ADLF and Florida Residents Sue Backyard Butchers

National nonprofit Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit December 4 against multiple Florida “farms” after explicit undercover footage shot by Animal Recovery Mission revealed harrowing animal cruelty and illegal slaughter in residential areas. ADLF is representing Hillsborough Country residents, marking the first time the state’s residents have filed suit to end the backyard slaughter operations. The residents include one ALDF plaintiff, who is a disabled veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder and is constantly traumatized by gunshots coming from neighboring slaughter yards. These underground “facilities” violate health codes, pollute ground water, and participate in the illegal slaughter, disposal, and sale of animals such as horses, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, and birds. The undercover video, which recorded drawn-out kills and pigs being fed horse remains, also importantly acknowledges that in many instances, these cruel and abusive events take place in front of young children.