The Islamic practice of slaughtering animals by means of a sharp cut to the front of the neck has frequently come under attack by some animal rights activists as being a form of animal cruelty, the claim being that it is a painful inhumane method of killing animals. I came across this strange article about German research on which slaughter method creates more pain for the animal: the Western method of stunning or the Islamic method of a cut to the neck. MORE

An animal rights group claims the dogs were killed inhumanely by an outdoor adventure company and thrown into a mass grave. Bad allegations connected to Whistler. Full article at the BBC News. Canadian police are investigating the reported killing of 100 huskies which had been used to pull tourist sleds in the ski resort of Whistler. Local media reports say business slumped after the 2010 Winter Olympics and the dogs were no longer needed. The company could not be reached for comment. MORE

Angus directed me to a story about the Calgary Stampede (rodeo) and the Calgary and Vancouver Humane Societies which had me asking: Whose side are they on? MORE

An internal review by the US Bureau of Land Management admits that the roundup of wild horses has involved some mistreatment, but they refuse to admit the treatment was inhumane. Bureau of Land Management's internal review of a wild horse roundup in Nevada found some mustangs were whipped in the face, kicked in the head, dragged by a rope around the neck, and repeatedly shocked with electrical prods, but the agency concluded none of the mistreatment rose to the level of being inhumane. MORE

Horses destined for inhumane slaughter in the U.S. can now breathe a sigh of relief, thanks to a recent ruling in a federal appeals court. According to this story in the Northern Star, a federal appeals court Wednesday ruled that the USDA can no longer inspect horse meat for a fee. Because animal flesh sold for human consumption abroad must be inspected by a USDA inspector, the court ruling may mean that the few remaining horse-slaughtering plants in the U.S.—including MORE

Animal agriculture is inherently inhumane. To the Editor: Re “ Humanity Even for Nonhumans ,” by Nicholas D. Kristof (column, April 9): Thank you for this inspiring and enlightening article. Animals raised for food suffer miserably. MORE

Just so inhumane and dangerous. Can crashes into carriage. They have them here in Seattle. I just hate them, although it sounds like NYC is particularly bad. horse carriages horses new york city MORE

Indeed, precisely because one expects indifference from animals but pity or mercy from human beings, people who are cruel by being insensitive to the suffering they cause often are called "animals" or "brutes," and their character or behavior, "brutal" or "inhuman." MORE

Paragraph #4 starts with: "Undeniably, neither I nor anyone I know advocates or even tolerates the inhumane treatment of farm animals." The veracity of this statement hinges on Scott's definition of "inhumane," and that definition must be very, very restricted, and clearly unrelated to the realities of our modern factory farm system. Bea directed me to the Animal Welfare Special Report at TheHill.com , in which Rep. MORE

Beneath all else, slumbering but soon to awaken, is the paradox—old as the seventeenth century—intensified by recent studies of animal behavior: certain beasts are "human" enough (similar to man) that experimentation on them seems justified (to man) by the possible benefit to man; yet these same beasts are "inhuman" enough (different from man) that experimentation on them (in ways that would not be allowed on man) is morally permissible. MORE

4, 2008) – Voters in California approved an historic ballot measure to halt the inhumane confinement of animals on factory farms by an overwhelming margin. Proposition 2 has been passed in California. From the campaign website : (Nov. As of 11 PM PST, Prop 2 was leading 62% to 38%. MORE

A Luna Boston stylist will be on-hand to help you update your wardrobe for summer with the latest trends, and twenty-five percent of all proceeds made during the event will be donated to help CAPS in its mission to protect companions from cruelty and inhumane breeding practices in Pet Shops and Puppy Mills. Tails are sure to wag on Friday, June 12t h as Luna Boston hosts “Doggies + Bags,” a special benefit party for the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS). MORE

The issue is not whether slaughtering horses is un-American, but that it is inhumane and wholly unnecessary. To the Editor: Re “ We Eat Horses, Don’t We? ,” by Christa Weil (Op-Ed, March 5): Ms. Weil’s paean to horsemeat should be taken with a grain of salt. The fact that horsemeat has at times been part of humanity’s diet is not in dispute. But yesterday’s hardship food is today’s gourmet treat. MORE

A resolution at the end of a three-year campaign, triggered by a public outcry at the annual seal culls in Canada and Norway, condemned the slaughter of seals as "inherently inhumane". That's good news. From the press release: Euro-MPs have voted overwhelmingly for a total ban on the trade in seal products across Europe. MORE

on Prop 2 campaign reports a tidal wave of voter and donor support from Californians backing the effort to stop the cruel and inhumane treatment of animals on industrial factory farms. I've been trying to find polling data on Proposition 2, but this is all I could find. It's from September 30, from the Humane Society. As the quarterly campaign finance period closed today, the YES! MORE

