Ellen-

These photos brought tears to my eyes... I applaud your work for animal rights! I have attempted to use no products that test using animals! It is a lot harder than I thought that it would be... I do not understand why we don't have regulations as to what companies can use animals for testing. I understand if you are using an animal to save lives but for makeup that is ridiculous!

Keep up the good work!

I don't know how this proposed legislation reads, and I don't live in California, but it sounds like what may be a step in the right direction. Animals raised for food should be treated with the greatest respect and as humanely as possible. I am an animal lover but I do eat meat and I always will. I don't think veganism is the answer because this doesn't really help how animals are treated and would probably lead to the extinction of "farm" animals because people can't afford to keep large quantities of these animals alive and they are expensive to take care of - if they're not being raised for food, they won't be raised. Making sure ALL animals have good lives while they're here is the way to go. After all, that's all we humans want, even for ourselves, isn't it?

Ellen,
I am so impressed at your brave stance against the meat industry in bringing to light the torturous lives of the poor animals that are raised and killed to end up on dinner tables. These abusive practices do not have to be - and the treatment of these animals MUST change.

I've always been a fan of yours - but now, well, you're just over the top! Thank you so much!

Vote YES On California Prop 2!

Dear Ellen,
I'm thankful that you show our nation about how these workers are treating animals. From their living conditons, physical and emotional abuse.. it sickens me and brings tears to my eyes. Therefore i am changing my ways of life and going vegetarian one more time and hopefully save a life. Whether it be a chicken, goat, cow, or a pig. I hope families realize how many turkies will be slaughterd for their own personal happiness this thanksgiving and eat a tofu-rkey.

With much love,
kathy.

This just breaks my heart.... couldnt even watch the whole thing. Being an animal lover, Ellen, I really appreciate all of the work you do for things like this and for all of the other wonderful things you do every single day.. you are truly and inspiration!

PLEASE! Let is start with California and spread nation-wide and worldwide. WE MUST be humane! Even if we're not vegans, we can at least provide peaceable habitations for the dear creatures who make the ultimate sacrifice for us.

VOTE
YES
Proposition 2

stayed up to see u do the secret hand jive on leno. funny thing i did it at the same time u did:) thanks
need any one to actualy do what ur writer did'nt at the emmy's i'm ur girl. love u t.

I echo Kimberly's sentiments!! She rocks!
Go Vegan!!
It is the best choice you will ever make.

Ellen,

I am so deeply ashamed for our country and the way we have been treating animals. Nothing will change unless each one of us as an individual changes.

After watching this video I cannot in good conscience continue consuming animal meat products and thefore supporting this cruel, cruel industry.

I am making a change today. I hope others will too.

ellen
i didn't see your show about this incredibly cruel treatment of animals(i'm sort of glad I didn't), but my wife whose home recooping from a broken ankle told me about it and the whole thing just makes me furious. this is why when someone refers to a person as an animal i feel the animal is being insulted. these sort of 'people' should serve loads of jail time. it just doesn't happen enough because you have judges, people in higher positions who don't think torturing animals is such a big deal.gandi once said that you can judge the character of a country and people by the way they treat animals.i can go one and on but what we need is more people like you. it would make such a difference. bless you

Thank you Ellen, and everyone at the Ellen Show, for helping to expose the dirty secrets of factory farms.

Please keep reminding residents in California to please vote "YES" on Proposition 2.

Ellen, I can't thank you enough for supporting this proposition.

Bridgette,
The Center for Consumer Freedom sounds very official, but it is an extremist group in the other direction which I have seen mentioned on tv frequently. They even campaigned against Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and campaigned in favor of transfats. Their funding came from the Phillip Morris Tobacco Company, fast food companies, and meat companies. Some major food corporations like Kraft have refused to work with them based on their positions.

And the criticism described in a small section of the article on wikipedia for hsus states that the agriculture/meat industry has made accusations against them, and does not agree with them. No surprises there. HSUS is one of the more reputable animal-welfare organizations that you will find-- They have been out rescuing animals during the recent catastrophes in our country, have worked with our government to make sure any disaster planning tries to include animals, and they have come out strongly against violence. I would not donate my money to them otherwise.

You also mentioned farms in a way that seems to think that all farms are mom and pop and a barn, and some animals. Please remember that those kind of farms are not the enormous factory farms where so many problems exist. If you want to see problems at California farms, you've only to google it, or search on youtube or other video sites. Other states and other countries have made similar animal welfare laws, and I think it is the right move for everyone. Remember we're not talking about taking meat away from people, just giving them a little more space and being more humane during life. I am sure many farmers are good people who take care of their animals. Sadly, many also are not. This proposition is for them, and it also allows plenty of time for them to figure out solutions. Please vote yes on Proposition 2.

Roxie and everyone else,

All of the pets we had growing up were dumped in the country by people living in cities. Instead of taking the animal to the shelter, be charged to leave it there, or have it euthanized, people rely on the compassionate farmer to raise it. Yet now, that same farmer is cruel to animals.

