Austin Stewart, an assistant professor in Iowa State University’s College of Design, is getting a lot of attention for his recent project Second Livestock. The project proposes fitting factory farmed hens with devices to give them a “virtual free range” experience. Apparently it’s a joke, or rather a “social experiment” as sites like TechCrunch are calling it. Stewart did an interview with the Ames Tribune on the project, stating, “The goal of the project is to raise that question of how do we know what’s best, or what is humane treatment, and also to look at how we treat ourselves. We’re living in these little boxes, just like chickens.”

I can’t tell if he’s trying to sound dumb or if they just aren’t going about quoting him very well. But the Second Lifestock site is very thought-out, so I wonder if he’s not just fucking with his interviewer to keep the whole thing vague. I suspect, or hope, that the project is actually a satire of the lengths people will go to to maintain industrial farming. However, at the moment, Stewart doesn’t shed much light on the realities of factory farming. Maybe that’s to come?

What are your thoughts? 

Beagle Freedom Project has come out with a new video of recently rescued lab beagles experiencing freedom for the first time. As the video says, no one knew how they would react to each other. But as you can see when you watch, they are total BFFs!

If you don’t already know, beagles are the most common dog used in animal testing. The heartbreaking reason is that they are so docile. So tragic. 

If you haven’t seen the 2011 Beagle Freedom Project vid, YOU MUST WATCH IT IMMEDIATELY:

via The Dodo!

Donate to the Beagle Freedom Project here!

Need more evidence that the trend of meat-free eating is firmly cemented into the mainstream? Ride an Amtrak train and check out the cover feature of the magazine in the back of every seat. The teaser says it all: “Going meatless isn’t just for rock stars, former presidents and other celebrities. There’s a cultural shift afoot toward a more healthful, humane, and environmentally sound lifestyle.”

You’ve heard that Hampton Creek is a promising start-up aiming to compete with the egg industry. But did you know what wild success the company is having with its product? Forbes has the story.

HSUS’s battle to close a loophole in the federal rule prohibiting slaughter of downer cattle continues. This radio story has the deets.

We’re also in high-gear in Massachusetts with a campaign to ban battery cages, gestation crates, and veal crates. You can read more about our event there yesterday in Boston Magazine.

Have a great weekend!

Paul Shapiro
Vice President, Farm Animal Protection
The Humane Society of the United States
Follow at http://twitter.com/pshapiro

P.S. Video of the week: I wish my cats would hug me like this.

Julia and her piglets! Julia was super abused before she was rescued by Farm Sanctuary, at which point she gave birth to a boatload of adorable piglets!

The pig’s sentience—its status as a non-object capable of suffering—morally trumps my desire to eat a BLT, no matter how much pleasure it gives. No life is worth a sandwich I don’t need. 
–James McWilliams for the Atlantic

The mere mention of bacon makes most meat-eaters giggle with glee. It’s basically the pinnacle of American gluttony, decadence, and indifference. It’s not just a food, bacon has become a punchline, yucking it up on Tshirts and memes across the country. Meanwhile, pigs, who are not only smarter than your dog but also emotionally complex, are suffering relentless anguish. 

According to the National Pork Producers Council, the numbers are reproachful:

Today there are more than 67,000 pork operations compared with nearly 3 million in the 1950s. Farms have grown in size; 53 percent of them now produce 5,000 or more pigs per year. Nearly 21 billion pounds of pork were processed from about 110 million hogs in 2011. A total of 2.3 million metric tons of pork valued at more than $6.3 billion was exported in 2012.

If I can translate that for you: a hundred million pigs are killed a year, and the factory farm industry is booming. That means gestation crates, pollution, disease, and cruelty. 

I know people like the taste of bacon. That’s not a justification for the suffering it causes. Maybe human babies taste great, that’s not a good reason to eat human babies. The “but it tastes good” argument is nothing short of vapid and shallow. You’re choosing sensory pleasure over morals. When is that ever the right way to make decisions?

In conclusion, here are 5 adorable piglets who were rescued from certain death and suffering. These are living beings who deserve more than being someones lunch. Take it away, cutie pies! 

1. Leon Trotsky

Kicking us off is Leon Trotsky from Edgar’s Mission! Leon was injured at a farm and therefore “useless.” Thankfully, a kind person got Leon to the safety of Edgar’s Mission where he was fitted for his very own training wheels. 

2. Edgar

This is Edgar! He’s one of those fell-off-the-truck rescue stories. Now he lives at Snooters Farm Sanctuary!

3. Marigold

Here we have Marigold from Animal Place! She’s playing in the straw like a total goofball! Her exact history is unknown, she was found roaming the streets in Sacramento, but they guess she was probably purchased from an auction for backyard slaughter. Not dice!

4. Stanley

Hello, Stanley! Stanley is all growed up now but this is him getting some belly rubs as a baby. He’s another escapee found running up and down a busy road. Now he lives happily at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary!

5. Eric

And of course, we close out with wee Eric from Farm Sanctuary! Eric was left to suffer with a leg injury because the medical attention he needed would cost more than the farmer thought he was worth. We think Eric is worth a gagillion dollars and all piglets are worthy of a happy life without pain!

All of these piglets were intended to be meat on someone’s plate, but thanks to random events, they escaped their grim fate. But most pigs—billions of them—are not so lucky. The overwhelming majority of pigs are still suffering in deplorable conditions. What can you do? Click on any of the shelter links above and donate in the name of your favorite piglet. More ideas? Visit Mercy For Animals. But the best and easiest thing you can do is GO VEG.

Share this list with your friends and spread the message: animals matter!

This is Panda Bob. He’s a rescued calf that lives at Animal Place. He’s also AWESOME. If you follow us on FB, you may have seen me share Panda Bob’s status updates from Animal Place’s FB. I do so for the simple fact that HE’S ADORBS AND HILAR! Here’s his latest update, to give you a taste:

Dear World,

It’s me, Panda Bob.

This is me in profile. Around a kajillion dollars have been spent on determining which side is my best side. Science says, left side. SCIENCE.

ISN’T HE FANTASTIC AND AMAZING? (Hint: YES) Well now Animal Place and Panda Bob need YOUR help. They want upgrade their rusty old transport trailer to a new, bigger, safer trailer! The trailer will be used to rescue even more awesome animals who need a good home as well as transport animal residents to vet visits. But they need cash money to buy it!

That’s where you come in! Go to this link and donate whatever you can! Besides the satisfaction of knowing you helped save animals, they also have great perks. $10 gets you an exclusive video link of Panda Bob meeting the new trailer once they get it; $500 gets you a meet and greet with Panda Bob in person!!!! There are plenty of other cool perks too. So go donate now! Do it for the animals! Do it for Panda Bob!

This is how Panda Bob feels about the old trailer. HATES IT.