MFA has released never-before-seen undercover video of cows being sexually abused at Bettencourt Dairies, Idaho’s largest dairy farm. The footage is part of a new online ad campaign aimed at defeating the state’s controversial “ag-gag” bill, SB 1337.
The graphic hidden-camera video shows a worker fondling a cow’s vagina while making crude sexual references. It also shows this and other Bettencourt workers viciously beating, kicking, and jumping on cows in order to deliberately inflict pain.
MFA is urging concerned citizens to contact Idaho governor Butch Otter and representatives in the state House to demand that they reject the dangerous ag-gag bill.
Watch the shocking video
here:
In late 2012, MFA conducted an undercover investigation at Bettencourt Dairies that exposed a culture of horrific animal cruelty, neglect, and sexual abuse. The investigation led to criminal charges against workers at the facility. Jesus Garza, seen molesting a cow in this newly released video, was convicted in January 2013 of criminal cruelty to animals. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, ordered to pay a $500 fine, and barred from supervising or providing any direct care to livestock.
This year, in direct response to MFA’s investigation, pro-factory farm legislators in Idaho proposed an ag-gag bill designed to shield animal abusers like Jesus Garza from public scrutiny. If passed, SB 1337 would make it a crime to take photos or video at a factory farm without the owner’s permission. Luis Bettencourt, owner of Bettencourt Dairies, has been lobbying to pass this bill.
“This legislation is a desperate attempt to sweep evidence of animal cruelty and sexual abuse under the rug,” said MFA’s executive director, Nathan Runkle. “Without Mercy For Animals’ investigation, sadistic animal abuse and sexual molestation would have gone on undetected, unaddressed and unpunished. Idaho has some of the weakest animal cruelty laws in the nation. Lawmakers should be focusing on strengthening these pathetic laws, not silencing whistleblowers in an attempt to protect corrupt corporations.”
We must put a stop to this dangerous legislation. Click here to sign the petition calling on Idaho governor Butch Otter to veto this dangerous bill.
