#Piglet confinement suffering

[terminabense]

  "Factory Farming: Cruelty Impacting Humans, Animals, and the Planet"

Factory farming, the industrialized production of livestock, has dire consequences for humans, animals, and the planet. For animals, it means a life of suffering in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, often without access to natural behaviors or environments. Chickens, pigs, and cows endure unimaginable stress, injuries, and premature deaths, all for the sake of maximizing efficiency and profit.

For humans, factory farming poses significant health risks. The overuse of antibiotics in livestock to promote growth and prevent disease leads to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing a serious threat to public health. Workers in these facilities face dangerous conditions, exposure to harmful chemicals, and exploitative labor practices. Furthermore, communities near factory farms suffer from polluted air and water, leading to respiratory problems and other health issues.

Environmentally, factory farming is a major contributor to climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. It generates large amounts of greenhouse gases, particularly methane from cattle, which significantly impacts global warming. Additionally, the industry consumes vast quantities of water and contributes to soil degradation and water pollution through runoff of animal waste and chemicals.

In summary, factory farming's quest for profit comes at an enormous cost to animal welfare, human health, and the environment. Sustainable and humane alternatives are essential for a healthier, more ethical future.

[devoted1989]

This week is farm animal awareness week

What’s wrong about factory farms?

While it might be tempting to believe the meat on your plate comes from an idyllic childhood version of a family farm the reality is very different.Today the vast majority of our meat and eggs come from large - scale operations, what are often called “factory farms.” In the U.S., more than 21 000 of these industrial operations raise billions of animals each year to satisfy our insatiable demand for cheap meat and eggs.

So just what is a factory farm? And why is the most common source for meat and dairy in this country so bad for animals? Factory farms were created on the assumption that the ‘factory’ concept could be applied to animal farming.

It refers to a method of breeding and raising farmed animals for food with the goal of maximizing production and minimizing costs.

This approach comes at the expense of animals, who are treated as commodities. To house such a large number of animals, these farms intensively confine them to small spaces such as cages or crates. They are unable to carry out their natural behaviours. Most spend their lives inside a shed - never to feel the sunlight or breathe fresh air. This is the reality for farmed animals used for meat, dairy and eggs.

On factory farms, animals live brief lives filled with cruelty and suffering. Pigs and chickens live as long as just a few weeks to several months. Dairy cows live longer, but spend most of their lives standing for hours on concrete floors.

Here are some of the most striking examples of animal suffering on factory farms:

1. Male calves are surplus to the dairy industry

About half of all calves born on dairy farms are killed simply because they are born male and can’t produce milk. These unwanted male calves are slaughtered for veal at anywhere from a couple of weeks to just under a year old.  Others are sold at auction - destined for feedlots, also known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

2. Cages the size of a piece of paper

In the U.S., around 80 percent of layer hens are still kept in battery cages typically sized anywhere from 67 to 86 square inches per bird or less than a standard sized sheet of printer paper.

3. Chickens used for meat can hardly stand

In 1920 the average chicken was slaughtered at 112 days old weighing just over 2 pounds. Fast forward and the average chicken is now slaughtered at around only 47 days but now weighing nearly 6 pounds. That rapid growth and extreme size can eventually cause chickens raised for meat, also called “broiler chickens,” to become unable to stand on their own. 

4. Mutilations are common on egg and pig farms

In the U.S., baby piglets are typically castrated and their tails are docked to prevent tail - biting outbreaks at just a few days old — without anesthesia. Overcrowding, forced - lighting and unnatural feeding causes a great deal of stress to factory chickens. These otherwise peaceful birds start attacking and hurting each other. To minimise this behaviour farmers routinely cut off the chicken’s beak. This practice is called ‘debeaking’. Debeaked birds suffer acute and chronic pain in their beaks, heads and faces.

5. Pregnant pigs are confined to small stalls

The standard housing system for pregnant pigs are gestation crates usually 7 ft by 2 ft. These crates provide only enough space for the animal to stand, sit and lay down but not enough room to turn around. About a week before she is due to give birth, the mother pig is moved to a farrowing crate that allows her piglets access for feeding, yet these are no bigger. The pork industry continues to insist farrowing crates are necessary to prevent mother pigs from crushing their piglets, despite the existence alternative systems. 

6. Male chicks are redundant to the egg industry

They are killed on the day they hatch. Worldwide, around 7 billion male chicks are culled each year in the egg industry.

If you want to reduce the amount of suffering caused by what’s on your plate, choose peace - choose vegan.

Sources: Sentient Media and Animal Equality.

Images with kind permission from Lindsay Leigh Lewis.

@lindsayleighart

[redid-csc]

Factory Farm Animal Cruelty: A Hidden Epidemic

Factory farming, also known as industrial animal agriculture, has become the dominant method of producing meat, dairy, and eggs worldwide. While this system is highly efficient in terms of output, the consequences for the animals raised within it are dire. The primary focus of factory farming is profit, often at the expense of animal welfare, leading to widespread Factory farm animal cruelty endure lives of unimaginable suffering, confined in cramped spaces, subjected to painful procedures, and ultimately slaughtered in ways that raise serious ethical concerns.

Confinement and Deprivation

One of the most significant issues with factory farming is the extreme confinement of animals. Chickens, pigs, cows, and other livestock are kept in cages or crates that severely restrict their movement. For instance, egg-laying hens are commonly housed in battery cages, each hen given less space than a standard sheet of paper. These cages prevent the birds from spreading their wings or engaging in any natural behaviors such as nesting or dust bathing. Pigs, particularly breeding sows, often spend most of their lives in gestation crates, so small that they cannot turn around.

This lack of movement and mental stimulation leads to intense stress and frustration in the animals. Chickens in battery cages, for example, often resort to feather pecking and cannibalism due to the overcrowded and unnatural environment. In response, farmers may trim or burn off part of the chickens’ beaks, a painful process that deprives the animals of a vital sensory organ.

Similarly, cows raised for dairy production are kept in confined spaces and are often hooked up to milking machines multiple times a day. The intense milk production they are forced into causes painful udder infections, known as mastitis. For these animals, life is a monotonous cycle of confinement and production, often leading to both physical and psychological suffering.

Physical Mutilations

In addition to being confined, animals on factory farms often endure painful mutilations. These procedures are conducted without any pain relief and are designed solely to maximize productivity or prevent damage to the animals' bodies due to the harsh conditions of the farm.

