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The truck carrying this cow was unloaded at Walton Stockyards in Kentucky on a September morning. After the other animals were removed from the truck, she was left behind, unable to move. The stockyard workers beat and kicked her in the face, ribs and back. They used the customary electric prods in her ear to try to get her out of the truck, but still she did not move. The workers then tied a rope around her neck, tied the other end to a post in the ground and drove the truck away. The cow was dragged along the floor of the truck and fell to the ground, landing with both hind legs and her pelvis broken. She remained in this state until 7:30 that evening.
The cow lay in the hot sun crying out for the first three hours. Periodically, when she urinated or defecated, she used her front legs to drag herself along the gravel roadway to a clean spot. She also tried to crawl to a shaded area but could not move far enough. Altogether she managed to crawl a painful 13-14 yards. The stockyard employees would not allow her any drinking water; the only drinking water she received was given to her by Jessie Pierce, a local animal rights activist, who had been contacted by a woman who witnessed the incident. Jessie arrived at noon. After receiving no cooperation from stockyard workers, she called the Kenton County police. A police officer arrived but was instructed by his superiors to do nothing; he left at 1 p.m.
The stockyard operator informed Jessie at 1 p.m. that he had obtained permission from the insurance company to kill the cow but would not do so until Jessie left. Although doubtful that he would keep his word, Jessie left at 3 p.m. She returned at 4:30 p.m. and found the stockyard deserted. Three dogs were attacking the cow, who was still alive. She had suffered a number of bite wounds, and her drinking water had been removed. Jessie contacted the Kentucky state police. Four officers arrived at about 5:30 p.m. State trooper Jan Wuchner wanted to shoot the cow but was told that a veterinarian should kill her. The two veterinarians at the facility would not euthanize the cow, claiming that, in order to preserve the value of the meat, she could not be destroyed. The butcher eventually arrived at 7:30 p.m. and did shoot the cow. Her body was purchased for $307.50. (Usually animals who are bruised or crippled, or who are found dead, are considered unfit for human consumption and are used for pet food.)
When the stockyard operator was questioned earlier in the day by a reporter from The Kentucky Post, he stated, “We didn’t do a damned thing to it,” and referred to the attention given the cow by humane workers and police as “bullcrap.” He laughed throughout the questioning, saying he found nothing wrong with the way the incident was handled.
This is not an isolated case. It is so common that animals in this condition are known in the meat industry as "downers." After PETA brought much-needed attention to this issue, the Kenton County Police Department adopted a policy requiring that all downed animals be immediately euthanized, whether they are on the farm, in transit, or at the slaughterhouse. Sadly, other law-enforcement agencies don't have such policies and downed animals continue to suffer everywhere. It is up to the public to demand change, and it is up to consumers to refuse to purchase the products of this miserable industry.
Animals like these pigs count on us to remember their pain. When you shop, please think of the beings whose lives depend on your choices, and decide not to contribute to their suffering.
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When a truck carrying 200 pigs crashed into a ditch not far from PETA’s headquarters, we sped to the scene. Injured and dying pigs were scattered all over the road. Several pigs who were still alive were trapped inside the crumpled trailer of the truck, struggling not to suffocate under the bodies of the dead. Everywhere our rescue workers turned, pigs were squealing in agony. Others were in shock, unable to do more than watch with terrified eyes. Because the pigs’ owner didn’t want to lose money, the animals who were still alive were being loaded into a new vehicle headed for the slaughterhouse. Without regard for their injuries, workers were tossing pigs onto the truck bed, where they huddled on top of one another, bloody, broken, and bruised. Others were stuck in the ditches where they had landed, while workers poked and prodded them with sticks, trying to get them to climb out. 
When workers realized we were there to protect the animals, they roped the area off to keep us away from the pigs who were obviously injured and suffering in the ditch. But with much perseverance, we were able to convince them to pick each animal up gently, watching for broken bones and other injuries, and to end the misery of those who were in the most agony. The others were trucked to the slaughterhouse to be turned into sausages, pork chops, and hot dogs.
