Earlier this month, we reported about a video uploaded to YouTube by Mercy for Animals, uncovering some animal cruelty happening at the E6 Cattle Co. in Texas. YouTube had pulled the video because of its graphic nature, but after a letter from Mercy for Animals, ended up reinstating it.
Interestingly enough, while Vimeo hosted the video while it was absent from YouTube, that site ended up pulling the video too. Mercy For Animals sent a similar letter to Vimeo, but Vimeo has not put it back up, and considers it a violation of its policies.
Now, Mercy for Animals says its video has led to cruelty to animals charges against the owner and workers of E6. According to the organization, Castro County District Attorney James R. Horton says warrants have been issued, charging five individuals with felonies and two with misdemeanors. Five former employees of E6 Cattle are facing charges of Cruelty to Livestock/Animals, which is a state jail felony.
Here’s the video. Be warned: it’s very graphic and brutal:
The video shows workers bludgeoning calves in their skulls with pickaxes and hammers, beaten calves, still alive and conscious, thrown onto piles to slowly suffer and die, workers kicking sick or injured calves in the head, and standing on their necks and ribs, etc. It’s bad.
“We commend the Castro County District Attorney and Sheriff’s Office for taking swift and decisive action in bringing these animal abusers to justice,” said Nathan Runkle, Executive Director of Mercy For Animals. “Let this case be a wake-up call to the dairy industry that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated.”
The whole thing does show the influence of the video, which in turn highlights the significance of whether or not it is available on popular video sites.