All Abusers on Egg Farms are Supposed to Rot in Jail !
jmagoon@franklincountyme.com, townclk@farmington-maine.org, fphardy@gwi.net, gary.mcgrane@umit.maine.edu, agriculture.commissioner@maine.gov, ned.r.porter@maine.gov, randy.mraz@maine.gov, Donald.E.Hoenig@maine.gov, norma.j.worley@maine.gov, animal.welfare@maine.gov, wwa@gwi.net, MerisBickfordMSSPA@roadrunner.com, cperkins22@roadrunner.com, SSecovich_awac@roadrunner.com
Office of the Franklin County District Attorney
Norman R. Croteau, Esq., District Attorney
Andrew Robinson, Assistant District Attorney
Prosecutorial District III, Franklin County Courthouse
140 Main Street; Farmington, ME 04938-1800
Julie Magoon, Franklin County Clerk
Leanne E Pinkham, Farmington Town Clerk
Frederick Hardy, Commissioner
Gary McGrane, Commissioner
Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources
Commissioner's Office; Deering Bldg. - AMHI Complex
28 State House Station; Augusta, ME 04333-0028
Commissioner Seth H. Bradstreet
Deputy Commissioner Edwub R, Porter
Randy Mraz, TEFAP Coordinator
Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources
Division of Animal Health and Industry
28 State House Station Deering Bldg - AMHI Complex
Augusta, ME 04333-0028
Dr. Don Hoenig, DVM, State Veterinarian
Maine Department of Agriculture / Animal Welfare Program
Norma J. Worley, Director
Maine Department of Agriculture / Animal Welfare Advisory Council
Gary Balducci, Farming
Meris Bickford, Animal Expertise Attorney
Christina Perkins, Animal Advocacy Group
Sharon Secovich, Public Interest
Dear Franklin County District Attorney and Maine Department of Agriculture:
I thank the Maine Department of Agriculture for its prompt investigation of Quality Egg of New England LLC in response to allegations of extreme animal cruelty. I respectfully ask the Franklin County District Attorney's Office to file criminal charges against Quality Egg in Turner, Maine.
I understand the organization Mercy for Animals (MFA) filed a complaint with the Animal Welfare Program of Maine's Agriculture Department. The complaint cites potentially illegal activities documented by MFA's undercover investigator from 12/16/08 to 2/1/09 at the former Decoster Egg Farm.
MFA videotapes show egg-producing hens caged alongside decaying carcasses. Employees and supervisors swing birds in circles to snap their necks, but often cause prolonged pain rather than instantaneous death. Workers and managers toss live hens in garbage cans where they are gradually smashed beneath the weight of other dead birds.
Hens -- some with shattered bones, open sores and untreated infections --are mashed four to six per wire cage. Enclosures are so small, they can't flutter a wing or extend a leg, let alone peck, perch or express any natural behavior. Apparently, birds get stuck in cage wire or underneath feeding trays with no way to reach food and water. Some are so entangled their faces or other body parts are crushed against conveyer belts. Management and staff kick hens into manure trenches where birds either suffocate in liquid feces or slowly succumb to disease, injury or starvation.
Clearly, these images depict violations of Maine's anti-cruelty laws. Both the company and workers shown brutalizing hens should face animal cruelty charges. Please proceed with their arrest and prosecution. I encourage you to seek maximum penalties under the law.
Domestic fowl are not machines on an assembly line. They share the same neurophysiologic makeup as mammals and possess a complex nervous system that enables them to feel fear and distress.
I urge Maine officials to initiate a no-tolerance policy for abuse within the livestock industry. Egg production does not justify blatant cruelty.
Sincerely,
