Published Letters and Op-Eds from
COK’s Writers Group

'Food' Animals Being Abused

Takoma Voice
April 1, 2008

As a longtime vegetarian and a former animal control officer in our nation's capital, I read Publisher Robin Quillon's March 23 column ("Gnawing over 'animal rights' ") with interest.

Polls show that more than 95 percent of Americans agree all animals should be treated humanely. Most people are surprised to discover that farmed animals often are denied adequate legal protection, enabling producers to treat them like mere meat-, milk- and egg-producing machines. Farmed animals routinely are subjected to practices so cruel that it would likely lead to criminal prosecution if those abuses were inflicted upon dogs and cats.

On factory farms, most egg-laying hens spend their lives crammed inside barren wire cages so restrictive they can barely move. Standard practices also include castrating male piglets and calves without painkillers.

Choosing vegetarian foods is a delicious, healthy and fun way to prevent animal cruelty—one meal at a time.

Erica Meier
Takoma Park, Md.