Ellen - please continue your good work re: animal abuse - whether it be our companion pets or farm animals. Thanks !

I've been working in a pig farm since march because I needed a job,just to survive.What we can see in your video is just the tip of the iceberg,believe me!There is no excuse for how humans raise animals for feeding the population.I'm surrounded by sadness and death.But in the same time,I hope people won't judge the staff who works in those places.We are not happy and we are perfectly aware of those animals conditions.Some of us suffer as much as them.And in most of the case,in our section,the others girls and I are doing our best to take care of the pigs,specially for the sows and the babies.We have them for 21 days and during that time,we give them all our good will to improve their conditions,even though we know how they gonna end.Violence is not tolerate,we minimize the stress and ease their pain the best we can.
In 2013,there is a new international law that will provide new conditions of life for the animals:bigger cages,the use of more natural ways to manipulate them ant treat them.Some big boss are angry because that means more space and less concentration of animals in the same surface,but,us,employees,we find this pretty cool.
It's easy for average people to get outraged when seeing those pictures,but tomorrow they will have some ham or sausages anyway.We got to see that and live with it every single day.So I really hope that we won't be judged.If I could find an another job tomorrow,I'll leave this one today.
Sincerely,Mag.

I think that this Proposition 2 is the best thing to do because it's not fair at all for animals to be put threw this. It's the most worst thing to see, just to watch those videos makes me want to cry. Animals can relate to people so much and when they are put in very small cages and kept like that for their whole life it just so hard to see. I mean really what kind of people would actually do something like that, they must really not care. Seriously why don't people get in trouble for that stuff it's the wrongest thing to do. I can't even imagine.

Thank you, Ellen, for taking a stand for animals on your show last week. I also watched Oprah's show the day before, where she updated her report on puppy mills. I wish to thank you both for being an advocate for animals.

Too many people in this country and around the world do not know, or do not want to know, what horrible things happen to animals - both here and abroad. No animal seems to be safe - from cows, pigs, baby calves and chickens, to dogs and cats who are butchered in countries such as China, Korea, the Phillipines, etc. for their meat and for their fur. Several years ago, thanks to the Internet, I learned about factory farms, the horse slaughter industry, the fur industry, the wool industry as well as the brutal murder of deer raised for venison, baby seals clubbed to death for their skins and even the killing of kangaroos to use their skins to make sneakers. (Baby kangaroos are ripped out of their mother's pouches and stomped to death). I learned about Karakul fur - fur which comes from the skin of a newborn baby lamb. The baby is killed the day it is born and skinned for it's super soft fur. Even those who breed thoroughbred horses are guilty of leaving newborn foals to die just so the "broodmare" can nurse a new thoroughbred colt rather than its' own baby. The horrors humans inflict on animals are countless - why is it that so few people are aware of these horrors?

Oprah said it very well on her show last week - just because we as humans were given domain over all the animals, it does not give us the right to mistreat and abuse any animal. I truly believe that every living creature is able to feel fear, pain, anxiety, panic and the desire to survive. I truly believe that every living creature feels a bond toward its mother and visa versa. It is very sad that many humans do not care about the creatures we share this earth with & will do anything out of greed and selfishness.

Thank you again, Ellen, for making the world aware - hopefully, there are as many good-hearted people in this world who will stand up and make a difference. "Bless the beasts and the children, for in this world they have no voice, they have no choice."

As a long time vegetarian i am always disgusted to see of this abuse as I do know that i continually occurs. I know that my choice of not eating any animals or any animal products not only is go for my body but More Importantly for the health and lives of all "farm" animals. I do not live in CA at this time but have many family and friends that do. Of course if they happen to not know about this Prop yet, they will hear it from me. And Ellen are you Vegan? I will be by the end of this year, just a process but that is my goal. :)

My goodness!! What am I reading? --- an animal activist with a personal agenda???? really what might that personal agenda be - being totally unaccepting of the excrutiating pain animals goes through?? what personal agenda?? - will they make money out of not wanting an animal tortured for some useless cosmetic experiment? what is the animal activists agenda that you are talking about??? do you think they'll make money out of your becoming a vegan?

Hi Ellen, First I love your show!! I just viewed the animals and I am disgusted. I can not believe people can be so cruel. We should put those people in the cages and see how they like it!!!
Thanks Pam!
(p.s I would love to be on your show!!!)

Thank you SO much for covering the rampant animal abuse taking place daily in California. Opponents to Prop 2 will try and talk about everything BUT the animals in cages because once you actually see what's taking place there is no way you could say it's OK.

