Point of View

Posted Friday, April 28, 2017 12:15 am

Animal welfare has always been one of my passions. I believe humane treatment of animals should be non-partisan, and no matter whom you voted for, compassionate people don’t want to see animals abused, tortured or cruelly killed.

Unfortunately, during the short time Donald Trump has been in office, there has been an alarming escalation of assaults on animal welfare and wildlife. These policies, many backed by special interest groups, are poised to be devastating to all species of animals: domestic, farmed and wildlife.

Since animal welfare is generally not in the forefront of media discussions, this will be a two-part recap of several egregious bills, efforts and policies against animals and wildlife.

To head up his U.S. Department of Agriculture team, President Trump appointed Brian Klippenstein. He is the executive director of Protect the Harvest, an organization with a long history of challenging legislation intended to improve animal welfare, including regulations of factory farming and puppy mills.

Upon his appointment, Kippenstein immediately removed all animal welfare information from the USDA website. Advocates depend on these records to locate abusers and rescue animals in puppy mills, roadside zoos, laboratories an factory farms.

Lawsuits were immediately filed, but only a fraction of the tens of thousands of records have been restored.

Klippenstein is aligned with agribusiness, an industry that does not like restrictions on how their animals are treated. The cruelty of battery cages, veal crates and pig confinement guarantees these animals only experience stress and suffering during their short lives.

This is not about family farmers or ranching. This is about factory farming at its worst, and how animals are treated as “products” to enhance the bottom line.

Animals are sentient beings, and farm animals have every right to be treated humanely before they are slaughtered. Unfortunately “Ag-gag” bills are now pending in Arkansas and other states, which allow employers to sue workers who expose cruelty in the workplace.

The USDA is the government agency that is charged with overseeing animal welfare. It is ludicrous that an anti-animal activist was appointed to head its transition team.

Former George Gov. Sonny Perdue has been tapped to lead the USDA. No doubt, he will follow the path Klippenstein is clearing. Perdue is a known supporter of horse slaughter, makes his living in agribusiness, and if his past actions are any indicator, certainly does not have animals’ welfare at heart.

In December 1973, Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act, effectively protecting more than 2,000 vulnerable animal and plant species in the United States. Further, the act has been credited with saving a number of species from the brink of extinction, including the bald eagle, American alligator, grizzly bear, manatee, buffalo and prairie dog.

The current Congress is bowing to pressure from the drilling, logging and mining industries, and is looking to gut the act and remove animals from protection. Sadly, all wildlife — even those animals on protected land — are in danger if the Endangered Species Act is destroyed.

For example, the grey wolf — no longer protected in several states — is cruelly slaughtered by methods such as aerial tracking and denning. In denning, the wolf cubs are shot, poisoned, burned or buried in their dens, or a live cub is staked outside.

The babies’ cries then draw the parents back to be slaughtered.

How can this killing, often sanctioned by government agencies, be considered humane?

Throughout history, philosophers have mused that our treatment of animals should not be based on whether they can speak or reason, but rather if they can suffer. Those who have ever loved an animal know this is true.

Inhumanity toward any creature — human or animal — cannot be tolerated.

This administration’s callous attitude toward animal welfare must end.