Posted by sapwcbtpm (anonymous) on September 25, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I believe HORMEL was THE pioneer for humane slaughtering in the meatpacking industry. Slaughtering animals that don't bark or meow (PETA, don't you like cats?) is the nature of the industry.

PETA, please be reasonable; surely, you cannot expect the whole world to be vegan! If you were reasonable about your stances, perhaps you would get more people on your side.

Also, PETA - do your homework! Why don't you go after the people who are beastly to animals rather than a company that gets recognition for its humanity to them!

And HORMEL - stand up for yourself! You are doing the right thing; so do the proud thing and state the facts.

A stockholder and SPAM-lover!

Posted by Emerelda80 (anonymous) on September 25, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Please! PETA, there is no way that I would ever eat my pets.
Do you really expect a world-wide food processing company to treat each animal that comes through their doors as a pet?
Where is the logic in that? These animals are raised from birth to be a part of the food chain.

Take a look at the process and what Hormel has done for this community and where Austin would be without it and take a step back. Isn't there enough to worry about these days between war, a poor American economy, an up-coming Presidential election, a housing market that is non-existent?

Posted by johnnybegood (anonymous) on September 25, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with the two prior comments. Hormels provided our family with wages for food, shelter and education for over 30 years my father worked for them. My uncle's family in Chicago also. Dear PETA....does that mean Hormel has to teach each pig to fetch a stick or ball like my dog Max. How about rolling over like my cat smokey. It took smokey along time to learn that one, but I know pigs are much smarter! I hope this doesn't cost Hormel's too much for these teaching lessons cause then we'd have to buy from Wilsons or Cudahy or whoever. Give us a break! I love animals and would never harm them; I'm sure Hormel's operates under the same manner. Have a porkchop tonight and get some practical ideas down on paper.

Posted by Mallory (anonymous) on September 25, 2008 at 9 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think it would be fair if PETA put pressure on the farms where the animal abuse occurred; maybe even put pressure on meat companies to not do business with those farms, but other than that I think they have no business getting on Hormel's case.

There are so many organizations that, like PETA, start out to do good things for animals and then get so many extremists in the group that their credibility is damaged.

Posted by fannyann (anonymous) on September 25, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I so agree these last comments. First of all it was a farm that this happened at....not at the Hormel Foods Livestock area. Also kind of strange they can not find some of these people who were in the video. Maybe they also were PETA planted actors just like the guy that took the undercover video. Would not put animal crulity past PETA to try to show blame with someone else. Some people just believe anything anyone tells them.

Posted by icDogboy (anonymous) on September 25, 2008 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hormel Is a straight up company , PERIOD!!
Peta is a terroist group!!
My pet sleeps with my wife and I ever night.
I will personally buy a hog so the PETA people can sleep with it!
Wake up Austin daily herald and quite giving these radical liberials a voice!!!!
Without Hormel you wouldn't exist!!!
I LOVE SPAM!!!

Posted by rebeccaboo2006 (anonymous) on September 25, 2008 at 11:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am surprised by PETA wanting Hormel to treat the pigs "Like pets". PETA (as a orginazation) doesn't believe any animals (even cats and dogs) should be held against their will, and should be set free.

Posted by Dave (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 5:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If dogs oink'd would we treat them like dogs?

Posted by lorensonp (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Believe me, pigs are kind and loving persons who deserve respect. They are clever, clean and wonderful friends.
Our culture makes us think that they are "meat", but this is one of the biggest blunders of our civilization. Please, do not follow the lead of people who do not think.
There is much more beyond pigs than you dare to imagine.

Posted by Dave (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I believe i would rather follow a person who may not think than a person who calls a pig "loving persons". Do you own a pig that lives with you?

Posted by MaryF (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

PETA raised the comparison of dogs and pigs because pigs are said to be as intelligent as dogs. Can you imagine keeping a dog in a crate for years? It is unthinkably inhumane, and it should be illegal to keep dogs or pigs that way.

Take a look at the horrific treatment of pigs that was revealed by a recent investigation of a Hormel supplier and read the petition for yourself at: http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/iowa_...
If you do, I believe you, too, will sign it. Only an unreasonable and/or heartless person would refuse to do so.

Posted by veganrocker86 (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with lorensonp and MaryF completely. The fact that a "respected" company such as Hormel, a company that has been apart of American life for many many years would even think of tolerating that kind of abuse towards their animals is just disgusting. Being vegan, I am totally against eating anything that comes from an animal, but I do believe that if you are one of these companies that raise animals for food and you are doing it to make a living, at least be civil towards those other walks of life and don't treat them like the scum below your feet. Anyone that agrees with what Hormel is supporting (including those that work for Hormel and isn't speaking up about this) and believes it's just dirt that should be brushed of your shoulder deserves to be thrown in jail for animal cruelty.

Posted by sepenn2 (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am right along with PETA. If you crazy people want to raise your cholesterol and increase your cancer risk by shooting animals in the wild, ok, I would actually be ok with that. I may not agree with it but ok, fine. But, when I see animals in factory farms that are, molested by sick individuals(who I assure you don't stop with animals) or who beat animals with poles, fists, kicks, etc, it breaks my heart. It makes me think, "what is this world coming to?". That people can be so sick and so many people don't see a problem with it. Now, I'm not calling you a bad person if you eat meat, I'm just saying that you are a bad person if you're ignorant about the process that these animals are put through. Just read some literature and inform yourself, not just of the haneous actions in factory farms but the health benefits you could endure by adapting a veg diet. Maybe then you will see it with a different POV. No offense, but, until you educate yourself, SHUT UP, please!

ps. PETA thinks realisticly, and doesnt expect the word to all go vegan, if just won't happen, unfornately! But, we would like for restaurants and groceries to offer people an alternative.

