In aftermath of beef recall, watch video and take action to protect downer cows.

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Take action for animal welfare standards for federal purchases!

February 18, 2008

Beef Recall Underscores Need to Protect "Downer" Cows

Take action now!Yesterday, the USDA issued the largest recall of beef in U.S. history, the latest action in response to The Humane Society of the United States' groundbreaking undercover investigation of a dairy cow slaughter plant in Southern California.

The recall of 143 million pounds of beef came two days after San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos filed criminal charges against slaughter plant workers caught on video torturing crippled cattle, and two weeks after the USDA shut down that slaughter plant.

Our undercover investigation revealed shocking abuses of "downed" dairy cows -- those who are too sick or injured to walk -- at the Hallmark Meat Packing Company slaughter plant. Cows too weak to stand were dragged along the ground, shocked with electric prods, rammed with forklifts, and even forced to endure water being forced into their noses and throats -- an act right out of the manual on water boarding.

Please watch our investigative video, and then take action today to stop this cruelty from happening again.

Our video of the cruelty is very difficult to watch. Even worse is the thought that an outfit like Hallmark Meat Packing Company got away with this kind of abuse every day, without proper oversight from the USDA.

Urge the USDA to tighten its lax enforcement of the downer rule and to close the rule's loophole -- so that cows who are obviously in no shape to walk are not brought to slaugherhouses in the first place and then abused once they are there.

Thank you for all you do for animals.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States