievable that people don’t give a shit about animals! We should shit down all of these places!
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
These barbaric actions MUST STOP NOW!
How wrong & who is working to stop hell for animals. You have feelings & so do animals. They want nice lives as you do & they deserve. CHANGE YOUR WAYS.
Birds packed tightly together in wire cages stacked on top of each other, live chickens shackled upside down on slaughter lines, and feces and urine caked on floors in the facilities. This type of treatment is vile and barbaric. Is this what the human race has become. THIS MUST STOP NOW!!!
These are signs of capitalism
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
What is wrong with this world that not only do people actually do these things, but then we turn a blind eye or take pay for it? It is time for change!!!!! Give the voiceless a voice!!!!
Protect these innocent animals!
SICKENING!
SICKENING!
The reason live markets exist in the US? Because of all the frickin Asians we have living here.
Evil psycopaths those poor animals all they want is love and to live free from pain the human race has a lot to learn lacking in compassion and empathy for innocent animals unable to have a voice
Humans are the worse species!!!
World leaders have not learned a thing from this pandemic. Or they are all just too corrupt and bought and paid for to really care.
Stop the evil cruelty
Ummm… I mistakenly thought that this only happens in oriental countries but it is the second time I’m hearing about this about the “make America great” country. This really is no better than China’s, etc wet markets because we have the same type of politics, so-called “lawmakers and enforces”, that care little about the lives of animals. Utterly ridiculous to think that this country could be compared to a third world country in a negative aspect, but that’s the case. Most of these so-called “third world countries” fair better than the US in compassion for God’s animals. I hope karma will come quickly for those two-legged creatures who constantly abuse/torture/murder these innocent animals.
Signing to stop this.
This is in humane treatment and horrid conditions.
This is in humane treatment and horrid conditions.
STOP the abuse of all animals – abuse humans instead.
This should not be allowed. Where is your humanity?
This is barbaric and should be stopped at once!!
How can anyone remain peaceful and family friendly when we’re dealing
with people who are as evil as the Nazis?
I am ashamed of the United States of America my country for the cruelty that it allows to go on to the animals . I can more understand it in the backward, uneducated countries to a certain extent. But we are the most powerful country in the world. We know better, we know right from wrong. In this instance we are intentionally doing the wrong thing. Why don’t you make it stop? You have the power. It appears that this country is no better and China KoreaAnd the rest.
GO VEGAN…GO VEGAN///GO VEGAN!
PLEASE PEOPLE,,,GO VEGAN…I DID 20 YRS AGO….NEVER A REGRET!
PLEASE, PEOPLE….GO VEGAN. I DID 20 YEARS AGO…NEVER A REGRET~
Thank you for posting this article, Lady Freethinker. So many people believe that the barbaric live animals markets are in other countries – not America. When friends & colleagues ask me why I went vegan over 20 years ago, they really don’t want to hear the reasons & they ALWAYS get upset when I mention that COVID-19 (along w/Ebola, Swine Flu & HIV) started because humans continue to eat & exploit animals EVERYWHERE ON THIS PLANET.
I am ashamed of the United States of America my country for the cruelty that it allows to go on to the animals . I can more understand it in the backward, uneducated countries to a certain extent. But we are the most powerful country in the world. We know better, we know right from wrong. In this instance we are intentionally doing the wrong thing. Why don’t you make it stop? You have the power. It appears that this country is no better and China KoreaAnd the rest.
Feel the animals’ pain at the hands of cruel humans!
stop this animal abuse now
COMMENTALTO A ESTA DESPIADADA Y ABERRANTE CRUELDAD!!
Human savages hired by other savages need to be in prison with hard labor. Free those bunnies, birds, and dogs. Where is the US Dept of Agriculture or other animal protection agency paid with our taxes to stop these heinous activities.
INHUMANE HORRIFIC BARBARIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They should be ashamed of treating innocent animals in this way. Hope they rot in hell.
Don’t worry, they will find hell a lot worst than what they do to those innocent creatures, burning hot to a crisp forever and ever.
Stop this insanity
It makes no sense when we do not use the common sense we were born with.
Those wet markets no doubt are owned by Asians. They brought destruction and decease to the world and now our own government is letting them spreading more decease to the US. As for the factory farms and slaughterhouses, no government officials will ever stop them as long as corruption and greed poisoned their mind and as as long as the demand is there. Sure, they might eventually make it a little bit nicer for the farm animals but the deceases and viruses will grow just the same. It is up to us to change our eating habits. But by the time it is significantly change how many viruses will find its way to destroy more of the world?