This is horrible treatment for these animals. I am so appalled. This really does need to stop.

Californians....we have the power to make this inhumane and CRUEL treatment of animals stop. I know so many people out of state who wish they lived in California just so they could VOTE YES on 2.

Dont listen to the oppositions "scare tactics". They have tried to keep this a secret for way too long and now they will use any angle they can to try to get you to vote agaisnt it. Use your head & your heart on November 4th.
VOTE YES on 2! We are a civilized country and we wont tolerate this cruelty towards helpless animals any longer!

...any by the way, if you fear you will be "put out of business if this measure passes" that is, one, ridiculously overblown and, two, if you cant operate your facility humanely than maybe you shouldn't be in operation.

VOTE YES on 2

Thank you for doing this show. Not many people are aware of factory farming conditions, which is amazing. Considering the news loves misery, you'd think this would be all over every station... but it is kept secret. People need to be aware of what they're supporting with their food choices! GO VEG!

Ellen - thanks so much for bringing this issue of factory farmed animals into the minds of your viewers. And for providing this forum to discuss your show...

Conditions for factory farmed animals is horrific as the HSUS video shows... along with thousands of other examples here on the internet. Google will get 1,200,000 hits in 0.15 seconds... thus alleviating any question of autenticity. These reports are genuine and not all that uncommon.

Earlier someone reminded us to not think harshly of the farmer who is just "trying to feed the masses". And that "in the day" - cages were much "larger" and made of "wood" so the calf could get up and move into the sunshine, and that fewer birds should be crowded together and that the pigs should be in bigger cages to accomodate piglets. Folks... these animals should not be in cages at all!

Prop 2 negotiates but a few inches and a few feet to billions of animals; in the next 7 years... This minor (delayed) "welfare" reform is met with contention by the dairy and egg industry, claiming that costs will effect profit. They say prices will reflect these modifications... But did you know that they are being Federally investigated for price fixing? Just a few pennies on a dozen eggs multiplied by billions of tons of eggs sold in foreign markets... and BINGO! You've created a higher demand here and can raise prices on your American customers. BUT they caution you that Prop 2 would cause prices to escalate... Sounds like they do a fine job bilking consumers as it is.

And what about all the tax money that goes to promote dairy products? The USDA subsidizes mustache campaigns, studies and "councils" all in the name of "milk". Milk that is under constant question for it's negative health benefits and for it's cruelty.

Who can say that the conditions dairy cows are put to suffer are anything less than monsterous? The HSUS video showed us that... Crippled cows - after producing 10 times more milk than their grandmothers did... are fork lifted into the slaughterhouse. When I think of how miserable a dairy cow's life is, I'm saddened most that she was kept constantly pregnant but was denied feeding or raising any of her young. It must be awful to have your young torn from you that way... Her male babies live such a short pathetic life, housed and tethered in an "igloo" or "stall". A prison of sorts, allowed perhaps the movement of a few feet to and fro. This boy calf, if nursed by his mother would not even be old enough to wean yet... He is still an "infant" when trucked to the slaughterhouse. Often he is accompanied by his mother... No ice cream cone in the world is worth that amount of suffering. This is monsterous...

I'm looking forward to today's show in which Dr. Barnard will shed even more light into the many health reasons "milk" does not do a body good and that living a vegan lifestyle has many physical rewards. Oh yeah... and the animals that don't get slaughtered benefit as well :)

Dear Ellen;
During the summer i e-mailed u about animals. I know how much u love animals so i got an idea that that i'd like 2 share with u. I thought that it would be great if once or twice a month u could show an animal from a pet shelter that's up 4 adoption. I honestly think that alot of cat & dogs would get a great home by doing this. I have a shepard/husky mixed that came from an abused home. He's all white & he's doing great. i saw those poor dogs & cats on the animal shelter commercial & it truely broke my heart. I wanted 2 find a way 2 help them & this is when i came up with this idea. I hope u can do something 2 help me save some of these cats & dogs.
Have a great day!
Sincerely;
Shirley Belcourt
Manchester, N.H.

Dear Ellen,

I admire you so much for exposing this cruelty. You are such a brave person in so many ways, and I love you for it. Thank you a million times! Please don't stop telling the world the truth.

There is a solution. When I first understood the atrocities involved in factory farming I was devastated and I made the decision to go vegan. But after three days I thought it was too hard and went back to being vegetarian. I went into denial mode like most people are in now. It is so easy to put the suffering of others in the back of your mind when you feel you have no control.

