Kayla SnyderMr. HagelPolitical Science10 May 2014Farmed Animals and the LawEvery year, 10 billion animals, not including fish, are raised and killed for food, but did you know that an overwhelming 99% of them are raised and killed in factory farms? A factory farm is a place where animals are crammed into such tight spaces that they can hardly move. They are forced into cages so small that the animals can't even turn around. Many of these animals have no access to the outdoors and spend much of their lives in cages or enclosures. This type of treatment can cause serious mental distress. Many would agree that this type of treatment constitutes animal cruelty, but why are there so few laws to protect these animals? Each year, animals raised for the meat, dairy and egg industries are among the most abused in the United States. Many of the abusive tactics used on farm animals would be illegal if applied to dogs or cats. These farm animals are slaughtered, tortured and killed inhumanely. In some cases, before these animals reach the slaughterhouse, they undergo brutal and cruel treatment which in most cases is legal. One such practice involves putting a tube down the throat of a duck or goose to force-feed the animal several times a day. An example of the abuses that occur within these factory farms is a practice called "debeaking." It is a process that involves cutting or burning bone, cartilage and soft tissue to remove the upper part of the beak of chickens, turkeys and ducks. These animals are not even given anesthetics. These farm animals are also deprived of exercise so that all the energy in their bodies is put into producing meat, eggs or milk for human consumption, fed drugs to fatten them up and keep them alive in conditions that ... ......event future water and air pollution. Furthermore, all animal cruelty practices such as debeaking should be outlawed. Practices of keeping animals in confined spaces should be prohibited. Farm animals should be required to have sufficient space to accommodate all farm animals on each farm. There should also be a mandatory annual inspection at every location intending to sell meat, dairy and egg products to buyers. If the inspection is denied, the farmer should be fined. Animal rights groups such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) suggest boycotting factory-farmed meat and dairy products to raise awareness about cruelty to farmed animals. Boycotting these farms is an acceptable response to draw attention to this problem and to convince states to pass laws to make animal cruelty illegal not only to pets, but also to farm animals..