For example, chickens raised for meat, known as broilers, are genetically bred to grow unnaturally fast. As a result, many suffer from skeletal problems, heart failure, and other health issues because their bodies cannot keep up with the rapid growth rate. To prevent injuries or fights in the overcrowded conditions, these chickens may have their beaks and toes trimmed, causing long-lasting pain.

Pigs are also mutilated in factory farming systems. Piglets often have their tails docked, teeth clipped, and males are castrated—all without anesthesia. Tail docking is done to prevent tail-biting, a common behavior among pigs confined in stressful, overcrowded environments. Castration is performed to prevent "boar taint," an undesirable odor in the meat of mature male pigs, but this process causes significant pain and distress.

Cows raised for meat and dairy production often have their horns removed, a process known as dehorning or disbudding. Horns are removed to prevent injuries in close confinement, but the procedure is excruciating for the animals, especially when performed without anesthetics.

The Psychological Toll

The psychological suffering of animals on factory farms is often overlooked but is just as damaging as the physical abuse they endure. Many animals, particularly pigs and chickens, are highly intelligent creatures capable of complex emotions, including fear, pain, and distress. However, factory farms treat them as mere production units, disregarding their emotional needs.

Pigs, for instance, are known to be as intelligent as dogs, with the ability to form social bonds and solve complex problems. In factory farms, they are denied any opportunity to engage in natural behaviors like rooting, exploring, or socializing. The constant stress and frustration lead to abnormal behaviors such as tail biting, aggression, and even self-harm.

Chickens are similarly complex animals with the ability to form social hierarchies and communicate with one another. In the crowded, stressful environments of factory farms, they are often forced to compete for space and resources, leading to aggressive pecking and fighting. The beak trimming mentioned earlier is a response to these conditions but does nothing to address the root cause of the animals’ suffering: extreme overcrowding and lack of enrichment.

The Journey to Slaughter

The cruelty of factory farming does not end with the animals’ daily lives. When they are no longer productive or have reached slaughter weight, they are transported to slaughterhouses in conditions that are equally, if not more, horrific. Transport to slaughter often involves long journeys in overcrowded trucks, where animals are exposed to extreme temperatures, lack of food and water, and rough handling.

Many animals die en route to slaughter due to the harsh conditions, a phenomenon known as "dead on arrival." Those that survive the journey are then subjected to further stress and fear at the slaughterhouse. Although laws exist in many countries requiring animals to be stunned before slaughter to minimize suffering, these laws are often poorly enforced. As a result, many animals are slaughtered while fully conscious, enduring excruciating pain as they are killed.

Environmental and Human Health Consequences

Factory farming is not only cruel to animals, but it also has significant negative impacts on the environment and human health. The massive scale of factory farms leads to the overuse of natural resources, pollution, and the destruction of ecosystems. For example, the enormous amounts of waste produced by factory farms can contaminate water sources, leading to harmful algal blooms and the destruction of aquatic life.

Additionally, the use of antibiotics in factory farming to prevent disease in overcrowded conditions contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. When antibiotics are overused in animals, bacteria can develop resistance, rendering these drugs less effective in treating human illnesses. This poses a serious threat to global public health.

Ethical Alternatives and Solutions

The cruelty of factory farming is undeniable, but there are steps that can be taken to reduce animal suffering and promote more ethical farming practices. One of the most effective solutions is to support farms that prioritize animal welfare, such as free-range, pasture-based, or organic farms. These farming methods allow animals to engage in natural behaviors, such as grazing, rooting, and nesting, and provide them with more space and better living conditions.

Reducing the demand for factory-farmed products is another powerful way to combat animal cruelty. Consumers can choose to reduce their consumption of meat, dairy, and eggs or opt for plant-based alternatives. The rise of plant-based meat substitutes and lab-grown meat offers a promising future where the demand for factory-farmed animal products could diminish, leading to less suffering for animals.

Governments also play a crucial role in addressing factory farm cruelty. Stricter animal welfare laws and regulations, better enforcement of existing laws, and incentives for farmers to adopt more humane practices can all contribute to reducing the suffering of animals on factory farms.

Conclusion

Factory farm animal cruelty is a hidden epidemic that affects billions of animals worldwide. The extreme confinement, physical mutilations, psychological suffering, and brutal slaughter methods that characterize factory farming raise serious ethical concerns. While the industrial agriculture system may be efficient in terms of production, the cost in terms of animal suffering is too high to ignore. By making more ethical choices, supporting humane farming practices, and advocating for stronger animal welfare laws, we can work toward a future where factory farm cruelty is a thing of the past.

[loudtravelerlight]

Animal Cruelty in Factory Farms: Unveiling the Harsh Reality Behind Mass Meat Production

Introduction

Animal cruelty in Factory Farms is a significant issue that raises ethical, environmental, and health concerns. Factory farms, or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), prioritize efficiency and profit over the well-being of animals, often subjecting them to horrific conditions. This article explores the realities of factory farming, the impact on animals, and the broader implications of this practice on society.

The Rise of Factory Farming

The advent of factory farming is closely tied to the growing demand for meat, dairy, and eggs in the global food market. As consumer demand increased, so did the need for a more efficient system of food production. Factory farms emerged as a solution to meet these demands, where animals are raised in confinement, often in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. The focus on maximizing productivity and minimizing costs has led to a system where animal welfare is often neglected.

Living Conditions in Factory Farms

The living conditions in factory farms are typically harsh and inhumane. Animals are often kept in overcrowded spaces where they can barely move, let alone exhibit natural behaviors. For instance, chickens in egg-laying facilities are often confined to battery cages so small that they cannot spread their wings. Pigs are frequently kept in gestation crates, where they are unable to turn around. Cows raised for dairy are often subjected to repeated pregnancies and suffer from lameness and other health issues due to being confined on hard surfaces for extended periods.

These conditions lead to immense physical and psychological suffering. Animals in factory farms often experience extreme stress, frustration, and fear. The lack of space, fresh air, and natural light, combined with the constant exposure to disease and filth, results in a life of misery for these animals.

Cruel Practices in Factory Farms

Beyond the living conditions, factory farms employ various cruel practices to maximize productivity. For example, chickens often undergo "debeaking," where a portion of their beak is removed to prevent them from pecking each other in the stressful, crowded environment. Similarly, piglets often have their tails docked without anesthesia to prevent tail-biting, a behavior that arises from the stress of confinement.

In the dairy industry, calves are often separated from their mothers shortly after birth, causing immense distress to both the mother and the calf. Male calves, which are of little use to the dairy industry, are often slaughtered at a young age or sold for veal production, where they endure further cruelty.

