At first glance, it is difficult to get a complete picture of the extent and severity of animal exploitation. It happens behind high walls in order not to spoil people’s appetite for meat, eggs and dairy products and not to confront customers with the devastating consequences of their shady delicacies.
From time to time, we get to see TV reports and documentaries that show the conditions endured by animals on factory farms, in slaughterhouses, on trucks, etc. However, the meat, egg and dairy industries – as well as politicians – quickly underplay these reports (saying that they are “fake”, “manipulated” and “not up to date” or that the conditions they reveal are “exceptions”, etc) in order to put consumers’ minds at ease. But anyone who looks closely at the facts quickly discovers that the animals’ suffering is really desperate. The best way to get the real story is to witness firsthand what happens on factory farms and in slaughterhouses or to watch films about what happens at such facilities. Unfortunately, words and texts can give an impression of the suffering only to some extent. Dr Christiane M Haupt, a veterinarian, wrote a revealing report about her experience within the meat industry. The following is the unedited version of the full report, which is available (in English) at www.vegetarismus.ch/heft/98-2/schlacht-en.htm:
"For a mouthful of meat ..."
A report by Dr. Christiane M. Haupt
