A popular way to market so-called “humane” forms of animal farming is to talk up how good of a life the animals have on “humane” farms—whether that’s chickens free ranging in the field, cows grazing in open pasture, or pigs rooting around in the forest (to name just a few).
But one telling feature that “humane” farms lack: lifetime care for animals with special needs.
Animal agriculture in all forms relies upon utilizing the most productive animals only during or until their most productive life stage.
If you’re a laying hen, that means becoming a burden when egg laying declines after a couple of years, or being born a rooster.
If you’re a chicken raised for flesh, that means reaching slaughter age at around 6 weeks old, while most are still peeping with their chick voices.
If you’re a pig or cow, that means reaching market (slaughter) weight within months to a few years.
You get the idea.
There’s nothing humane about treating an animal well only until it’s profitable for them to be eaten or discarded.
In contrast, sanctuaries show what humane treatment of animals actually means: providing individualized care for the full natural life of every resident.
These are individuals like Nonna, who was rescued by Triangle Chicken Advocates in 2016 after being surrendered to a shelter by a backyard chicken farmer.
Nonna required surgery for an impacted crop when rescued. She needs ongoing preventative care to avoid reproductive complications. As she’s aged, she has developed an age-related cataract in one eye. In her old age, Nonna leads a happy life with her flockmates, thanks to both preventative and acute medical care.
Caring for aging residents is a hallmark of sanctuaries, and one of the most powerful testaments to what it means to value animals’ lives. Senior care and providing often extensive medical interventions are both lacking on animals farms of all kinds, where animals’ needs have to be weighed against the bottom line.
Don’t believe the hoax of “humane” branding for animal products. Support sanctuaries instead—and of course, go vegan.
