Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Animal Cruelty Video Shows Abuse at Major Dairy Farm

Idaho operation supplies Burger King, other chains

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 11, 2012 2:15 PM CDT

(Newser) – Yet another tough-to-stomach video is out detailing the abuse of animals in the fast-food industry, this time at a huge dairy farm in Idaho. The video by Mercy for Animals shows workers at Bettencourt Dairies punching, kicking, dragging, and stomping on cows, reports the Miami Herald. Because Burger King gets some of its cheese from the dairy, the group singled out the chain: “The secret ingredient in Burger King’s cheese is horrific animal abuse,” says its director. “No socially responsible corporation should support dairy operations that beat, kick, mutilate, confine and neglect animals.”

The Humane Society called the video "reprehensible," but did not gang up on Burger King, asserting that it has done more to improve animal welfare over the last decade than any other restaurant chain. BK, meanwhile, promises to take quick action. The dairy immediately fired five workers, three of whom face animal cruelty charges, and made all of its workers watch the video and sign a zero-tolerance policy on animal cruelty, reports CNN. "We are all devastated by it," says the owner. "We are family-owned and we love our cattle." The dairy supplies other big names, including In-N-Out Burger and Wendy's, notes the Los Angeles Times.

A frame grab from the video.
A frame grab from the video.   (YouTube)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Warning: The footage is graphic in this video from Mercy for Animals.   (YouTube)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
3%
Hilarious
2%
Intriguing
80%
Depressing
1%
Brilliant
9%
Scary
6%
Annoying
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 28 comments
Lin1234
Oct 14, 2012 12:59 AM CDT
The person who was recording this video must have not had a heart. To continually record this cruelty for months on end and not stop it for the sake of 'evidence' is wrong. When the management failed to stop it, this person should've gone straight to the dairy owner and informed him because the dairy owner relies on management to prevent this kind of thing from happening. When management fails, in ANY business, the next step is to inform the owner. The person recording this video is JUST AS MUCH AT FAULT as the people who participated in this cruelty. Doing nothing to stop abuse is just as bad as doing it themselves. 
HANKHILL
Oct 13, 2012 3:11 AM CDT
dear mercy for animals lets you and your group eat grass instead. save the cows for me. dead is dead and fed is fed! how about a group called mercy for people? stop the war get out now! fubo!
bubbahotep
Oct 12, 2012 12:25 AM CDT
" Hey Martha, it's Thursday. Fire up the SUV and let's go stuff our fat faces at Burger King with some tortured animals, then go shopping at Walmart for some good old cheap and far off third world labor. Don't worry, we don't have to see none of this shit, just dig in and know it's good for the kids, who are even fatter and stupider than we are. Eeeee Haaaaa! Is this a great country, or what"?
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne