In his insightful column, "Denounce cruelty in all forms," in the Aug. 26 Reflector, Brian Colligan asks people who are outraged at the recent details of Michael Vick's dog fighting activities to also spare a thought for the suffering of the millions of animals raised and slaughtered for food production.

Mr. Colligan is correct when he writes of the "horrific means of production" on factory farms. In North Carolina and most other states, farmed animals are exempt from animal cruelty statutes. Actions that are a felony if they involve a dog, cat or horse are in violation of no statute if the unfortunate animal is considered livestock. Tail docking and castration in pigs is done without benefit of anesthesia, as is de-beaking of chickens and de-beaking and de-toeing (removal of the first toe joint) of turkeys on factory farms. Because conditions are so crowded, individual vet care is not provided.

The only protection that factory-farmed animals are allowed is at the end of their lives. The Humane Slaughter Act was passed in 1958 and its intent was to render livestock insensible to pain before slaughter. There have been numerous documented violations of the act for various reasons, including increased line speeds at slaughter facilities as well as frustration and desensitizing of the workers.

Poultry make up the vast majority of animals raised for food. They live in filthy, crowded buildings and are slaughtered at six to seven weeks of age, while still juveniles. North Carolina alone produces over 700 million broiler chickens annually, according to the N.C. Department of Agriculture.

Poultry are excluded from the Humane Slaughter Act. It is standard industry practice to paralyze chickens before slaughter by hanging them upside down and running their heads through an electrified water bath. Paralyzed does not equal unconscious.

I echo Mr. Colligan's plea for everyone who is outraged over the suffering of Vick's dogs to widen your circle of compassion to include other animals.

KAY EVANS

Founder, Chocowinity Chicken Sanctuary

& Education Center