Health Implications for Animals and Humans

The unsanitary and stressful conditions in factory farms not only cause suffering for the animals but also pose significant health risks. Animals in these environments are prone to infections and diseases due to the close quarters and lack of proper care. To combat this, factory farms often rely on antibiotics to prevent disease outbreaks and promote growth, leading to the overuse of antibiotics in the industry.

This overuse of antibiotics contributes to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which poses a serious threat to human health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that antibiotic resistance could become one of the most significant health challenges of the 21st century. Additionally, the spread of zoonotic diseases, which can jump from animals to humans, is a concern in factory farming due to the poor conditions in which animals are kept.

Environmental Impact of Factory Farming

Factory farming is not only cruel to animals but also has severe environmental consequences. The large amounts of waste produced by these operations can contaminate water sources and contribute to air pollution. The excessive use of resources, such as water and grain, to feed animals in factory farms also strains the environment. Moreover, factory farming is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, which exacerbates climate change.

The environmental degradation caused by factory farming ultimately affects human communities as well. Contaminated water supplies and air pollution can lead to serious health problems for people living near these operations.

Ethical Considerations and Public Awareness

The ethical implications of factory farming are profound. The treatment of animals as mere commodities raises fundamental questions about humanity's relationship with other living beings. Many argue that the cruelty inherent in factory farming is a violation of animals' basic rights and that society has a moral obligation to treat animals with compassion and respect.

Public awareness of the cruelty in factory farms has grown in recent years, thanks in part to undercover investigations and campaigns by animal rights organizations. These efforts have shed light on the grim realities of factory farming and have prompted calls for reform. Many consumers are now more conscious of the sources of their food and are choosing to support more humane and sustainable farming practices.

Alternatives to Factory Farming

Several alternatives to factory farming exist that prioritize animal welfare and environmental sustainability. These include pasture-based farming, organic farming, and regenerative agriculture. In pasture-based systems, animals are allowed to roam freely and engage in natural behaviors, resulting in a better quality of life. Organic farming practices prohibit the use of antibiotics and synthetic chemicals, reducing the environmental impact and promoting healthier animals.

Another emerging alternative is plant-based and lab-grown meat, which eliminates the need for raising and slaughtering animals altogether. These innovations are gaining popularity as consumers become more aware of the ethical and environmental issues associated with factory farming.

Conclusion

Animal cruelty in Factory Farms is a pressing issue that cannot be ignored. The inhumane treatment of animals, coupled with the environmental and health implications, calls for urgent action. By supporting more humane and sustainable farming practices, consumers can play a crucial role in reducing animal suffering and promoting a healthier, more ethical food system. It is time for society to recognize the true cost of factory farming and make choices that reflect compassion and respect for all living beings.

[willamtomas]

Pig Farming Cruelty: An Urgent Call for Ethical Reform

Pig farming, a significant component of the global meat industry, is often marked by practices that cause immense suffering to the animals involved. The industrialization of pig farming has led to conditions that prioritize efficiency and profit over animal welfare. Understanding the cruelty inherent in pig farming is essential for advocating for ethical and humane treatment of these intelligent and social animals.

Confinement and Living Conditions

The cruelty in pig farming begins with the severe confinement of animals in intensive farming systems. Pregnant sows are often kept in gestation crates—narrow metal enclosures that are barely larger than the animals themselves. These crates restrict the sows' movement to the point where they cannot turn around or lie down comfortably. The confinement leads to physical and psychological distress, causing severe health issues such as pressure sores, lameness, and weakened muscles.

After giving birth, sows are moved to farrowing crates, which are similar to gestation crates but allow for slightly more movement to enable nursing. However, these crates still severely limit the sows' ability to interact with their piglets, leading to frustration and stress. Piglets are often weaned prematurely, disrupting their natural development and causing further distress.

Routine Mutilations

To manage the behaviors that arise from the stressful living conditions, piglets are subjected to routine mutilations without anesthesia. These procedures include tail docking, teeth clipping, and castration. Tail docking involves cutting off a portion of the piglet's tail to prevent tail-biting, a behavior induced by the stress of confinement. Teeth clipping is done to prevent piglets from injuring each other and the sow during nursing. Castration is performed to reduce aggression and prevent the meat from developing an undesirable odor known as "boar taint."

These mutilations cause acute pain and long-term suffering. The lack of pain relief during these procedures highlights the disregard for the piglets' well-being in the pursuit of managing intensive farming conditions.

Transport and Slaughter

When pigs reach market weight, they are transported to slaughterhouses under harsh conditions. The transport process involves loading pigs onto trucks, often in extreme weather conditions, with little regard for their comfort or safety. Overcrowding, poor ventilation, and long journeys without adequate food or water lead to heat stress, dehydration, and injuries.

At the slaughterhouse, the high-speed processing lines and inadequate stunning methods result in many pigs being improperly stunned. Consequently, some pigs remain conscious when they are killed, experiencing significant pain and fear. The use of electric prods and rough handling further exacerbates their suffering.

Environmental and Human Health Impacts

The industrial pig farming industry also has severe environmental and human health impacts. The waste produced by large-scale pig farms contaminates soil and water, leading to air and water pollution. Manure runoff can cause algal blooms in water bodies, harming aquatic life and ecosystems. The emission of greenhouse gases, such as methane, contributes to climate change.

The overuse of antibiotics in pig farming to prevent disease in overcrowded conditions has led to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing a significant threat to public health. Additionally, the consumption of pork from industrial farms has been linked to various health issues, including heart disease and certain cancers, due to the high levels of saturated fat and cholesterol.

Advocating for Change

Addressing the cruelty in pig farming requires comprehensive reform. Improved animal welfare standards are essential, including banning gestation and farrowing crates and requiring pain relief for routine mutilations. Implementing and enforcing humane handling and transport practices can significantly reduce animal suffering.

Consumers play a crucial role in driving change by making informed choices. Reducing pork consumption, opting for plant-based alternatives, or choosing meat from higher-welfare sources can pressure the industry to adopt more humane practices. Public awareness campaigns and education about the realities of pig farming are vital for fostering a more compassionate and ethical food system.

Conclusion

Cruelty in pig farming, as it currently stands, involves significant cruelty and suffering for the animals. From severe confinement and routine mutilations to harsh transport and inhumane slaughter practices, pigs endure immense physical and psychological distress. By advocating for better welfare standards, supporting sustainable and humane farming practices, and making conscientious consumer choices, we can work towards ending the cruelty in pig farming and creating a more ethical and sustainable future for all animals.

