Julie Knopp
Here's how we can help ease the suffering of factory-farmed animals.
Several years ago, I visited Quality Pork Processors, a third-party plant supplying Hormel Foods in Austin, Minnesota, where 19,000 pigs are slaughtered daily.
I had come to the plant to take part in an Animal Save vigil, and to bear witness to the experiences of animals within our food system. The Animal Save Movement is composed of groups around the world that bear witness to animals en route to slaughter, often offering them water or documenting their suffering. Although I had been advocating for farmed animals for years, I had never really seen the victims trapped inside the factory farming industry first-hand.
As I peered inside a transport truck stopped at an intersection, I locked eyes with a pig, his body covered with scratches. The fear on his face broke my heart.
He likely spent his life in a barren pen, unable to move, play or explore the world around him. At just six months of age, he was minutes away from a brutal slaughter. Our brief connection—perhaps the only time he encountered a person who cared about his life—was a moment I’ll never forget.
What does it mean to bear witness?
The renowned Russian author and philosopher Leo Tolstoy believed we all have a duty to bear witness to suffering. He wrote, “When the suffering of another creature causes you to feel pain, do not submit to the initial desire to flee from the suffering one, but on the contrary, come closer, as close as you can to him who suffers, and try to help him.” In other words, bearing witness is a deliberate choice to face suffering with compassion.
When it comes to animal protection, bearing witness means confronting the hidden and often brutal realities of the animal agriculture industry. By bearing witness, we acknowledge the dignity of individual animals who are otherwise reduced to commodities. The practice of bearing witness can deepen our connection to farmed animals and motivate us to keep fighting to transform our cruel food system.
How can I bear witness to animal suffering?
1. Document what you see
You may think you don’t have much to document, but you might be surprised by the many ways animal suffering shows up in our day-to-day lives.
For instance, I live in Minnesota—the land of 10,000 lakes—where the farmed animal population has tripled since the 1990s. This explosion in industrial farming has led to significant runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus from manure and fertilizers, much of which is used to grow feed crops for farmed animals. As a result, 40% of Minnesota's lakes and rivers no longer meet basic water quality standards. When I encounter a lake in a farming county, which is contaminated with blue-green algae and no longer fit for human recreation, I see the impact of a broken food system. We cannot keep our environment healthy while we continue to exploit such staggering numbers of farmed animals. Documenting and sharing the diverse impacts of animal agriculture is a meaningful way to bear witness.
Other everyday opportunities to document animal suffering include:
- Trucks on the highway carrying chickens or turkeys crammed into cages on their way to slaughter
- Massive manure lagoons near factory farms
- Animals exposed to extreme weather, such as storms or freezing temperatures
- Inhumane handling or cruelty at markets, fairs, or other public events
Wherever you live, there are ways to shine a light on the realities of farmed animal suffering. Sharing what you witness can raise awareness and inspire others to take action for change.
2. Learn about undercover investigations
The animal agriculture industry operates under a veil of secrecy, concealing much of the suffering it inflicts. As Paul McCartney famously stated, “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.” Undercover investigations provide a rare and powerful glimpse into the heartbreaking reality endured by millions of animals inside factory farms.
By watching and sharing footage from these investigations, you can help expose the conditions animals endure in our food system. Documentaries like Dominion and Earthlings compile a wide array of impactful footage. If videos feel overwhelming, reading about or listening to information about investigations can be a less emotionally taxing way to engage with these harsh realities.
If, like many people, you’re sensitive to animal suffering, you may find this footage distressing to watch. It’s important to remember that sustainable activism is key to the success of the animal protection movement. If avoiding exposure to animal suffering helps you avoid burnout, you can feel confident in your choice to avoid this content, knowing it's in the best interest of you and the animals who need you.
3. Visit a farmed animal sanctuary
Farm sanctuaries provide refuge for the victims of our food system. At sanctuaries, animals who have escaped or been discarded by the animal agriculture industry due to illness or low productivity can finally live free from harm.
When you visit a sanctuary and meet these survivors, you’ll learn about the hardships they’ve endured and witness their recovery in a safe and loving environment. You’ll also have the opportunity to better understand the industry’s survivors as unique individuals, each one with likes, dislikes, and a personality. These connections can deepen your understanding of the harms of animal agriculture and strengthen your commitment to advocating for the industry’s victims.
4. Take action to raise awareness about animal suffering
Bearing witness isn’t just about seeing suffering—it’s about making sure others see it too. One of the most powerful ways to honor the lives of farmed animals is by raising public awareness and sparking meaningful change.
You can help expose and mitigate animal suffering by:
- Urging companies to make and uphold stronger animal welfare commitments
- Contacting legislators to push for policies that protect farmed animals
- Sharing images, stories, or reflections that reveal the realities of industrial farming
Every action you take helps bring us closer to a more compassionate world for animals. To learn how you can make a difference, click here.
Bearing Witness for a Brighter Future
When I think back on the pig I connected with at the Animal Save vigil, it breaks my heart to know there is nothing I can do to rectify his short and difficult life. But I can honor his memory by telling his story and inviting others to take action to create a brighter future for animals like him.
There are countless forms of oppression in our world today, but few are as hidden as the suffering of animals in our food system. By bearing witness to their suffering and exposing the cruelties of this industry, we take a meaningful step toward a more compassionate future for all animals. Each act of bearing witness brings us closer to that reality.
