Interview With An Undercover Investigator
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TIME has a piece about Death on a Factory Farm. The story begins:
“One of the most powerful tools animal rights activists have is the video footage shot inside places like poorly run dog kennels, animal testing facilities and factory farms, used as grim evidence of the brutality that can take place. But how do animal rights crusaders actually get those videos? Through people like ‘Pete,’ a 20-something undercover animal rights investigator”
Included is a complete interview with “Pete,” who sounds like an interesting guy (who should write a book). Here’s a little bit from the interview:
Are you vegetarian?
I’m vegan. Oh yeah.Do you ever have sympathy for the people you’re working with?
All the time. The vast majority of people I work with are very polite, very considerate people. They just have absolutely no respect for animals. But I blame the companies that own these facilities, not the workers themselves.Are there any conditions under which you would think it’s OK to raise animals for food?
I do not believe animals are here for us to exploit and I do not believe that under any circumstances we should raise animals for food. That said, I am very happy Proposition 2 passed in California and that it will phase out extreme confinement of animals including battery cages for hens.[...]What’s the worst thing you’ve ever seen in your career?
On an egg farm, it’s very, very normal to see live hens thrown in the trash.
Read the whole interview at TIME >>
I like that he expresses sympathy for the workers who exploit and abuse animals. They “have absolutely no respect for animals” but they’re still human, still feeling, still worthy of basic rights, and most importantly, they’re just following orders. They’re like soldiers in an unjust war. They bear some responsibility, but most of the blame belongs to the leaders.
And I like his perspective on Prop 2. It’s a step in the right direction.
But I do have to wonder how difficult his job is. I know I could never, ever do that. It would ruin me. I just don’t think I could handle it emotionally. Heck, I had a hard time dealing with dog grooming school (don’t ask). What about you? If you knew going undercover in a slaughterhouse could save animals’ lives, could you do it? Why or why not?
(Thanks to Bea for emailing me this article.)
Great interview, I cringed when I heard hens are thrown in cages, Ugh!!!!
Thanks for posting this… you’re blog keeps me up to date!
~ Recent blog post: Girl Talk: Cloth Period Pads & Panties – I’ve Always Been Intrigued ~
I like this guy too! He had me at “I’m vegan”…
Your question: could I be undercover? Although I have the most impossible time keeping my mouth shut if I meet someone who’s breeding puppies, or hasn’t neutered their cat, or b-b guns ducks on their dock (because of the poop)… I think I could do it. With a certain mission in mind I would just suck it up to get the scoop. So much more is accomplished by remaining incognito… So, yeah – I could do it. In fact – tell me where I need to go to get some of these animal abusers busted – and I’m there… (pronto)
~ Recent blog post: Meat Kids & Slaughterhouses – 4H Animal Child Abuse ~
“He had me at ‘I’m vegan’”
Cute
It sounds like the way to get into that field is to become a PI. I don’t know how that is done, but I bet there are books and classes on it.
Then I guess you would form a relationship with an animal organization (unless you could fund the investigation yourself). They’d probably lead you in the right direction.
Honestly, I don’t know. But if you’re truly interested in doing it, you have my blessing. The world needs more people willing to get in the trenches.
PS – here’s an online “high risk activism guide” by patrice jones:
http://pattricejones.info/blog/wp-content/uploads/notshock.pdf