For Immediate Release

Washington, D.C.--Animal advocacy organization Compassion Over Killing (COK) today released the findings of a three-month-long undercover investigation into conditions at three of Maryland's livestock auctions: Westminster Livestock Auction, Frederick Livestock Auction, and Four State's Livestock Auction in Hagerstown, Md. COK found that violence and intimidation toward animals are the norm at livestock auctions.

To see photos and video from the investigation, please visit www.cok.info.

From October through December of 2001, COK undercover investigators secretly took video and photographic evidence of animal abuse at the three auctions, all of which are owned by B&J Auctions. (Note: During the course of the investigation, Frederick Livestock Auction was shut down permanently.) COK produced a 19-minute documentary on the investigation entitled, "The Auction Block: An Inside Look at Farmed Animal Sales." Copies of "The Auction Block" are available to media upon request.

Some of the abuses COK documented include: The gratuitous use of electric prods on animals; the beating of animals too sick or injured to even walk; the dragging of injured or resistant animals by their ears, legs, and even upside down; the purposeful slamming of gates on passing animals; dead animals lying in close proximity to live animals; and, generally, rough handlers with little regard for the well-being of the animals.

There are no laws that protect animals at livestock auctions. The Maryland anti-cruelty statute explicitly exempts animals used for food, and the federal Packers & Stockyards Act is designed only to protect buyers and sellers.

Rather than lobbying for new laws, COK is asking consumers who are against animal cruelty to take the protest to their plates by becoming vegetarian. COK is offering free vegetarian starter packs to anyone at www.cok.info.

According to COK president Miyun Park, "The abuses forced upon farmed animals at livestock auctions, factory farms, and slaughterhouses are horrifying. Anyone who cares about animals should refuse t o support such cruelty by going vegetarian."

Compassion Over Killing (COK) is a Washington, D.C.-based animal rights organization. In addition to this livestock auction investigation, COK recently investigated a factory egg farm in Cecilton, Md. For more on that investigation, visit www.ISECruelty.com. COK's main function lies in conducting investigations, organizing public demonstrations and other educational activities, and actively working to bring about a kinder world for all of us, both human and nonhuman.