[vegetablegardens454]

The Hidden Cruelty in Pig Farming

Pig farming, a cornerstone of the global agricultural industry, is marred by widespread practices that cause significant suffering to these intelligent and sentient animals. Despite advancements in animal welfare awareness, the conditions under which pigs are bred, raised, and slaughtered often remain deeply distressing. This article delves into the various aspects of cruelty inherent in pig farming, from birth to slaughter, and explores the ethical implications and potential solutions. Pig farming cruelty

Confinement and Living Conditions

The majority of pigs are raised in intensive farming systems, often referred to as factory farms. In these environments, pigs are confined to small, barren spaces with little room to move, let alone engage in natural behaviors. Sows, or mother pigs, are particularly affected by this practice. They are often kept in gestation crates, narrow metal enclosures that restrict movement to the point where the pigs cannot even turn around. This confinement leads to physical and psychological stress, manifesting in behaviors such as bar biting and repetitive movements indicative of severe distress.

Physical Mutilations

To manage the behavior of pigs in such unnatural conditions, farmers often resort to physical mutilations. Procedures such as tail docking, teeth clipping, and castration are commonly performed without the use of anesthetics or pain relief. Tail docking, where a portion of the pig's tail is removed, is intended to prevent tail biting, a behavior stemming from the stress and boredom of confinement. Teeth clipping is done to reduce injuries when piglets fight or nurse. Castration, usually performed to prevent the development of undesirable flavors in the meat, involves the removal of the testes and is done without any pain mitigation, causing immense suffering.

Disease and Mortality

The overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in factory farms create a breeding ground for diseases. Respiratory problems, gastrointestinal issues, and infections are rampant. Antibiotics are often administered routinely to entire herds, not only to treat illnesses but also as a preventative measure and growth promoter. This overuse of antibiotics has raised serious concerns about antibiotic resistance, a significant public health threat.

High mortality rates among piglets are another grim reality of pig farming. Many piglets die from crushing, starvation, or disease within the first weeks of life. Those that survive often endure a harsh weaning process, being separated from their mothers far earlier than they would naturally wean, which causes further stress and health issues.

Transport and Slaughter

The cruelty does not end at the farm. The transport of pigs to slaughterhouses is often a harrowing experience. Pigs are loaded onto trucks, frequently over long distances, without adequate food, water, or ventilation. The stress of transport can lead to injuries, dehydration, and even death.

At the slaughterhouse, pigs face further suffering. Although there are regulations intended to ensure humane slaughter, these are not always effectively enforced. Methods intended to render pigs unconscious before slaughter, such as electric stunning or gas chambers, do not always work correctly, resulting in animals being conscious and able to feel pain when they are killed.

Ethical Considerations and Alternatives

The cruelty in pig farming raises profound ethical questions about the treatment of animals in the pursuit of food production. Pigs are intelligent, social animals capable of experiencing pain and suffering. The conditions under which they are farmed are often far removed from the public’s perception of humane treatment.

Efforts to address these issues include advocating for better welfare standards, supporting farms that employ humane practices, and promoting plant-based diets to reduce reliance on animal agriculture. Organizations and individuals are working to raise awareness about the realities of pig farming and encourage consumers to make more ethical choices.

Conclusion

Pig farming, as it is practiced on a large scale today, involves significant cruelty at nearly every stage of the animal's life. From the cramped conditions of factory farms to the painful mutilations and the distressing experiences of transport and slaughter, pigs endure a great deal of suffering. Addressing these issues requires a collective effort to enforce stricter welfare regulations, support humane farming practices, and consider the ethical implications of our dietary choices. As awareness grows, there is hope that the future of pig farming can be more compassionate and respectful towards these sentient beings. Pig farming cruelty

[shadseo]

The Grim Reality of Pig Farming Cruelty: A Call for Ethical Practices

Pig farming, an essential component of the global food industry, is often portrayed through idyllic images of happy pigs roaming green pastures. However, behind this facade lies a grim reality of cruelty and exploitation that warrants urgent attention. Despite advancements in agricultural technology and animal welfare standards, the mistreatment of pigs in industrial farming continues to persist, raising ethical concerns and prompting calls for reform.

One of the most distressing aspects of pig farming cruelty is the confinement of pigs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. In industrial-scale operations, pigs are often confined to cramped cages or pens, deprived of space to move freely or engage in natural behaviors. This confinement not only causes physical discomfort but also psychological distress, leading to stress-related behaviors such as aggression and stereotypic movements.

Furthermore, the use of gestation crates and farrowing crates exacerbates the suffering of pigs. Gestation crates, typically used to house pregnant sows, are so small that the animals are unable to turn around or lie down comfortably. This prolonged confinement not only causes physical ailments such as pressure sores and muscle atrophy but also deprives sows of the opportunity to exhibit maternal behaviors. Similarly, farrowing crates, designed to confine lactating sows and their piglets, restrict the mother's movement and prevent her from providing adequate care to her offspring.

The practice of routine mutilations, such as tail docking, teeth clipping, and castration, is another disturbing aspect of pig farming cruelty. These procedures, often performed without anesthesia, are aimed at reducing aggression and preventing injuries in overcrowded environments. However, they inflict unnecessary pain and suffering on the animals, undermining their welfare and dignity.

Moreover, the widespread use of antibiotics in pig farming contributes to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing a significant threat to public health. In industrial pig operations, antibiotics are routinely administered to prevent disease outbreaks and promote growth, leading to the proliferation of drug-resistant pathogens that can spread from animals to humans through direct contact or consumption of contaminated meat products.

In light of these issues, there is a growing demand for more humane and sustainable alternatives to conventional pig farming practices. Advocates for animal welfare argue for the adoption of higher welfare standards, such as providing pigs with access to outdoor space, enriching their environments with straw bedding and enrichment materials, and phasing out the use of confinement systems like gestation crates and farrowing crates.

Furthermore, transitioning towards pasture-based or free-range systems can offer pigs the opportunity to express natural behaviors, improve their physical and psychological well-being, and enhance the quality of pork products. By prioritizing animal welfare and environmental sustainability, such systems align with consumer preferences for ethically produced food and contribute to building a more compassionate and resilient food system.

[rimaakter45]

The Shocking Truth Behind Animal Cruelty: A Closer Look at the Dark Reality of Factory Farms

Animal cruelty is a pervasive issue in society, with factory farms being one of the primary locations where it occurs. These facilities are designed to maximize efficiency and profit, often at the expense of animal welfare. The conditions in factory farms are so appalling that they have been likened to torture chambers for animals.

