A Criminal Act to Expose Animal Abuse

Undercover videos showing grainy, sometimes shocking images of sick or injured livestock have become a favorite tool of animal rights organizations to expose what they consider illegal or inhumane treatment of animals.

These videos, made by animal rights advocates posing as farm workers, have prompted meat recalls, slaughterhouse closings, criminal convictions of employees and apologies from corporate executives assuring that the offending images are an aberration. Yeah, sure.

On March 2, 2012, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed into law a bill designed to thwart activists who go undercover to report animal abuse. This makes Iowa the first state in the country to pass such a law; Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York and Utah are considering them to pre-emptively block the kind of investigations that have left their operations uncomfortably open to scrutiny.

This bill makes it a crime to produce, distribute or possess photos and video taken without permission at an agricultural facility. It would also criminalize lying on an application to work at an agriculture facility “with intent to commit an act not authorized by the owner.”

As a general rule, I believe that the property owners have rights and should not have to deal with people trying to hurt their business or industry. However, having said that, I truly believe we need investigators willing to expose the truth when it comes to the “animal industry.” So I wrote letters to my state senators.

Here is my first response. Tell me, you do you think she is for or against this topic?

From: Senator Leticia Van de Putte
To: District 26 Constituent
Sent: Tue, March 20, 2012 12:39:59 PM
Subject: From the Office of Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, R. Ph.-->

Dear Constituent:

Please see below for Senator Van de Putte's response to your email.

Respectfully,

Felicia A. Wright
Legislative Aide

March 20, 2012

Dear K.M. Brunner:

Thank you for contacting me about a recent proposal involving the use of photography and videotape as a means to prevent illegal activities that cause food-borne illness and animal abuse at agriculture facilities.

I am aware that in states other than Texas there is proposed legislation to prevent individuals from videotaping or taking pictures at agriculture facilities. The legislation is to prevent unsolicited individuals from obtaining pictures or video without authorization. If a land owner or facility owner does not authorize individuals to take photos or video at the facility, that right should be respected. However, I do not condone animal abuse, illegal working conditions, or unsafe food processing because these cause serious public safety concerns. If an individual sees illegal activity occurring at an agriculture facility, he/she should report it to the Texas Department of Agriculture immediately.

If legislation that prosecutes illegal activity at agriculture facilities is introduced in 2013 during the 83rd Legislative Session, I will give it the same careful consideration that I give all bills. I will continue to support health and public safety in my future legislation actions.

Once again, thank you for contacting me. I look forward to serving San Antonio and the state of Texas with dignity and responsibility. Please continue to participate in the legislative process by communicating any other concerns that you might have so that, together, we can make sound policy decisions.

Sincerely,

Leticia Van de Putte, R. Ph.

LVP/fw

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Get involved, your opinion counts!

Wow...my democratic elected official wants people to approach the Texas Dept of Ag with complaints of animal abuse (think USDA) and what? Hope they will do the right thing...oh right! I'm sure they are very aggressive against businesses that abuse animals and will immediately acts upon animal abuse complaints, just like the USDA did when I came forward with my "concerns" of WAO animal abuse allegations.

So, it's a terrorist act if one takes videos and pictures of lab animal being abused or treated cruelly and now its a criminal act to take videos and pictures of animal abuse/cruelty at animal farms. What next? Zoos? Sanctuaries? Pet stores? Theme parks? Race tracks?

I hate to say it, but pictures and videos speak volumes in comparison to a verbal or written complaints filed on behalf of the animals. If I didn't have all the undercover videos and pictures taken at the WAO, how in the world would I have been able to prove animals were missing (presumed dead) or on tour sick/dying?

Government doesn't care about what we have to say! They do care about how their actions or in actions will be perceived by the public and it has a tendency to act much quicker if the public is aware of a growing "concern," thereby demanding justice for the animals. Videos and pictures are a great tool in influencing government to do the right thing. Without these tools, how can one really prove abuse or cruelty is actually going on in an animal "business?"

I wish the WAO case had gotten wide media coverage. I can guarantee you this--this case would not STILL be on-going after six years. Six years, people. Six long years and counting.

Sad to say, when it comes to animals, the government and certain businesses cannot be counted on doing the right thing--whether those businesses be for profit or non-profit. It takes brave people to take a stand and photograph these kinds of illegal acts. It is never easy to ask anyone to volunteer and take videos/pictures, but in my opinion, it is often necessary. And so now in Iowa, it is a crime to save human and animal lives by exposing animal abuse & cruelty allegations. Figures. Just figures.