Since using animals is cultural, not part of our biological nature or in any way necessary, animal use is by definition inhumane—unkind where we could as a society choose kind. It is inhumane to humans as well, E. To the Editor: Thank you for Nicholas D. Kristof’s plea for food-policy reform (“ Lettuce From the Garden, With Worms ,” column, June 21). Though factory-style production worsens it, the root problem is animal use. MORE

He said this research, along with other research that could vastly improve human quality of life, could absolutely not be done without animal testing, and wishes more people understood that “animal research is not cruel or inhumane, it benefits us all.” Interesting that animal research is not cruel or inhumane because it benefits US. This kid is a biochem major at the University of Southern Mississippi. He's helping to investigate possible drug cures for obesity. Listen to this. MORE

In the weaker form of the argument it is maintained only that eating meat tends to make people less sensitive to people’s inhumane treatment of other people and more willing to accept people’s brutality and inhumanity to other people. Similarly, there is no logical connection between eating meat and being insensitive to the inhumane treatment of animals or humans. People who do not eat meat tend to be less cruel and inhumane to persons than people who do eat meat. MORE

Surely horses love to run when given the freedom to do so, but forcing them to run on artificial surfaces known to increase injuries to their already fragile legs is inhumane. The much-hyped Kentucky Derby will be taking place this Saturday, May 1st. MORE

Animal rights advocates have singled out the crates, known as sow stalls, as inhumane, and several states have moved to ban or restrict their use not only in pork production, but also in the production of eggs and veal. I'm no fan of McDonalds, but any little bit of help is progress. Here's an excerpt. For the full story, check out this link to the New York Times article. MORE

employee, claims the defendants inhumanely and illegally mistreat their Asian elephants and have done so for decades. Finally, a cruelty suit against Feld Entertainment, which owns Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, is coming to trial. A U.S. MORE

citizens have been struggling to bring an end to the inhumane practice of slaughtering horses for human consumption. For several years, conscientious U.S. Happily, that struggle is finally over. As reported in this Northern Star story, on July 5, 2007, Cavel International, the last remaining horse slaughterhouse operating in America, was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Frederick Kapala to close down its operations permanently. MORE

While this legislation would be an important step in transforming inhumane animal production, we must also call for change on the federal level, where the farm bill subsidizes this sector to the tune of billions of dollars. It’s time that our tax dollars no longer finance the inhumane conditions—for workers and animals and the climate—of factory farms. To the Editor: Re “ A Farm Boy Reflects ” (column, July 31): Hats off to Nicholas D. MORE

The dark secret behind factory farm profits—cruel and inhumane animal husbandry—is getting out. Factory farmers treat animals inhumanely for no good reason. Since morally decent individuals oppose treating animals inhumanely for no good reason, factory farming is becoming an increasingly hard sell. Nevertheless, as the HPMAJ column linked to above reveals, those who profit from treating farm animals inhumanely are not ready to throw in the towel just yet. MORE

The meat industry is inherently destructive and inhumane, there is no way to make it otherwise, and much of the harm it does to ecosystems is by inflicting suffering and death on billions of nonhuman animals, farmed and free-living, each year. Responsible Policies for Animals Members & Friends! On March 11th, RPA sent the governors of all 50 states a letter and two factsheets urging them to help get their land-grant universities (LGUs) out of the meat industry. MORE

No matter how inhumane, over 10,000 puppy mills continue to do business across the country—many of them legally—as neglect runs rampant and countless lives are ruined. A Special Episode of Animal Cops: Philadelphia Premieres Monday, April 27, at 10 PM (ET/PT). Boney legs poke out from between harsh metal wires. Food and water dishes remain empty for days. Ailments go untreated as puppies bide their time among the dying and the dead. MORE

Unfortunately, many decades of underfunding and inhumane management practices combined to destroy these wild herds, leaving fewer than 25,000 wild horses and burros on public lands by the early 1970s. Nick Rahall and Raul Grijalva have introduced a bill that would protect healthy wild horses from being killed by the BLM. In a written statement, Rahall says the intent is to help spur alternatives to killing excess wild horses that are in holding facilities. MORE

Each one of these animals suffered extreme cruel and inhumane conditions in the transportation and slaughter process. To the Editor: An addendum should be made to your editorial ’s point that all horses deserve the “generosity of conscience” that was expended to save Barbaro. Just days before Barbaro was humanely put down, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act was reintroduced in Congress. MORE

They realize that factory farming is inhumane. Not all meat eaters are cold, cruel, selfish individuals insensitive to animal suffering. Many, if not most, of the meat eaters I know are deeply concerned about the fact that the animals they eat are raised in factory farm conditions. They don't want to contribute to the unnecessary pain, suffering, and death of the animals they eat, but they simply can't imagine life without meat. MORE