One of the most common forms of animal Cruelty.Farm is overcrowding. Animals are often crammed into small, filthy spaces with no room to move or exercise. This leads to stress, aggression, and the spread of diseases. Pigs, for example, are kept in overcrowded pens where they are unable to move or engage in natural behaviors such as rooting and socializing. This can lead to severe mental and physical health issues, including high levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) and respiratory problems.

Another disturbing aspect of factory farms is the use of confinement systems such as crates and cages. These restrictive enclosures are used to control the movement of animals and prevent them from engaging in natural behaviors. For example, mother pigs are often kept in gestation crates – metal enclosures barely larger than their own bodies – for their entire lives. They are unable to turn around, lie down comfortably, or even interact with their piglets. This causes immense suffering and emotional distress for the animals.

In addition to overcrowding and confinement, factory farms also engage in cruel practices such as mutilation and dehorning without anesthesia. Animals are often subjected to painful procedures such as tail docking, debeaking, and castration without any pain relief. This not only causes physical pain and trauma but also leads to lasting psychological damage.

Furthermore, the use of hormones and antibiotics in factory farming is a major cause of concern. Animals are routinely fed growth hormones and antibiotics to promote rapid growth and prevent disease outbreaks. This can lead to a range of health issues in animals, including antibiotic resistance and hormonal imbalances. These substances also end up in the meat products consumed by humans, posing serious health risks.

The environmental impact of factory farming is also significant, with large-scale operations contributing to pollution, deforestation, and climate change. The overuse of resources such as water and land, as well as the production of methane gas from animal waste, has a devastating effect on the environment. Factory farms are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and are causing irreparable damage to our planet.

Despite the widespread cruelty and environmental destruction caused by factory farming, the industry continues to thrive due to its profitability and political influence. However, there is a growing movement of individuals and organizations working to expose the truth behind factory farms and advocate for change.

Consumers can make a difference by choosing to support ethical and sustainable food practices, such as purchasing products from local farms, choosing plant-based alternatives, and reducing their meat consumption. By raising awareness and demanding accountability from the agricultural industry, we can put an end to the cruel practices of factory farming and create a more compassionate world for both animals and humans.

https://writeupcafe.com/the-ugly-truth-cruelty-on-farms-revealed/

https://www.bloglovin.com/@rimaakter9/heartwarming-work-humane-foundation-changing-12601122

[petababes]

Italian Rugby Legend Credits Vegan Fuel With Giving Him a Powerful Physique

Naked and clutching a watermelon under his arm like a ball, Italian former rugby international Mirco Bergamasco flies through the air in a new ad for PETA proclaiming, “Get an Advantage: Go Vegan.”

The sports star, who’s been vegan for several years, credits plant protein with giving him the energy and strength to excel as a professional athlete. Discussing the campaign, he says:

Going vegan was one of the best things I’ve done, both for my rugby game and on a personal level. I’m strong and fit, my reflexes are sharp, my mind is awake, and my conscience is clear – I encourage everyone to give meat, eggs, and dairy foods the red card and see the difference for themselves!

Vegan eating spares animals immense suffering in today’s industrialised meat, egg, and dairy industries. In addition to keeping animals in extreme confinement and transporting them in all weather extremes, workers in these industries routinely slit live chickens’ throats, chop off piglets’ tails and testicles without painkillers, and tear calves away from their mothers shortly after birth. Adopting a vegan lifestyle helps prevent human suffering, too, as vegans are less vulnerable to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer, and obesity than meat-eaters are.

Mirco Bergamasco is used to getting naked in front of the camera. He has done many naked shots for Deiux Du Stade calendars.

Good news. His brother is also a Rugby player and he is a dirty rascal too...

Naked together...

[bazarnatural]

💔🤬Posted @withregram • @graphic_vegan Fun fact: pigs ARE animals; farmed animals ARE animals. How ‘easy’ it is to turn a blind eye to animal cruelty, torture, neglect and suffering when you have something to gain from it. . Tail docking is a common practice in pig farms and causes extreme suffering to pigs. It is carried out without anaesthetic by farmers, often when the piglet is only 1-3 days old, to prevent pigs confined together from biting each other’s tails. This behaviour can result from boredom, frustration, disease, and lack of space and enrichment. Even when pigs have their tails cut off, biting of the remaining tail stump can still happen because the animals are so stressed by their unnatural environment. . And no, better welfare isn’t the answer. Abolition of ALL animal use and abuse is the only way forward. . 📷 Konrad Lozinski #funfacts #governmentlegislation #fharmers #crueltyfree #vegansofig #lifestyle #animallovers #change #kindness #vegansofinstagram #compassion #animalcruelty #minipigs #woke #moneymoneymoney #rescuedog #meateater #petpigs #pork #bacon #ahimsa #pig #animalrights #animalsofinstagram #dinnerideas #animalabuse #graphic_vegan https://www.instagram.com/p/CoRAdcPulRn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[devoted1989]

the worst facts about factory farms

While it might be tempting to believe the meat on your plate comes from an idyllic childhood version of a family farm the reality is very different.

Today the vast majority of our meat and eggs come from large - scale operations, what are often called “factory farms.” 

In the U.S., more than 21 000 of these industrial operations raise billions of animals each year to satisfy our insatiable demand for cheap meat and eggs.

So just what is a factory farm? And why is the most common source for meat and dairy in this country so bad for animals?

They were created on the assumption that the ‘factory’ concept could be applied to animal farming. It refers to a method of breeding and raising farmed animals for food with the goal of maximizing production and minimizing costs.

This approach comes at the expense of animals, who are treated as commodities. To house such a large number of animals, these farms intensively confine them to small spaces such as cages or crates.

They are unable to carry out their natural behaviours. Most spend their lives inside a shed - never to feel the sunlight or breathe fresh air.

This is the reality for farmed animals used for meat, dairy and eggs.

On factory farms, animals live brief lives filled with cruelty and suffering. Pigs and chickens live as long as just a few weeks to several months.

Dairy cows live longer, but spend most of their lives standing for hours on concrete floors.

Here are some of the most striking examples of animal suffering on factory farms:

1. Dairy farms kill baby cows.

About half of all calves born on dairy farms are killed simply because they are born male and can’t produce milk. These unwanted male calves are slaughtered for veal at anywhere from a couple of weeks to just under a year old.  

Others are sold at auction - destined for feedlots, also known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

2. Cages the size of a piece of paper.

In the U.S., around 80 percent of layer hens are still kept in battery cages typically sized anywhere from 67 to 86 square inches per bird or less than a standard sized sheet of printer paper.

