The
City named after Saint Francis of Assisi
The
Patron Saint of Animals
For turtles, frogs, birds, fish, and rabbits, San Francisco is a disgrace to the name Saint Francis, and a disgrace to itself, for permitting activities such as this to occur. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has actually voted to ENDORSE these practices!
The "city by the bay," is a cesspool of cruelty. Of political bias.
Many in the community claim that those parties opposed to this type of animal treatment refer to campaigning against it as "prejudiced," of "attacking cultural practices," of "racism!"
This is NOT a racist issue. It is one of wildlife conservation, humane treatment of animals, and ethics.
Is it ethical to allow an animal to suffer an agonizing death by crude slaughter, after allowing it to be kept in filthy conditions? To allow starvation, dehydration, and injuries, many severe?
Is it ethical or humane to allow dead and alive animals to remain in the same enclosures as those still clinging to life, often for days or weeks at a time?
Is it wrong to desire to make changes, to defend wildlife, to prevent pain and suffering, and demand that existing laws be applied equally to EVERYONE, regardless of race?
This isn't the case in San Francisco. All of this is permitted and actually endorsed. And it's the animals....who suffer in silence. Unable to defend themselves, they sit at the mercy of whoever has exploited them. They will meet a cruel, violent, and very painful death.
San Francisco pet stores aren't permitted to keep animals in conditions as miserable as these, why should live animal food markets be any different?
These are photos taken of animals offered as food in San Francisco, California. Unfortunately, these photographs do not accurately portray the magnitude of suffering, exploitation, pain, and neglect these animals endure while awaiting inhumane slaughter methods. Animals are kept in conditions even worse than these while awaiting purchase/slaughter in markets like these all over the North America. San Francisco, however, is the worst of the worst. Where is San Francisco Animal Care and Control? They certainly aren't here enforcing state cruelty laws...
These animals are injured, diseased, and frightened. They are capable of fear, pain, and suffering.
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Softshell turtles, piled 7 and 8 deep, in San Francisco, CA. Turtles on the bottom often suffocate, or are crushed by the weight of those above them. They are usually slaughtered by having the carapace (top shell) cut completely off while conscious. |
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Bullfrogs. Most are imported from China. These frogs are piled approximately 3 feet deep in this filthy wooden box. Many suffocate, others die from stress, starvation, and injuries. Note the filthy enclosure, and what appears to be a sea of various brown and green colors. The butcher usually grabs the frog by the rear legs and forcefully slams it, head first, against the butcher block. |
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Example of a typical turtle set-up in a retail environment. These turtles are lucky, only because they are not stacked 10 deep, as is often seen. Notice the broken glass. No food, no water, no heat. A cold, wet floor, is home for them until slaughter. The turtles pictured below are Red Eared Sliders, all of which have since this photograph been quartered while fully conscious. These unlucky turtles each had space to itself, until more turtles were delivered. In a few days, an area like this will often contain 30 or more turtles. Other species of water turtles indigenous to the USA are found scattered amongst these turtles. Some are endangered or protected species. These animals suffer from acute dehydration, starvation, parasites, fungi, bacteria, traumatic shell crush injuries, septicemia, and many other health problems. Often, they are simply found in these "enclosures" dead. |
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This is the carapace of a Red Eared Slider rescued in San Francisco by the author.. This photo was taken in February, 1998. This turtle had shell rot so advanced, that my fingers went through the top of the carapace and into the internal cavity of the turtle. The torn areas can be seen, they're red. Despite all rehabilitation efforts, she died. |
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Yet another helpless, sick turtle rescued from the San Francisco market. This turtle was Purchased at a hellhole called Vallejo Market. The large lump on the side of her face is a terribly painful, infected ear abscess. By the time she got into the hands of rehabilitators, it was too late. The infection had spread through her body causing septicemia. Sadly, she died. :-( |
A very common site on the streets of Chinatown San Francisco. Turtles are often kept in conditions like this for days on end, on sidewalks in front of many of the shops. They're exposed to people often handling (and dropping them), have no food, water, or shelter. They will stay just like this until purchased for slaughter while still fully conscious.
A common site within many shops. These are all Spiny Softshell turtles.
They are left helpless, upside down, sideways, stacked sometimes 7 or 8 deep. Many of the turtles on the bottom suffocate or are crushed by the weight of those stacked above them. Notice the plastic bag being held, awaiting them.
Click
HERE for
written accounts by people who have witnessed
this
horrible situation.
San Francisco Animal "Care and Control"....SHAME ON YOU.
Never
see your agency on "Animal Planet" enforcing the LAW
in CHINATOWN!
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