Sample Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Many people have experienced the love, companionship, and joy of sharing their home and lives with an animal such as a dog or cat. But what many people don't realize is that all animals, including those used for food production, are just as sensitive, loving, and capable of suffering pain as our beloved companion animals.

Turkeys, chickens, cows, pigs, and other farm animals are sentient beings, no different from a dog or cat in their needs for comfort, companionship, food, water, and shelter. Yet, in the U.S. farm animals are treated horribly. They are kept in tiny cages or crates their entire lives, unable to walk, stretch their limbs, or even turn around. They are denied wholesome food and natural interaction with other members of their species. In fact, agribusiness treats these animals merely as tools of production.

If dogs, cats, or parakeets were treated the same way as factory-farmed egg-laying hens, pigs, or veal calves, those responsible would face animal cruelty charges. However, most states' anti-cruelty laws specifically exclude animals used in agricultural production.
The pain a pig feels is no different from the pain a dog feels. All animals, even those raised for food, are sentient beings, and deserve to be protected from cruelty. As philosopher Jeremy Bentham said, "The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?" Please join the campaign to have farm animals recognized as sentient beings in the United States, as has been done in Europe, and visit www.sentientbeings.org for more information.

Sincerely,
Name
Town, State

Please send clippings of published copies to:
Farm Sanctuary, PO Box 150, Watkins Glen, NY 14891