3. Chickens killed for meat often can’t stand.

In 1920 the average chicken was slaughtered at 112 days old weighing just over 2 pounds. Fast forward and the average chicken is now slaughtered at around only 47 days but now weighing nearly 6 pounds.

That rapid growth and extreme size can eventually cause chickens raised for meat, also called “broiler chickens,” to become unable to stand on their own. 

4. Mutilations are common on pig and egg farms.

In the U.S., baby piglets are typically castrated and their tails are docked to prevent tail - biting outbreaks at just a few days old — without anesthesia.

Overcrowding, forced - lighting and unnatural feeding causes a great deal of stress to factory chickens.

These otherwise peaceful birds start attacking and hurting each other. To minimise this behaviour farmers routinely cut off the chicken’s beak. This practice is called ‘debeaking’. Debeaked birds suffer acute and chronic pain in their beaks, heads and faces.

5. Pregnant pigs are confined to small crates.

The standard housing system for pregnant pigs are gestation crates usually 7 ft by 2 ft. These crates provide only enough space for the animal to stand, sit and lay down but not enough room to turn around.

About a week before she is due to give birth, the mother pig is moved to a farrowing crate that allows her piglets access for feeding, yet these are no bigger.

The pork industry continues to insist farrowing crates are necessary to prevent mother pigs from crushing their piglets, despite the existence alternative systems. 

6. Male chicks are surplus to the egg industry.

They are killed on the day of their birth by maceration or suffocation. Worldwide, around 7 billion male chicks are culled each year in the egg industry.

If you want to reduce the amount of suffering caused by what’s on your plate, choose peace - choose vegan.

Sources: Sentient Media, Animal Equality and United Poultry Concerns.

Images with kind permission from Lindsay Leigh Lewis.

@lindsayleighart

[willamtomas]

The Silent Suffering: Unveiling Animal Cruelty in Factory Farms

Animal cruelty within factory farms is an issue that often remains hidden behind closed doors, shielded from public view. Yet, the reality is far from pleasant. The industrialization of agriculture has led to the mass production of meat, dairy, and eggs, but it has also normalized practices that subject animals to unimaginable suffering. From overcrowded and unsanitary conditions to painful mutilations without anesthesia, the plight of animals in factory farms demands attention and action.

One of the most concerning aspects of factory farming is the severe overcrowding of animals. Picture rows upon rows of cages packed with chickens, pigs confined to tiny crates barely larger than their bodies, and cows standing shoulder to shoulder in filthy feedlots. These animals are deprived of space to move freely, leading to stress, aggression, and injuries. The lack of space also exacerbates the spread of diseases, prompting the routine use of antibiotics, which contributes to the global issue of antimicrobial resistance.

Moreover, factory farms often prioritize profit over animal welfare, leading to cruel practices such as debeaking, tail docking, and castration—all performed without pain relief. Beak trimming in chickens, for example, is done to prevent pecking injuries in crowded conditions, yet the procedure involves slicing off a portion of the bird's sensitive beak, causing acute pain and long-term suffering. Similarly, piglets have their tails docked and teeth clipped to prevent tail-biting and aggression, a painful process that can lead to chronic pain and infection.

The conditions in which these animals are kept are not only physically distressing but also mentally debilitating. Chickens, for instance, are highly social animals that thrive in small groups, yet they are often housed in cramped, windowless sheds with tens of thousands of birds. This unnatural environment can lead to behavioral abnormalities such as feather pecking and cannibalism, prompting farmers to resort to further mutilations or even the use of debeaking machines.

Furthermore, the journey from farm to slaughterhouse is fraught with additional cruelty. Animals are often transported long distances in overcrowded trucks, exposed to extreme weather conditions without food, water, or rest. Many arrive at the slaughterhouse injured, exhausted, and terrified, only to face a grisly end. Despite regulations intended to ensure humane treatment during slaughter, undercover investigations have repeatedly revealed instances of animals being improperly stunned or slaughtered while fully conscious, adding another layer of suffering to their already tragic lives.

The impact of factory farming extends beyond the realm of animal welfare. Environmental degradation, public health risks, and ethical concerns are all intertwined with the industrialized production of animal products. The overuse of antibiotics in livestock contributes to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria, posing a serious threat to human health. Moreover, the environmental footprint of factory farming, from deforestation to water pollution, further underscores the need for a shift towards more sustainable and ethical food systems.

Addressing the issue of animal cruelty in factory farms requires collective action on multiple fronts. Consumers can make a difference by choosing plant-based alternatives or opting for products from farms that prioritize animal welfare. Legislation and enforcement must be strengthened to ensure that animals are afforded basic protections throughout their lives. And perhaps most importantly, society must confront the uncomfortable truth behind the food on our plates and demand a more compassionate and sustainable approach to agriculture.

In conclusion, the prevalence of animal cruelty in factory farms is a pressing moral issue that demands urgent attention. By shedding light on the hidden suffering of animals raised for food, we can work towards a future where compassion and empathy guide our treatment of all living beings. It's time to recognize that behind every piece of meat, every carton of eggs, and every glass of milk, there is a sentient being whose life and well-being deserve our respect and consideration.

[pilram16-blog]

@theresia4allanimals: Repost By @belinda_vegan: Considered by animal behaviorists to be smarter than #dogs, #pigs are clever #animals who are also friendly, #loyal, and #intelligent. They are naturally very clean and avoid soiling their living areas. When they are not confined on farms, pigs spend hours #playing, lying in the #sun, and exploring their surroundings with their powerful sense of smell. But, on modern farms, these outgoing, sensitive animals spend their entire lives in cramped, filthy warehouses under the constant #stress of intense confinement and are denied everything that is natural and important to them._ #Mother pigs (sows) spend most of their miserable lives in tiny gestation and farrowing crates so small that they can’t even turn around. They are impregnated again and again until their bodies give out and are then sent to slaughter. Piglets are torn away from their distraught #mothers just a few weeks after birth. Their tails are chopped off, the ends of their teeth are snipped off with pliers, and the males are castrated. No painkillers are given to them to ease their suffering. The young pigs then spend their short lives in cramped, crowded pens on slabs of filthy concrete. When the time comes for slaughter, pigs are forced onto transport trucks that often travel for many miles through all weather extremes. Many pigs die from heat exhaustion in the summer or arrive frozen to the inside of the truck in the winter. According to industry reports, more than 1 million pigs die in transport each year, and at least 40,000 sustain injuries by the time they arrive at the slaughterhouse. _Because of improper stunning methods, many pigs are still conscious when they are dumped into tanks of scalding-hot water, which is intended to remove their hair and soften their skin. YES, you read that correctly, BOILED ALIVE! Now, ask yourself how would you feel if this was being done to a #dog? The only difference is your perception! The best way to help put an end to this cruelty is to #govegan🌱 www.vegankit.com Caption #belinda_vegan Video @ale_max_sos #animallover #animalsofig #animalsofinstagram #cuteanimals #picoftheday #voice #music

