Time and again, Compassion Over Killing has cracked open the truth behind egg industry cruelty, from our undercover investigations, to getting misleading “Animal Care Certified” labels removed from cartons, and our continued efforts to protect both hens and consumers.

In the first charges against an egg farm for violations of California’s Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act (known as “Prop 2”), Hohberg Poultry Ranches in Ontario, California is facing criminal animal cruelty charges after 28,000 hens were found living in filthy conditions, packed into overcrowded cages.

Following a search of the facility by the Humane Society of the United States, Ontario police and others, The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office has charged the Ontario farm and its owner with 16 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty as well as 39 misdemeanor counts of “Prop 2” violations.

The Los Angeles Times quotes District Attorney Mike Ramos: “It’s a very inhumane situation. If you are going to harm animals here in the Inland Empire, we are going to hold you responsible.”

He added: “The overcrowded conditions these animals were forced to live in were cruel. It was a horrible existence.”

In some of the crowded cages, dead hens were found left to decay alongside live, still egg-laying hens. Sadly, this is not uncommon in the egg industry, where time and again, cruelty has been found to be standard practice.

Extreme confinement in battery cages is indeed a “horrible existence” suffered by millions of egg-laying hens every day. The good news is it’s easier than ever before to protect chickens and all animals by leaving eggs and meat off our plates.

We can help you get started today at TryVeg.com.