Pigs who are too sick or injured to stand—often called “downed” pigs—are still being slaughtered in the U.S. They are kicked, shocked, dragged, and sometimes left to suffer for hours before being killed. This is legal, and it’s happening in facilities that supply meat to stores across the country. 

These animals can’t defend themselves. But we can speak up for them.

A new bill in Congress—the Pigs and Public Health Act—would finally make it illegal to slaughter downed pigs. It would also require the USDA and CDC to monitor the dangerous pathogens these animals may carry. That means better protection for animals and for people who work in or eat from the U.S. food system. 

This is not a fringe issue. The law already bans the slaughter of downed cattle. There is no reason pigs should be treated with less care or compassion. Half a million downed pigs enter the food supply each year. Many of them are too sick to walk. No animal deserves this.

We’re calling on Congress to pass the Pigs and Public Health Act and ban the slaughter of downed pigs nationwide. The cruelty has gone on too long. Most Americans want stronger animal welfare standards—and this is a basic one we can all agree on.

If we want a more humane and responsible food system, we have to stop letting this kind of suffering slide by in silence. Join us in demanding this long-overdue change.