Reading the comments here, all farmers are cruel to animals. If so why have a minimum of half a dozen pets been dumped in this one mile stretch where farms are located? We can't be all that cruel since the actual people who are cruel to their pets rely on farmers to take care of the pet they no longer want.

BTW, in viewing the footage on the cows, it is NOT from California. Cows are not locked in barns in this state, but since there is no link to where the film was shot nor credit to whom provided it, we are supposed to believe that it happens in this State? If you report something, please put the link to where you received it to lend credibility to the footage, scientific study, or data you quote.

If you want the truth, go to The Center For Consumer Freedom. Also go to an unbiased site provided by Wikipedia on the Humane Society of the US. The negative section was most informative. Also read about Prop 2 on the Wikipedia site rather than here or an animal activist site. From there, you can find many links to other sites.

Thank you Ellen for bringing something as important as respect for animals to your viewer's attention.

Joanne

I forgot my manners in my passion for this subject and my love for animals... THANK-YOU SO MUCH, ELLEN, for bringing this touchy issue of the cruelty of Factory Farming to so many more people! Little actions by everybody really do make a big difference in the big scheme of things...cutting down the meat and dairy in your diet (or of course, better yet, going vegan!), getting more informed about factory farming, and voting YES TO PROP 2!

If you claim you’re an environmentalist, human rights advocate, or animal lover, why aren’t you a vegan?

There are over 10 BILLION farm animals slaughtered every year in the United States, and save for the very rare “family farm” these days, these animals live their entire life in torture in factory farms – wake up folks – THIS is the norm.

And even if you don’t care ANYTHING about the animals, consider this:

It’s a matter of the ENVIRONMENT: According to a United Nations report, the raising of farm animals for food creates more greenhouse gases than the ENTIRE transport industry (planes, trains, and automobiles) put together! It is also an alarming major source of land and water degradation.

It’s a matter of HEALTH: The consumption of meat and other animal products has been documented to harden arteries and contribute to colon and other types of cancer. Children are reaching puberty at much earlier ages than 50 years ago, primarily due to the hormones fed to animals, which are contained in meat and dairy products. It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that "appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases."

It’s a matter of HUMAN RIGHTS: First of all, the meat industry is infamous for exploiting workers. Human Rights Watch has declared that slaughterhouse workers have “the most dangerous factory job in America.” The industry has refused to do what’s necessary to create safe working conditions for its employees. Second of all, the world's cattle alone consume an amount of food crops that could feed 8.7 BILLION people—more than the entire global human population, and yet we are letting billions of people live in starvation because we in North America think we deserve to eat meat 3 times a day.

And as far as the fate of farmers go… I love farmers…CROP farmers! They will be the saviours of our planet’s future!

Nancy,
Thank you for the good laugh at the end of my day! Angry, I'm far from, trying to educate from the other side and inform you of all that is produced from animal by-products, yes. Condoning the treatment of the animals, no. But do take into account that not all farming is done that way. Please read Bridgette's post from California she may open your eyes better then I was trying to do.

I know I had the crap scared out of me after buying the rolled packaged hamburger this weekend, I read the label and the meat comes either from the US, China or Mexico. Needless to say no matter how short on cash I will not buy that brand of hamburger again.

Once again Nancy thanks for the laugh. Have a good one!

Ellen,Thanks for keeping us informed.I've read some of these e-mails and I'm sure everyone thinks that only their way is right.I hope that there is a way to met in the middle.
without cruel inhumane methods.I know that I wish I could afford to do more for the animals.All of my pets are adopted(5).WE have some land and I sure would take all the missed treated in if i could.God blees you for standing up for our 4 legged,fuzzy faced friends!

Ellen,

Thank you for supporting the humane treatment of animals as we should honor them as they feed our families.

I wonder where this was filmed? Are you sure these are actual CALIFORNIA farms. Why haven't we heard about these farms in the news? If you have the courage to play this for millions to see, where is the courage in allowing them to still be suffering? Animal Cruelty is not tolerated and to say Proposition 2 will be the beginning to address it is incorrect.

These videos don't portray the farms in my area. The family farmers spend a lot of time to care for the animals in providing comfort, health, and rely on science based modern practices to care for their animals.

I am really sad to see we as locavores are ready to destroy livelihoods of farmers and their communities(and the community I live in). This proposition unjustly punishes all family farmers and us as consumers as well.

I go to the Doctor, an expert, when I am sick. Why are we not speaking to the experts within these industries? When will we ask farmers about their concerns with animal safety, health, and treatment to avoid cruelty?

It is unfortunate we are not building bridges with the farmers and their families within these industries. We should be cooperatively working with farmers to find viable solutions to weed out and punish those who do not respect or care for the health of animals.

Voting on Proposition 2 supports the safety of animals, but will destroy livelihoods of family farmers, their employees, the economies within the community they live, it will raise our food costs, add to the destruction of the environment, and remove a safe food supply which we can locally control.

How can we vote yes when we aren't gathering all the information to make a decision?

Put an end to animal cruelty, go vegan.