[myveganvoice-blog]

I’m sorry but I’m not sorry. This is why I am an #innocentanimalrightsactivist. All of our nutrients come front plants. When we consume other animals, not only do they die unnecessarily but we are consuming already digested nutrients. Don’t our bodies deserve better than to be fed dead animal parts? 💀 Let’s say we smoke or drink or do any other drugs.. we are only harming ourselves right? What happens when we purchase cut up animals? It’s not just ourselves that are harmed :( These baby pigs are really no different from my dogs:( Lucky for us, there are tons of #veganoptions - we just have to inquire a little bit about where they are - I call it #veganhunting! So.. let’s work together to end this suffering and simply eat something else. Leave the someones alone - #eatsomethingelse #talkaboutveganism #itsnotthatweird #killinganimalsisunnecessary - it’s 2018 — #myveganvoice @myveganvoice —- #savethemALL #vegan #bevegan #beveganawesome #veganawesome #Repost @habesha.vegan ・・・ Yesterday 68 brave activist were up before the birds and found their way inside Glasshouse Country Farms, a piggery in Beerburrm QLD. Once they were inside they were faced with the reality of going on in that farm and many others like it. Rows of mother pigs confined by bars with no room to turn around and barely enough room to stand, sit and lie down. These pig are repeatedly subject to this for six week at a time over a number of years. Stillborn piglets left in the cage with the living piglets to rot away. Dismembered bodies of the piglets strewn on the ground. A cat in the pen eating the dead piglet, taking milk from the mother and sleeping under the heat lights. (The farm was supposedly worried about us being a biosecurity hazard) - The mother's suffering mental conditions. Repeatedly knocking against and chewing on the cage as if to get out. The shed was covered in cobwebs, spider, flies, maggots, and cockroaches. The floors were wet with a mix of water urine and feces. Theses are just some of the things we saw. If a farmer were to see this they would not be surprised. This is because many of these things are standard practice. This getting worse and is happening everywhere.

[devoted1989]

what legal protection do farmed animals have?

The Animal Welfare Act (Laboratory Animal Welfare Act of 1966, P.L. 89-544) was signed into law in 1966.

It is the only Federal law in the United States that regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers. 

Other laws, policies, and guidelines may include additional species coverage or specifications for animal care and use, but all refer to the Animal Welfare Act as the minimum acceptable standard. 

Animals covered under this Act include any live or dead cat, dog, hamster, rabbit, nonhuman primate, guinea pig, and any other warm-blooded animal determined by the Secretary of Agriculture for research, pet use or exhibition. Excluded from the Act are birds, laboratory rats, laboratory mice, farm animals, and all cold-blooded animals.

Legal Protection for Farmed Animals

It is estimated that nine billion land animals are raised and killed for food every year in the U.S. The number of aquatic animals killed in the U.S. every year is unknown, because the statistics kept are in tonnages, not individual beings.

Despite their vast numbers, and severity of abuse they suffer, farmed animals receive only minimal protections by the legal system. No federal laws govern the condition in which farmed animals are raised and most state anti-cruelty laws exempt farmed animals.

Farmed animals raised for the meat, dairy, and egg industries are among the most abused in the U.S. Investigations and industry whistle - blowers have revealed abuses on farms and in slaughterhouses so horrific, most people cannot even bear to witness them.

These common, cruel, currently legal practices include: - Animals can have their testicles, tails, horns, beaks, or toes removed without anesthesia.  - In most states, animals are intensively confined in spaces so small they cannot turn around, extend their wings, or lie down comfortably, as in gestation crates, veal crates, and battery cages.  - Hens are systematically starved in order to artificially restart their egg-laying cycles (forced moulting). - Male chicks are ground up alive, and piglets are killed by slamming their heads on the ground. - Calves can be taken away from their mothers, mere moments after birth, causing distress for both. Calves raised for veal are so severely confined they cannot turn around or stretch their limbs.

Producers utilize these practices in order to maximize productivity and profits. Poultry are given no protections at all – not even the minimal ones accorded other farmed animals.

Animals used for food while on farms in the United States have no legal protections until they are transported off the farm.  

The “28 Hour Law“: This law, enacted in 1873, requires vehicles transporting certain animals for slaughter to stop every 28 hours to allow the animals exercise, food and water. The law does not apply if the vehicle in which animals are being transported contains access to food or water.

Even then, poultry, which account for 98 percent of animals raised for food, do not fall under the protection of the few federal laws that apply to livestock.

The Humane Slaughter Act, or the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act: This law was first passed in 1958, then amended in 1978. The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act requires that animals be stunned into unconsciousness before slaughter, to minimize pain. Though chickens, turkeys and other birds feel pain just like other animals, they are not protected by this law either.

Sources: The Animal Legal Defense Fund, Wikipedia, The National Anti-Vivisection Society, Animal Welfare Institute and The US Department of Agriculture - National Agricultural Library.

More information may be found here:

National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) 

https://www.navs.org/what-we-do/keep-you-informed/legal-arena/research/explanation-of-the-animal-welfare-act-awa/#.XvxEnGgzbIU

[austenmarriage]

New Post has been published on Austen Marriage

New Post has been published on http://austenmarriage.com/book-launch-austen-marriage-plus-excerpt-giveaway/

Book Launch of 'Austen Marriage'; Plus Excerpt, Giveaway!

Having written the last several times about Jane Austen’s relationships with men–and the confusion about which relationships were real and which ones lacked supporting evidence–I am announcing today the launch of the last volume in my trilogy based on her life, “The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen.” True to what is (actually) known about her life–and to the events of the turbulent Regency era–the series tells a compelling and believable story of a marriage during the “lost years” of her twenties before she retired to write.

Along with the announcement comes A GIVEAWAY FOR READERS–an eBook copy for the winner, selected from those who comment below. The giveaway ends at midnight EST on 3 December 2017. You may choose whichever volume in the trilogy you prefer.

