Unprecedented Sentence in One of the Worst Cases of Animal Cruelty Ever Documented

First-ever sentence handed down for farm animal cruelty in Spain, thanks to US-based international advocacy organization, Animal Equality.

Today, Tuesday, September 27, two of three farm workers accused of horrific animal cruelty at El Escobar Farm in Murcia, Spain, were sentenced.

Both men received a one year prison sentence and have been banned from working with animals for three years. The third man is on the run.

"This is the highest penalty for abuse to farm animals in the history of Spain and we are glad that the animal abusers were found guilty," said Javier Moreno, International Director of Animal Equality who exposed the case.

Javier Moreno, International Director

“This is the highest penalty for abuse to farm animals in the history of Spain and we are glad that the animal abusers were found guilty,” said Javier Moreno, International Director of Animal Equality who exposed the case.

He added, “At Animal Equality we will continue exposing the suffering of animals in the meat industry to create a society in which farm animals are protected.”

Warning Graphic Content

In February 2012, international organization Animal Equality shared a video with images of the animal abuse inside El Escobar farm, located in Murcia, Spain.

The images, which were captured by one of the workers, showed farm staff brutally hitting pigs with iron bars and stabbing them with swords while mocking their suffering in front of the camera. The video also shows one of the workers opening up a pregnant pig’s abdomen and uterus with a knife in order to remove her babies while she was still conscious.

In an interview (in Spanish), the whistleblower admitted to Animal Equality that those were standard practices that took place every day at the farm.

The police detained three workers 48 hours after Animal Equality reported the crimes and turned over the evidence.

The three former employees at the farm faced trial over animal abuse charges today (Tuesday, September 27th) at criminal court No. 3 of Cartagena. Animal Equality represented the public at the trial.

Notes to Editors

·      Animal Equality’s campaign video (in English): LINK

·      Gallery of images: LINK

·      Video of animal abuse at El Escobar farm (in Spanish): LINK

·      Interview with former farm worker (in Spanish): LINK

Animal Equality is an international farmed animal advocacy organization working in Spain, the United States, England, Italy, Germany, Venezuela, and India. Animal Equality has over two million supporters and works through education, advocacy, and investigations in order to promote social and legislative changes that benefit animals.

MEDIA CONTACT

For more information or to interview Javier Moreno contact: Sarah Pickering, Int. Director of Communications, Animal Equality at [email protected] or on cell: +1 (424) 305-0165.​​​

Source: Animal Equality

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Animal Equality is an international animal protection organization working in the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, Mexico, Brazil and India.