Breaking New MFA Investigation Leads to 21 Criminal Animal Cruelty Charges

A breaking new Mercy For Animals undercover investigation has resulted in unprecedented legal action on behalf of farmed animals. Hidden-camera video footage secretly recorded by an MFA investigator has led to 21 criminal cruelty-to-animals charges against the owner, two managers and five employees at Ontario Livestock Sales, one of the oldest and largest livestock auctions in southern California. The shocking video footage shows: "downed" animals—those too sick or injured to even stand or walk on their own—being left to slowly suffer and die without food, water or veterinary care; sick, injured and dying animals being kicked, pushed and dragged into transport trucks to be sold and slaughtered for human consumption; workers throwing, beating, stomping on and kicking animals in the face and body; baby goats being carelessly picked up by their necks and then kicked or tossed around; workers grabbing, dragging and throwing animals by their heads, necks, ears, horns, tails, and legs; and birds stuffed into bags and goats, sheep and other animals overcrowded into small pens, forcing animals to stand on and even trample each other. Upon reviewing the undercover footage, Temple Grandin, PhD, animal welfare advisor to the USDA, wrote: “The handling was very rough and kicking animals is not acceptable. If this auction had been a federally inspected meat packing plant, they would have suspended inspection and shut them down.” As MFA continues to expose the unconscionable cruelties inherent in animal agriculture, 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, vegetarian diet. Click here to read the Associated Press article about the investigation, which broke this morning. Click here to make a donation to support MFA’s lifesaving work.