Animal Outlook

Last updated
Animal Outlook
Founded1995;29 years ago (1995)
Founder Paul Shapiro
Type Nonprofit
Legal status 501(c)(3)
Focus Cruelty to animals in agriculture
Location
Key people
Cheryl Leahy, Erica Meier
Website animaloutlook.org
Formerly called
Compassion Over Killing (COK)

Animal Outlook, formerly known as Compassion Over Killing (COK), [1] is a nonprofit animal advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. It is headed since May 2021[ failed verification ] by Executive Director Cheryl Leahy, [2] who succeeded Erica Meier. Formed in 1995, as a high school club, their primary campaigns are to advocate against factory farming and promote vegan eating. While the group welcomes those who are interested in animal welfare who eat meat, it encourages a transition to a plant-based diet. [3]

Contents

Activities and campaigns

Undercover investigations

Egg farms

The group conducted an investigation into the living conditions at Maryland henhouses, documenting corpses found in group cages and rescuing some of the hens found in the worst conditions. [3] One of the farms documented, owned by ISE America, housed more than 800,000 hens. [5] Following a tip about substandard conditions at the farm, Animal Outlook requested permission to visit the farm before proceeding with an undercover investigation. [5]

The spokesperson for the owner of the farm in question said that the conditions found at the farm were "normal industry practices". [6] While one of the farms asserted that the video footage was not taken at its farm, Animal Outlook had filmed its GPS location as well as mail addressed to the farm in question. [7]

In early 2006, an Animal Outlook investigation inside a Pennsylvania egg farm led to criminal charges of 35 counts of animal cruelty against the owner and manager of the farm, the first case of its kind. [8] Although, charges were pressed by a local animal control officer after viewing a video provided by Animal Outlook, the owner and manager of the farm were eventually acquitted in 2007. [9]

Central Valley Meat

Animal Outlook's undercover video exposing animal abuse at Central Valley Meat Co. (CVM) prompted the USDA to shut down [10] the California slaughterhouse in 2012 and suspend federal purchases from the facility, a major supplier to the USDA's National School Lunch Program. California-based fast food chain, In-N-Out Burger immediately severed ties with its former supplier CVM [11] upon the release of Animal Outlook's investigation findings, followed by national chains McDonald's and Costco. In February 2014, the facility was again shut down by the USDA for unsanitary conditions. [12]

Quanah Cattle Company

In 2013, an Animal Outlook activist was arrested (although charges were eventually dropped) in Colorado for filming alleged cattle abuse at the Quanah Cattle Company and failing to report the abuse "in a timely manner". Animal Outlook Executive Director Erica Meier stated that this is a "shoot-the-messenger strategy aimed at detracting attention away from the crimes of those who actually abused animals." [13]

Pilgrim's Pride chicken factory farm

In 2014, an Animal Outlook investigation exposed chickens being buried alive at a North Carolina factory farm supplying Pilgrim's Corp. (formerly Pilgrim's Pride), the second largest chicken producer in the world and a supplier for Chick-Fil-A, Burger King, Wendy's and Walmart. CNN broke the shocking story. [14]

Foster Farms turkey hatchery

In early 2015, an Animal Outlook investigator documented horrific treatment of baby birds - including mutilations, gassing and being ground up alive - inside a Foster Farms hatchery in Fresno, California. [15] [16]

Mountaire Farms

At a North Carolina chicken slaughterhouse owned by Mountaire Farms, Inc., the seventh largest chicken producer in the U.S, Animal Outlook exposed [17] birds being violently thrown and punched, their feathers being ripped out, and sick or injured birds left in piles to die slowly.

Quality Pork Processors (Hormel)

In 2015, an Animal Outlook investigator uncovered conditions in a Minnesota facility that kills and processes animals for Hormel. This plant is one of the largest pig slaughterhouses in the U.S., and one of five plants enrolled in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Based Inspection Models Project (HIMP), a pilot USDA program that allows for faster processing of animals with reduced government inspection.

The Washington Post broke the story of the investigation, writing, [18] "Months worth of footage have raised serious concerns about the conditions at one of the largest pork processors in the U.S., and started a government investigation."

In 2013, an Audit Report [19] issued by the USDA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) underscored concerns that HIMP may pose food safety risks.

Litigation

Animal Outlook's innovative Legal Advocacy Program has been working since 2004 to use the legal system to oppose the system injustices of factory farming. Using existing criminal law and civil litigation, the Program focuses on fighting large-scale animal cruelty on factory farms and works to protect consumers from manipulation and unfair practices by the animal agriculture industry. Because farmed animals are given almost no protection under the law, this challenging work is vitally important.

The Legal Advocacy Program seeks enforcement of existing criminal laws against owners and employees of the facilities for the harming of animals, and develops legal analysis in order to bring landmark lawsuits and other legal actions. The Program also conducts outreach and education, providing attorneys, legal students, and the public with information about farmed animals and the law.

See also

Related Research Articles

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an American member-owned agricultural cooperative based in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb of Arden Hills, Minnesota, United States, focusing on the dairy industry. The cooperative has 1,959 direct producer-members, 751 member-cooperatives, and about 9,000 employees who process and distribute products for about 300,000 agricultural producers, handling 12 billion pounds of milk annually. It is ranked third on the National Cooperative Bank Co-op 100 list of mutuals and cooperatives. The co-op is one of the largest producers of butter and cheese in the United States through its dairy foods business; serves producers, animal owners and their families through more than 4,700 local cooperatives, independent dealers and other large retailers through its Purina Animal Nutrition business; and delivers seed, crop protection products, agricultural services and agronomic insights to 1,300 locally owned and operated cooperative and independent agricultural retailers and their grower customers through its WinField United business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal Aid</span> British animal rights organisation

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Shapiro (author)</span> American writer and activist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal Legal Defense Fund</span> American non-profit law organization

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References

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  2. Meier, Erica (2021-03-16). "Erica Meier - Celebration of a Legacy". All-Creatures.com.
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  4. Rueb, Emily S. (2008-05-14). "Real World, Real Annoyance in Brooklyn". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
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  6. "Md. Egg Farm Accused of Cruelty". Washington Post. 2001-06-06. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  7. McNeil Jr, Donald G. (2004-07-25). "The Nation: Gaining Ground; At Last, a Company Takes PETA Seriously". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
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  10. "USDA closes California slaughterhouse over cow cruelty video". Reuters. 2012-08-22. Retrieved 2016-04-26.
  11. "Plant Closed by USDA Supplied Beef for In-N-Out Burger". ABC News. 2012-08-22. Retrieved 2016-04-26.
  12. Times, Los Angeles (18 February 2014). "USDA closes troubled Central Valley slaughterhouse over cleanliness". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2016-04-26.
  13. Taylor Radig Filmed Alleged Cattle Abuse At Ranch, But Got Arrested For Not Reporting It Immediately. The Huffington Post, 24 November 2013.
  14. "Undercover animal abuse videos could soon be outlawed". CNN. Archived from the original on 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
  15. "Foster Farms Exposed: A Nightmare for Baby Birds". Animal Outlook. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  16. Mohan, Geoffrey (2016-06-22). "Undercover video sheds light on turkey slaughter". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2020-08-30.
  17. "New video claims to show animal cruelty at North Carolina farm". Yahoo News. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
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  19. "Food Safety and Inspection Service - Inspection and Enforcement Activities At Swine Slaughter Plants" (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General.
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