Thousands of New Yorkers and visitors have signed petitions demanding an end to the senseless tragedies and inhumane treatment of these gentle giants. To the Editor: Re “ Drummer Denies He Intentionally Spooked Horse That Died ” (news article, Sept. MORE

Snakes may die during the capture and transport process, or they may be housed inhumanely in a small aquarium they can barely fit into. To the Editor: Re “ Snake Owners See Furry Bias in Invasive Species Proposal ” (news article, Jan. 9): The Fish and Wildlife Service is right to propose a ban on the sale of nine large constricting snakes for the pet trade. MORE

Dog Whisperer: Inside Puppy Mills exposes inhumane conditions at these factory-like breeding operations, as Cesar joins an undercover mission with the animal welfare organization Last Chance for Animals (LCA). Add another voice to the growing choir of those speaking out against puppy mills! DOG WHISPERER: INSIDE PUPPY MILLS. Friday, May 8 at 9PM ET/PT. MORE

Meat production may be cruel or inhumane, but it is not, literally, torturous To the Editor: Re “ A Food Manifesto for the Future ” (column, Feb. 2): Let us give thanks for Mark Bittman! He is speaking sensibly about one of the most important issues we face as a nation. Better food creates better health. And yet our government is perversely encouraging food habits that negatively affect our health and our environment. MORE

For some people, it is inhumane to eat meat in any situation, no matter how well the animal is treated prior to and during slaughter. Andrew from Good Honest Dollar had an excellent question. He asked whether cows, chickens, sheep and some of the other animals that we eat are usually treated and killed in a humane manner. It's a thoughtful question I wish more people would ask. The meat industry will say yes, of course, all animals are treated and killed humanely. Here is my opinion. MORE

The board was supposed to end this inhumane practice in Ohio for good; however, during a March 1 meeting, they voted to remove the provision requiring that calves have enough room to move, proposing to allow their confinement in tiny crates for the first 10 weeks of their lives and violating the agreement. Good news.although there had to be pressure exerted from advocates. From the Farm Sanctuary. MORE

The meat industry is environmentally devastating, incredibly inhumane and now potentially the end to us all. To the Editor: Re “Officials Point to Swine Flu in New York” (front page, April 26): Dare we ask why this happening [sic]? While its exact origin is still unclear, this pathogen, and many others (like avian influenza), originated from animals being raised or eaten for food. MORE

I believe Palin will happily support Cheney's inhumane policies on torture and attacking other countries. I'll be honest. I was never planning on voting for John McCain in the first place. But I wasn't freaked out about this election the way I am now. I thought that if we could survive 8 years of w, we could survive 4 years of McCain. He couldn't be worse. Then he picked this woman. And the more I learn, the worse it gets. NOW, I'm freaked out. MORE

This is a story of inhumane treatment and a story of psychological torment for these animals,” Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of the Washington-based animal rights group, said at a news conference Wednesday. Actually, it's more then allegations. They have video. The video footage shows monkeys biting themselves and slamming against the bars of small cages. MORE

So while The Times is to be commended for continuing to highlight the many terrible aspects of factory farms, including inhumane confinement practices, let’s not forget that because of the extraordinary consolidation and vertical integration of American agriculture over the last 60-plus years, American farmers are enduring extraordinary suffering as well. MORE

6): While it’s commendable to finally see an official acknowledgment of the hideous conditions in which the carriage horses are forced to exist, the suggested remedies would just be a Band-Aid for an inherently inhumane situation. To the Editor: Re “ Audit Criticizes City on Care of Carriage Horses ” (news article, Sept. MORE

At the time of slaughter, these frightened animals are inhumanely loaded onto trucks and shipped long distances to the slaughterhouse without food or water or protection from the elements. Premises (1) – (4) are true, and together they entail: (5) Raising animals inhumanely and killing them is morally wrong, unless there is a good reason for doing so. MORE

Just like property status isn't something I write about often and I would never have thought of, the same is true for the relationship between land-grant-universities and why some of us eat what/whom we eat. Today's message and call to action is from David Cantor of Responsible Policies for Animals (thanks, Mike!). Responsible Policies for Animals Members & Friends! MORE

A press release I received from the Farm Sanctuary. Animal Welfare Groups Win Industry Backing for First-Ever Federal Regulation of Hen Welfare Groundswell of Public Support Results in Full Court Press for Nationwide Law Protecting Chickens to Replace State-by-State Initiatives WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. July 8, 2011 – In a groundbreaking move that should result in the greatest advancement for farmed animals in U.S. MORE