Vermont should defend its animals

Dear Editor,

As I sat down to write this letter, a quick Internet search of the phrase “gestation crate” proved to be quite saddening. The only way to describe what I saw and read about this topic would be hundreds of images of fattened pigs stuffed into crates too small to move, their tails hanging out behind them, and their snouts poking out in front of their sad eyes.  

As delicious as I remember Christmas ham and Sunday morning bacon tasting, if you think about it – is it really as wonderful when you realize that the pig that was slaughtered for your food was raised in a crate so small she could not turn around, could not walk, could not bury herself in mud? And then when she was no longer able to reproduce, sent to slaughter?

The meat from the pig you are eating was factory farmed for profit, and not allowed a natural, pig life outside of being on your plate.  

One of the reasons I choose to live in Vermont is the progressive nature and belief of civil rights to everyone. It is time for the Green Mountain State to move even further ahead and banish cruelty to its animals.  

And a great step in this animals’ rights movement in Vermont would be for our representatives to pass S.239: An Act Relating to Ensuring the Humane Treatment and Slaughter of Animals. I encourage all our representatives to move past the “hot topics” at the Statehouse and stand up for our animals.  Please pass S.239.

Leah Korce

Jericho, Vt.