But giving up meat, dairy, and eggs, really is similar to quitting smoking or some other addiction, at least that was my experience. Thankfully my daughter and husband remained on a vegan diet and seeing their strength I was motivated to give it another try. Now it's been over five years, and I LOVE the way I eat. I no longer miss cheese, in fact all animal products make me sick.

Factory farming is not only cruel, it is horrific for the environment! Look at the steps we have made on something as difficult as our dependence on fossil fuels. We can almost see a light at the end of the tunnel, solutions with renewable energy- I wish more people would consider going vegan. It is a proven healthy diet. It would make this sad world a happier place.

And there ARE ways to make it work economically. There are always solutions. We can find a win win situation for all. We just have to think positively, work hard at it, and one day we will be thankful for our efforts.

Now is the time for great change in the world. But we must all be participants. It may not be easy but we must evolve. Please please please just give it a try people! Nobody loves food more than me. If I can do it, anyone can. Stop eating animals. We don't need meat to be healthy, that's a myth.

Don't fool yourselves. Whenever you buy meat you become the cause of what is happening in those factory farms, responsible for torture and slavery. Please ask yourselves if animals deserve this. When you saw this video were you comfortable knowing you are a participant? Then don't push those images away. Don't ever forget them. Do the right thing.

Thanks to all of you who really care enough to do something about it.

Susan

Thank you Ellen for highlighting this issue & proposition. This is soooo important! I am so into your show right now!!!

" Seriously, anyone from Australia shouldn't comment. "

Freedom of Speech applies to Australians too, darla, as well as the British and any other democracy.
It's not just for Americans.

Along with this video goes the question..How many of those animals were raised by FFA or 4H kids and sold at fair or auction? I know many that are sold at fair still get slaughtered by the buyer, but maybe they are kept in a much better place until the end. Think about that! And if you have a farm and want to help, when summer time comes, go bid on some livestock from a 4H or FFA kid and keep it alive! My kids are in FFA and 4H, they will show a rabbit and a goat this year.after the judging, they will bring them home and my yard will be mowed free of emissions and fertilized with out pesticides!

" Are you really going to be the spokesperson for CoverGirl cosmetics?? You say you care about animals, Ha! P&G does more animal testing than most companies out there.Medical testing is madated by law, but not required on household products or beauty products,so this wonderful lipstick you are promoting was probably tested on a bunny. Get real!! "

Darla, I think you should get real, but more importantly, get informed.

Ellen had Wayne Pacelle on her show to discuss Proposition 2. Wayne Pacelle is the President & CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.

"Our mission statement: Celebrating Animals, Confronting Cruelty."

There is an excellent article on the HSUS website entitled:

"Animal Testing: The Beginning of the End?"

This informative article talks about the strides being made to end animal testing, and how the US has recently become the driving force behind this, with impending alliances and collabaration between US government departments, European support gruops and interested corporations.

"The announced collaboration will surely be a milestone in the development of non-animal methods.

By itself, it has the potential to be a core element of progress. However, its impact can be greatly magnified by strategic alliances with other key players, including the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods and interested corporations such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever."

Do you really believe Wayne Pacelle would appear on Ellen's show, to discuss Proposition 2 and animal cruelty, if he thought for one minute that Ellen didn't care about animal testing by agreeing to be a spokesperson for Covergirl?

The President & CEO of the Humane Society of the United States obviously doesn't condemn Ellen for her decision, so why should you, or anyone else.

Factory Farms, Industrial Farms … they are not your parents’ friendly farms.
People do your own research.
Animal activists do not have a hidden agenda. We are not after money or fame. We only want to help the animals because they can’t help themselves.
We encompass a wide range of people with different opinions as to what a perfect world would be. But we all agree on this: people need to know what’s going on in industrial farming. Animals are suffering and their suffering is hidden from the public (try to find a tour of these factories).
I doubt anyone (except for those who profit from it) could witness the conditions under which animals are kept and call that humane.
To the corporations that own the factories, animals are only units of production and their well being kept to a minimum standard needed for them to be productive. It’s that simple!
Please do your own research and don’t forget this advice: follow the money!
The animals have no voices and they need our help.
All animals, including those raised for food, deserve humane treatment.

Seriously, anyone from Australia shouldn't comment. What about the Australlian wool industry, its a crying shame.

Vote yes on Prop 2, its the right thing to do, regardless on your view or the other side.

Ellen,
Are you really going to be the spokesperson for CoverGirl cosmetics?? You say you care about animals, Ha! P&G does more animal testing than most companies out there.Medical testing is madated by law, but not required on household products or beauty products,so this wonderful lipstick you are promoting was probably tested on a bunny. Get real!!