“The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen” uses the iconic author to explore what life was like for women in the Regency period. Volume I is a charming courtship novel. Volume II is a deep psychological examination of marriage from the woman’s perspective. Volume III is the conclusion that tests Jane’s courage and moral convictions. The last volume is available for order now on Amazon.

The following is an excerpt from Chapter 3, as Jane and her husband begin to confront the first of several crises, both personal and public, that dramatically affect their lives.

Chapter 3

Finally, everything was done. It had taken several days but at last the baggage was unloaded and sorted for use in the big house or placed in storage; the latest contrivances that Ashton had collected were distributed to sometimes doubting employees; and the inhabitance had passed the white-gloved inspection by the butler, Mr. Hanrahan, and the housekeeper, Mrs. Lundeen.

Hants House thus secured and the baby napping, Jane made her brisk way up to the Greek temple from which she would have a clear view of the estate’s immediate environs. Her lifelong preference was to meander among the fields. She had been back to the top of the hill only a couple of times since their fateful confrontation there—an argument whose ferocity could only have led to marriage. Twenty months ago, it was: an eternity in terms of life lived and changes undergone. Today, for some reason, she needed elevation, as if by gaining the purer air of altitude she could rise above her sooty mood.

Her route took her through the hedgerows and the park, through deliberately casual arrangements of trees—each of which had the same unlikely combination of oak, birch, and ash—around the manmade lake, and up the rise to the Ionic temple. This fashionable folly was the work of Ashton’s parents, as leading Hampshire landholders were required to have at least one rustic ruin. Her husband would have planted trees with commercial value and used the lake to water them. Even now he spoke of how he might justify the expense of converting the temple into an astronomical observatory. She smiled to herself, though, knowing very well it would remain sacredly untouched as the place their life began together.

She did not sit inside on the stone slab, which always felt cold, but walked slowly around the building, taking in the lands and sky. Though below her by a hundred feet, Hants House itself sat on a small rise to the south of her position, fronted by the lawn, the brook, and the meadow. Their lane paralleled the brook in curling around several large irregular tree-covered mounds before angling down a sharp slope to the village. Behind the main building were the pond, the stables, and the usual out-buildings needed to support a country house and working farm. Because Hants had grown by acquisition over more than a hundred years, it had inherited rather than constructed many of its larger buildings. The dispersion of these—the oat, wheat, and barley barns, the fodder house, cart barn, and chicken houses—lent an air of disorganization in contrast to the neatness of a typical estate. This layout, however, meant that many buildings lay close to the fields and livestock, lessening the work for laborers. Beyond these, farmlands rolled east in soft undulations planted in grain and hay, and holding many varieties of livestock. To her left, many more fields stretched up the green valley northward. Some were worked by tenant or yeoman farmers, but this area also included their own lands-in-hand, on which grazed the many horses bred and trained for the Army.

Everywhere, men worked, as signified by the occasional shout or command, the heavy movement of wagons, or the ringing strike of the smith. Everywhere, fireplaces smoked, the women already preparing supper. There were the fresh, orderly strokes of green as spring thrust itself out of the tilled ground. Trees were in that state just beyond budding such that their leaves seemed less blooms than green vibrations in the air. The air smelled of the green of the season. In the distance, on both sides, she could just discern the sharp quick movements of newborn animals, and the jostling of the older animals as they tried to avoid the unpredictability of prance and buck. Somewhere came the startling sound—part whinny, part scream—of a horse that had lost sight of its favored companion.

From here she could also see the coal-gas manufactory, tucked behind a small outcropping that served as a shield against any inadvertent detonation. It sat in a bed of new wood chips that, fresh as a bird’s nest, softened the determined jaws of the building. It was this project that had decided the Dennises to relocate to Southampton with Jane’s family at the first of the year. Their removal had enabled the renovation of Hants House to incorporate the modern Rumford fireplaces and kitchen stoves, under Ashton’s edict that he would not sell what he himself did not use; and the installation of coal-gas lamps in place of candles, which required the manufactory close at hand.

Because only a handful of servants had been needed in Southampton, most of the staff had received temporary outdoor assignments with Mr. Fletcher, the steward, well away from the potential danger zone of the developing gas mechanisms. Jane was satisfied that the staff was put to good use, as her farm-girl eyes could discern subtle improvements in fencing, hay storage, and weed removal—the last of the many chores that are seldom fully completed over winter.

The Dennis entourage had returned after the difficult but ultimately safe delivery of Mary’s baby, a girl named Mary Jane. Worry lingers over every pregnancy and birth, but Jane had been particularly concerned about the wife of her brother Frank. Mary had been ill, sometimes violently, and suffered fainting spells all during her pregnancy; and her delivery, just a few months after Jane’s own, reminded Jane vividly of the complications she herself had suffered. Mary’s confinement had, in fact, been so difficult as to alarm them all extremely, her safety and that of her baby hanging in the balance. Like Jane, however, Mary made a rapid recovery. This somehow seemed to bode well as much for Jane as for her sister-in-law, and her spirits freshened with the breeze that drove away the clouds that had sulked over the Southampton port for weeks. Within a few days, they felt free to start for Hants.

The sun accompanied them on their journey north and had been shining ever since. Every corner of the house was now dry and warm, in contrast to the musty damp it exhaled after prolonged disuse of the previous rainy weeks. By the time she reached the top of the hill today, she felt that she had climbed completely out of her despondency.

And now, finally, she felt safe enough to address her fears about her baby. She could not believe there was anything wrong with George, who had filled out as plump and strong as a piglet; but simultaneously she could not fully dispute the indications, subtle and otherwise, that some things were not quite right with him either. … She had no definitive knowledge of the speed at which a baby developed, but she had the experience of a lifetime caring for the children of her relatives, as well as her own instincts as a mother. …

Jane could not consider the possibility of what might be wrong without initial consideration of the litany of things that were right. George was happy; he smiled and gurgled with pleasure whenever his mother or father played with him. He made the requisite smacking noises, though with less of the fullness of the mouth that would soon turn sound into vowels. His sense of touch was superb, and so was his sensitivity to pain. The slightest pinch brought a howl of protest. His taste was acute—he loved honey when she dabbed it on his tongue and pulled the most awful face when she experimented with something sour. His sight seemed fine—he lit up whenever he saw her, as if it were a game when she suddenly appeared. When they were together he stared so intently he might have been trying to penetrate her soul.

And yet …

—

I hope you will take a look at how life might have been for Jane Austen–and how, if the literary culture of her day had allowed, she might have written about the deepest matters of the heart. And what might have compelled her to declare that everybody had the right to marry once in their lives for love.