Kayla SnyderM. HagelPolitical ScienceMay 10, 2014Farmed Animals and the LawEach year, 10 billion animals, not including fish, are raised and killed for food, but did you know that 99% of them are raised and killed on farms industrial? A factory farm is a place where animals are packed into spaces so cramped that they can barely move. They are placed in cages so small that they cannot even turn around. Many of these animals do not have access to the outdoors and spend most of their lives in cages or enclosures. This type of treatment can cause serious mental distress. Many would agree that this type of treatment constitutes animal cruelty, but why are there so few laws to protect these animals? Every year, animals raised for the meat, dairy, and egg industries are among the most abused in the United States. Many abusive tactics used against farm animals would be illegal against dogs or cats. These farm animals are slaughtered, tortured and killed inhumanely. In some cases, before arriving at the slaughterhouse, these animals undergo harsh and cruel treatment that is mostly legal. One of these practices involves shoving a tube down the throat of a duck or goose to force-feed it several times a day. One example of the abuses that occur on these factory farms is a practice called “debeaking.” It is a process of cutting or burning bone, cartilage and soft tissue to remove the upper part of the beak of chickens, turkeys and ducks. These animals do not even receive anesthetics. These farm animals are also deprived of exercise, so all the energy in their bodies is devoted to producing flesh, eggs or milk for human consumption, fed with drugs to fatten them up and sustain life in conditions that...... middle of paper ......future event of water and air pollution. Additionally, all animal cruelty practices, such as “debeaking,” should be banned. Practices of keeping animals in confined spaces should be prohibited. Farm Animals should have enough space to accommodate all farm animals on each farm. There should also be a mandatory annual inspection in every place that intends to sell its meat, dairy and eggs to buyers. If an inspection is refused, the farmer should be fined. Animal rights groups such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) suggest boycotting meat and dairy products from factory farms to raise awareness about cruelty toward farmed animals. Boycotting these farms is an acceptable response to bring attention to this problem and get states to pass laws to make animal cruelty illegal not only to domestic animals, but also to farm animals..