Group Suggests Undercover Activists Should Face Punishment

Group Suggests Undercover Activists Should Face Punishment


Oct 14, 2009 2:40 PM, Source: Kansas Livestock Association

Animal cruelty should be stopped in its tracks, not redistributed through videos

The Animal Ag Alliance (AAA) is suggesting undercover activists who witness and record animal mistreatment be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for not immediately reporting the incident. Alliance members made the recommendation in light of the growing number of activist groups hiring individuals to seek illicit employment at ranches, feedyards and processing plants solely for the purpose of capturing video that condemns animal agriculture. The video is frequently produced and released to the media months after the alleged mistreatment occurred as activists plan a strategic media campaign.

AAA is a coalition of producers, organizations, suppliers, processors and retailers communicating the important role of animal agriculture. The group emphasizes animal well-being is central to producing safe, high-quality, affordable food and other products essential to consumers around the world.

The alliance strongly encourages all food animal owners to implement care guidelines, provide worker training and establish policies holding all employees accountable for their actions. Employers should screen potential employees closely to protect against illicit employment by activists, according to AAA.

I thought that this was an interesting article. I totally agree with the AAA. The undercover activists are just a guilty of the mistreatment of animals, when they stood by and watched and recorded the actions of their "co-workers". Seriously, if they cared for the animals as much as they say they do they would have put a stop to it there on the farm or at the slaughter plant not with a video they released to the media. I just don't understand! All of the food-animal caretakers that I know would have been appalled if their employees treated animals the way the undercover activist showed on their recordings and there would have been corrective-action taken to change the way of doing things.


I do strongly believe in training. The Beef Cattle Institute is working hard to provide easy-to-use, online training for employees in all sectors of the beef industry. We have to remember that many of the employees hired are generations removed from the farm. So they do not know, as owners, managers and operators, we must give them the tools to do their job correctly, safely and well.