ALV and Uproar have teamed up to save pigs from slaughter this Christmas. Our undercover investigation at a piggery in Northern Victoria aims to draw attention to the miserable lives experienced by over five million pigs raised for slaughter in Australia each year. We also rescued two piglets, Coco and Chloe, who were in urgent need of veterinary attention, and who are now fighting for their lives.
Our rescue teams gained access to a shed where pregnant pigs are enclosed in small farrowing crates. This is where they give birth and nurse their newborn babies through metal bars. These crates are so small the pigs don’t have enough room to turn around. Such ‘nurseries’ are where almost all of the pigs killed in Australia for their meat are born.
The newborn babies have their teeth clipped, their tails cut off, and are castrated with no pain relief. These mutilations all happen in front of their mother who can only watch helplessly from behind her bars. She will spend her entire life on metal floors in these small farrowing crates and equally small sow stalls, repeatedly impregnated so that her children can be taken and slaughtered for food. This ends when she is no longer economically viable and is sent to the same slaughterhouse where so many of her children were killed before her.
In one farrowing crate we found a malnourished piglet who was barely able to walk or open her eyes, she was shivering and being walked over by her larger brothers and sisters. It was obvious that without urgent veterinary attention she would not have long to live.
The sows we observed during our investigation were clearly miserable. Many of them had large scabby wounds on their bodies and several had open wounds on their teats. Because of the metal bars they are unable to properly nurture or interact with their young. Their deeply rooted instincts to build nests, wallow in mud, dig for roots, give birth in privacy, watch over, protect and bond with their babies are completely ignored.
In another farrowing crate we observed a piglet whose leg was so inflamed she was unable to walk, she could only move by dragging herself along the floor with her front legs. There were no signs that she had received any veterinary care for this crippling inflammation.
Two piglets were rescued and are now safe and receiving the veterinary care they desperately needed.
HAPPY ENDINGS Friday 11 February 2011
We're happy to announce that the two very ill piglets rescued from a pig factory by ALV / Uproar on December 4, 2010 (see above) have not only survived but continue to improve every day. Coco, a two week old piglet who was found dragging her two back legs along the metal floor with one knee joint swollen to the size of an orange is now walking! And Chloe who was found comatose on the floor being trampled by her brothers and sisters is now happily leading Coco around the paddock finding all the best spots to dig up! It was a long and often tense road to their rehabilitation, thinking at one point Coco may have to be put down if she couldn't walk, but thanks to the excellent help of John The Vet and his staff, and the loving care and dedication of their two full time carers the piglets are thriving. These little piggies are no longer going to market! They are in a very loving home and are now given the respect and protection they deserve.
Thank you very much to everyone who helped them, the openrescue team, the vet, his staff, all the carers and everyone who supports our work financially and ethically!
Watch a slideshow of Coco and Chloe's rescue/recovery below.
More photos can be viewed on Facebook
