Today I could not watch the video which PETA-UK sent us. The picture at the post was frightening in itself. It pictured two men with a lamb and one had a knife it seemed ready to cut into the lamb's foot. How did I surmise this without watching the video? By the title of the post: Exposed: Lambs Mutilated and Skinned Alive on Farms of Patagonia's 'Sustainable Wool' Supplier.
How ironic that also today I picked up a copy of the Ark from Catholic Concern for Animals. On the cover was a smiling Pope Francis with a beautiful lamb on his shoulders. And here in Patagonia which is shared by both Argentina and Chile -they were cruelly mutilating innocent lambs for their wool. How I wish that the Pope could read PETA-UK's post re this cruelty.
And not surprisingly- most people who perpetrate cruelty of any kind on innocent animals will deny that they are doing anything wrong. And Patagonia's lamb shearers obviously belong to this group -unless they are forced for monetary reasons to labor in circumstances that are intolerably cruel. Someone there -- obviously the owners- are nevertheless claiming that their wool is responsibly sourced.
Responsibly sourced? When according to PETA-UK:
"Young lambs had pieces of their ears cut out with plier-like tools and had their tails cut off. One lamb was castrated by having a tight ring put around his scrotum-all without painkillers. Such hideous mutilations are common across the wool industry."
Needless to say -that's why I believe more and more people are becoming vegan. Who could stomach even thinking of this brutality to innocent lambs for an unnecessary wool coat or cap?
But sadly there is more. Workers were documented killing conscious lambs in horrifying and gruesome ways. After tying their legs together, knives were plunged into their throats and sawed through their necks. They also snapped the victims' head back trying to break their necks.
Even though after this ordeal- some unfortunate lambs were still alive and kicking - workers nevertheless would drive a knife into their legs and start skinning them while they were still alive. How could anybody work in such a place of horror? How can anybody treat an innocent living lamb this way?
After being hacked apart- their organs were carved out of their bodies and their severed heads dumped into a bloody tub. They didn't even have the decency to shield this terrible cruelty from the other terrified lambs.
And PETA-UK is urging us to avoid buying products of wool- because no matter where it comes from- it is a product of animal suffering. PETA-UK has also uncovered similar abuses on sheep farms all over the world. There is no humane way to raise and kill animals for their wool for a mass market.
Finally, PETA-UK reminded us that there are many warm, animal-free clothing options available. I still wear my coats from the 80's with textured filling. When I read posts such as this one, I am so glad that nothing in my closet is made from wool or down either. This winter I was saddened that many people were buying down jackets. This is certainly a cruelty as well -- to pluck the down from live ducks or geese and leave them suffering with unattended bloody chests. Think if someone pulled tufts of hair from your head and then you will know something about what these poor birds suffer for those down jackets or coats. I'll stick with textured stuffing any day.
If you want to do something for those poor lambs sign their petition: "Patagonia's 'Sustainable Wool' Supplier Exposed /Take Action".
And if you think the Holy Father should know about this cruelty --please do e-mail him. Can't say you will get a response, but trying is a blessed thing to do for the lambs.