The HSUS recently launched a national whistleblower hotline for reporting incidents of cruelty and neglect at livestock auction, in slaughtering plants and on "factory farms". The organization also is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of alleged offenders.
“The bleak conditions endured by animals on factory farms are often made worse by overt violence and neglect,” said Paul Shapiro, vice president of farm animal protection for The HSUS. “We want whistleblowers to know that help is just a phone call away.”
HSUS created the hotline in response to "ag-gag laws" passed in several states. The laws criminalize undercover videotaping at agricultural facilities and failure to report animal cruelty in a timely manner.
HSUS said hotline callers will be "assured anonymity if they desire it."