Posted by romaunts (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If they were a 'humane' institute of slaughter (which is an oxymoron, either way you turn it) then they wouldn't have been caught being so horrible and sickeningly cruel.

Just because they're going to kill them doesn't mean they need to make them suffer so much. They can think and feel, too. They're even smarter than dogs, 3 year olde children, and most other animals on the planet...and most people wouldn't dare inflict those horrors on their pets,! That's the entire point of this.

"Do you own a pig that lives with you?"

I, personally, do not, but I'd love to. (: They're cute, friendly, and lovable. Plus they can play video games- how cool? Lets see a dog beat that! They're also loyal and playful and can find their way home from long distances. They're AMAZING creatures, but no one cares.

They just let this happen:
http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/p2_io...

Some of the abuse including:
" * A supervisor shoved a cane into a sow's vagina, struck her on the back about 17 times, and then struck another sow.
* Multiple pigs were beaten with metal gate rods, and lacerations were found on more than 30 sows - which is probably evidence of more abuse.
* A worker hit a young pig in the face four times with the edge of a herding board, and investigators witnessed dozens of similar incidents involving this worker and 11 other workers.
* Two men - including a supervisor - were witnessed jabbing clothespins into pigs' eyes and faces. A supervisor also poked two animals in the eyes with his fingers.
* A supervisor kicked a young pig in the face, abdomen, and genitals to make her move and told PETA's investigator, "You gotta beat on the bitch. Make her cry."
* A worker who weighed an estimated 315 lbs. punched a sow on the back three times and said that he sat on a sow's head."

Its DISGUSTING, and anyone that disagrees is a cruel, immoral, UnGodly devil who deserves to live through the torture these wonderful creatures do, if only to develop compassion and understanding. This abuse is sick and should be illegal.

If you're going to be a demon and kill something, at least don't put them through Hell first. They already go through enough just to fill your cholesterol- and fat-clogged bodies with flesh... why do more unjust damage?

Oh, and if you consider yourself a Godly individual and still support these horrors for the sake of 'we're meant to eat animals' or 'animals don't matter'... re-read the Bible and the Christian beliefs. Rethink God's points of Mercy, Compassion, and Love.

Some of the points shall follow this post:

Posted by romaunts (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

1. AND some of his disciples came and told him of a certain Egyptian, a son of Belial, who taught that it was lawful to torment animals, if their sufferings brought any profit to men.
2. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, they who partake of benefits which are gotten by wronging one of God's creatures, cannot be righteous: nor can they touch holy things, or teach the mysteries of the kingdom, whose hands are stained With blood, or whose mouths are defiled with flesh.
3. God giveth the grains and the fruits of the earth for food: and for righteous man truly there is no other lawful sustenance for the body.
4. The robber who breaketh into the house made by man is guilty, but they who break into the house made by God, even of the least of these are the greater sinners. Wherefore I say unto all who desire to be my disciples, keep your hands from bloodshed and let no flesh meat enter your mouths, for God is just and bountiful, who ordaineth that man shall live by the fruits and seeds of the earth alone.
5. But if any animal suffer greatly, and if its life be a misery unto it. or if it be dangerous to you, release it from its life quickly, and with as little pain as you can, Send it forth in love and mercy, but torment it not, and God the Father-Mother will shew mercy unto you, as ye have shown mercy unto those given into your hands.
6. And whatsoever ye do unto the Cast of these my children, ye do it unto me. For I am in them and they are in me, Yea, I am in all creatures and all creatures are in me. In all their joys I rejoice, in all their afflictions I am afflicted. Wherefore I say unto you: Be ye kind one to another, and to all the creatures of God."

Posted by freethebirds (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

it's not too hasd to understand! Peta just want them to stop abusing pigs the way they've been doing till now, they showed us the prooves, asked us to ask them to stop, and now it's directly to them, not like dogs but it's a way of saying... if dogs where for aliment industry they want Herald to treat them as if they had the same rights..

Posted by sueforizzle (anonymous) on October 1, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I must ask this question. Have you watched the investigation yet? If not you should. This is not a matter of you have to be vegan/vegetarian. This is a matter of it's not ok to boil the hair off a pig alive. This is a matter of not beating the animal This is a matter of treating these pigs like they have no soul. What if it was you being scolded alive? Wouldn't you want someone to fight for you? In a perfect world peta would ask to stop killing and stop eating meat. But the world isn't perfect so there asking Hormel to buy from farms that aren't so inhumane. Asking someone to treat all living creatures with a minute amount of respect isn't radical. You'd have to be completely closed minded to think so. Open your mind. You have to feel that torturing them so badly before there death is cruel, deep down inside you. I can't imagine that anyone could really be ignorant.
You are taking the woof thing way out of perspective.It was meant to make you think if it was your dog wouldn't you want it to feel the least amount of pain possible? Being more humane wont cost anyone a dime,and it wont hurt you.
Peta is asking hormel to stop buying from farms that treat these animals so poorly.By doing so it will effect those farms directly.
Please open your mind.If only a little.