LETTER: Animals suffer when slaughtered

OF COURSE greyhounds should not be exported to countries that do not meet Australia’s animal welfare standards and neither should sheep or cattle.

A reader says chickens, turkeys and pigs all suffer for human consumption. Picture: Linda Mantova

OF COURSE greyhounds should not be exported to countries that do not meet Australia's animal welfare standards and neither should sheep or cattle.

But, having said that, don't be lulled into thinking that animals slaughtered in Australia have pleasant deaths.

Unwanted greyhounds may be shot, hammered, hanged or thrown from bridges.

Recent undercover slaughterhouse footage taken by Animal Liberation shows frantic pigs screaming and writhing as their throats and eyes burn and they slowly suffocate inside gas chambers.

Turkeys and chickens are shackled by the ankles to a conveyor belt that moves them past a stun bath and automated knife.

The struggling birds who succeed in avoiding both die an agonising death in the scalding tank.

Although we may be powerless to help prevent cruelty to exported animals we can all help prevent cruelty to the animals here in Australia simply by refusing to support these animal-abusive industries with our dollars.

To put it simply - avoid sports that exploit animals and avoid all animal products.

JENNY MOXHAM

Monbulk Victoria