http://www.sacpaws.com/home/Blog/luvmypit/221 You probably remember when The Humane Society of the United States exposed animal mistreatment at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company. That investigation led to the nation's largest-ever beef recall. But now there's more. A few months later, a new undercover video shows farm animals suffering terribly even before they arrive at the slaughter plant. Cows too weak to walk, called "downers," languish for agonizing hours at stockyards and auctions without veterinary care -- or being put out of their misery. This abuse must not continue. The USDA has a presence at slaughter plants, but the animals at auctions and stockyards are in legal limbo. No one is watching at these intermediate locations, and no one is taking responsibility for ensuring humane treatment and that sick animals don't enter the food supply. It's a major gap in oversight, and we need to do better. Please ask the USDA to act now to close the loophole that allows some downers to be slaughtered for food, and to require immediate, humane euthanasia of all downers. Thank you for all you do for animals. Sincerely, Wayne Pacelle President  & CEO The Humane Society of the United States You probably remember when The Humane Society of the United States exposed animal mistreatment at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company. That investigation led to the nation's largest-ever beef recall. But now there's more. A few months later, a new undercover video shows farm animals suffering terribly even before they arrive at the slaughter plant. Cows too weak to walk, called "downers," languish for agonizing hours at stockyards and auctions without veterinary care -- or being put out of their misery. This abuse must not continue. The USDA has a presence at slaughter plants, but the animals at auctions and stockyards are in legal limbo. No one is watching at these intermediate locations, and no one is taking responsibility for ensuring humane treatment and that sick animals don't enter the food supply. It's a major gap in oversight, and we need to do better. Please ask the USDA to act now to close the loophole that allows some downers to be slaughtered for food, and to require immediate, humane euthanasia of all downers. Thank you for all you do for animals. Sincerely, Wayne Pacelle President  & CEO The Humane Society of the United States en-us