On Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at about 2pm, a local resident — Teresa — witnessed pigs that were very hot, dehydrated and wounded, including several pigs with bloody snouts in one transport truck. She was shocked to see about 10 transport trucks waiting in line in the hot sun to be unloaded at Toronto’s Quality Meat Packers, including three trucks waiting on Wellington Street West. Distressed by what she witnessed, she ran into the plant and asked to speak to the manager. She demanded that they address the crisis. She was asked to leave.

Teresa texted her friends and various NGOs and through social media Toronto Pig Save was informed at about 4 p.m. We immediately visited the site.

The footage in this video is of one transport truck waiting in line at about 4 p.m.; most of the trucks had left the site already. The pigs are clearly in distress — extremely hot, dehydrated, overcrowded, and many with wounds, including one with an open eye wound. The pigs are very vocal communicating to each other and perhaps to us as well, crying for help.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has set up a media alert and a form letter you can send to your MP, but please personalize the letter and refer to this case of July 12  and this video.

Video footage: Anita Krajnc, Photo stills: Teresa Ascencao, Toronto Pig Save