I was recently a visitor at the Mower County fair in Austin, Minnesota. I grew up in Austin, and have fond memories of the fair, so I try to return for a visit around that time every year. However, each year I feel increasingly uneasy when visiting the animals.

This year I saw a variety of animals including cows, sheep and pigs in horrible conditions, especially in the children’s petting zoo. I do believe it’s important to teach children about animals and about promoting animal welfare, however, I am not convinced that the petting zoo is doing this.

The animals I saw were in small cages, in very hot weather, with little or no water and no adequate shade. Some were lying in their own feces. One sheep with a full coat of wool was panting especially heavily, and when I inquired about this a staff member told me the person the animal belonged too would not allow its coat to be sheared, a practice which I later learned (upon doing some research) is recommended for sheep so they do not overheat in the summer.

The worst sight was a mother pig and her piglets. It was truly horrible and heart-breaking to see. She was being kept in what I later learned (also through research) was called a farrowing crate, a device used for “intensive confinement” and one which the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals advocates for the elimination of. These animals were outdoors in the sun, with temperatures soaring into the 90s, all of the pigs looked to be in distress, and were panting heavily. The mother pig had no water, open sores on her body which were attracting flies, and she could not move at all. I left the petting zoo wondering at the fate of the animals — would they survive? I think this type of public display of animal cruelty in reprehensible and disgusting.

I am a responsible pet owner myself, a former Mower County 4-H member, and I currently teach courses in Environmental Ethics for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, lest anyone should think this letter is simply the opinion of some city-slicker animal rights nut. Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character. I suggest we examine how we practice such compassion, and how we teach it to the next generation.

 Sincerely,

Carissa Wyant