PRESS RELEASE: Exposing Ugly Abuse In One Of America’s Most Beautiful Cities

EXPOSING UGLY ABUSE IN ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES

Animal Outlook’s undercover investigation unveils animal abuse horrors hiding in plain sight throughout Bay Area residential neighborhoods 

Washington, D.C. – (August 17,  2022) – An investigation from Animal Outlook has unveiled abuse at live markets—markets where live animals are slaughtered, killed and sold—in and around the Bay Area in Northern California. 

Photographic and video footage taken by the organization shows the horrific abuse inflicted on  fish, turtles, frogs and other animals in these live markets, many of which are in close proximity to peoples’ homes and in full view of children as they walk to school. 

Animal Outlook is calling for stricter enforcement of existing anti-cruelty and protection laws for the cruelty documented and to hold companies who provide these animals to live markets responsible. Cheryl Leahy, Animal Outlook’s Executive Director, states, “We want the public to be aware that this type of animal cruelty is happening in all sorts of places, both on massive factory farms and slaughterhouse run by a multinational corporations and right in our own neighborhoods: cruelty and suffering are standard fare across the board. The good news is each of us has the power to take a stand against this cruelty by refusing to purchase animal products.” 

Although Animal Outlook’s exposé shows the abuse at these San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose markets, this issue is a nationwide problem. Leahy continues, “There are literally hundreds of these markets and they are in nearly every major city from Los Angeles to New York and in full view of residents. We are shining a light on San Francisco to illustrate the national crisis.”

The multitude of abuses uncovered in Animal Outlook’s video include fish, turtle and frog cruelty. Fish are bludgeoned before being dismembered and, if they’re still moving after the initial hit, they are hit multiple times with clubs or the flat side of knives. Additionally, fish are swimming in overcrowded tanks surrounded by dead or dying fish or displayed in shallow trays with little water. Turtles are decapitated alive and soft shell “aquatic” turtles are kept in dry containers. Frogs and other amphibians and reptiles spend their days in plastic tubs, sometimes piled on top of each other.

The vast majority of Americans agree that animal cruelty is wrong, yet these practices are allowed to continue under the veil of these live markets.

ABOUT ANIMAL OUTLOOK

Animal Outlook is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. Animal Outlook’s mission is to aid animals by strategically challenging the status quo of animal agribusiness through undercover investigations, legal advocacy, corporate and food system reform, and empowering everyone to choose vegan. https://animaloutlook.org/ 

###

IMAGES 

LIVE MARKET IMAGES

LOGOS

B-ROLL FOOTAGE

Media Contact:

Jim Amos, Scout 22

(818) 216-9122

jim@scout22.com