Farm Sanctuary was established with the rescue of a lone sheep who was left for dead on a pile of dead animals. Through more than 20 years of rescues, investigations, public education, and policy change, we have made great strides toward ending the suffering of downers, including successfully lobbying to enact the first state law in the country on downed animals in California in 1994. Still much work needs to be done to ban the abuse of downed animals and now is the time to act.
Downed
Animal . . .
 That is the term the meat and dairy industries use to refer to animals so sick, diseased or disabled that they cannot even stand on their own. Every year untold thousands of “downed animals” or “downers” suffer unspeakable abuse and neglect at production facilities, stockyards and slaughterhouses.
Under current law, most downed animals are still sent to slaughter for human food—in spite of their tortured condition. Sadly, even sick and suffering animals spell profit to many in the meat and leather industry. Profit, not humane considerations, guides industry practice. From the industry perspective, there is no financial gain in euthanizing a suffering animal, but if that animal can be dragged, pushed or prodded onto into the slaughterhouse, a profit can be made. Because of this simple economic fact, there is little doubt that the abuse of downed animals is widespread across the country.
 Following the discovery of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)—also known as “mad cow disease”—in Washington in 2003, the USDA took modest measures to curtail the slaughter of downed cattle for human consumption. While this was a step in the right direction, the regulation contains loopholes big enough for some cattle and all other farm animals to be dragged through. The law only includes some downed cattle (those who go “down” after arriving at the slaughterhouse may still be sent to the kill floor). Other animals who go “down” may be left to die, piled atop one another for hours or even days without food, water or veterinary care, or pushed, prodded or dragged onto the kill floor.
Regulations however, mean little without strong enforcement and oversight. With lax enforcement by USDA’s understaffed inspection force, blatant cruelty and flagrant violations of the law continue to surface.
In early 2008, video documentation exposed California slaughterhouse workers using shock prods, chains, high pressure hoses and even forklifts to move suffering, bellowing, and injured downed cattle into the slaughterhouse. Sadly, Farm Sanctuary has documented similar treatment to animals throughout the country, as well as at the same California facility. Undoubtedly, what has been caught on video is just the tip of the iceberg.
 There is no indication, even with the most recent expose and the largest meat recall in history, that the industry will continue stop its abuse of "downed" animals. Great changes are needed in terms of laws and oversight. Thankfully, The Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act has been introduced in Congress. This legislation applies to all farm animals, and has been introduced repeatedly in past legislative sessions, with great support but with little advancement due to intense lobbying by the meat industry. However, as the plight of farm animals and food safety concerns race to the forefront of public awareness - we can make a historic difference.
2001 Zogby Poll Shows that U.S.
Consumers Oppose Downed Animal Slaughter
2003 Zogby Poll Shows that
U.S. Consumers Oppose Downed Animal Slaughter
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