How You Can Help

Dear Dr. _______,

I am disgusted by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s endorsement of the cruel and inhumane factory-farm practices of confining pregnant pigs to gestation crates and its tacit support for ramming feeding tubes down the throats of ducks and geese in order to produce foie gras.

Pregnant pigs live for many years in gestation crates, where they don’t even have enough space to turn around or take a step in any direction. Many develop open sores and wounds as a result of their confinement. Studies show that pigs are more intelligent than dogs, yet they are treated in ways that would warrant felony cruelty-to-animals charges if they were dogs.

In foie gras production—which has been banned in many countries and will soon be illegal in parts of the U.S.—young ducks and geese have a pipe rammed down their throats and are force-fed multiple times per day so that their livers grow painfully large. This cruel practice is unacceptable, yet the AVMA refuses to take a stand condemning it.

As someone who has dedicated your life to improving and enriching the lives of animals, you’ll agree, I’m sure, that every animal, whether a dog, a pig, a cat, or a goose, deserves basic humane treatment.

Therefore, I ask that you please forward this letter to your state AVMA House of Delegates member and urge that delegate to vote to reverse the AVMA stance on these cruel and unnecessary practices.

Sincerely,

[Your name]