Foie gras is known to be one of the most cruelly produced foods in the world. Every day, countless ducks are tortured in dark isolation. But today, innocent victims are receiving care and rehabilitation at Farm Sanctuary.
On a foie gras farm, a foot-long metal tube is callously shoved down ducks' throats multiple times per day, forcing in excessive quantities of food and causing unspeakable pain. By the time these ducks meet their premature deaths, many show signs of the abuse they have lived through: esophageal lacerations, intensive bleeding, and bacterial and fungal growth in their upper digestive tracts.
Thankfully, Farm Sanctuary is caring for ducks rescued from these horrors. We need your help to give lifelong shelter to the ducks, continue our efforts to fight this cruelty and find freedom for the others left behind to suffer at the hands of the heartless foie gras industry.
At our New York Shelter, these ducks are now experiencing the nurturing and care that they deserve, receiving necessary veterinary treatments and the loving attention of our shelter staff. Because of the cruel treatment they have endured, however, they will be debilitated for life.
Kohl came to us unable to walk or stand. He was in respiratory distress and after weeks of force-feeding could not eat on his own. He was taken to Cornell University Hospital for Animals for urgent care. In the intensive care unit, he was put on emergency oxygen and intravenous fluids. Upon testing, it was confirmed that his liver was abnormally enlarged and that he was suffering from hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver syndrome or liver disease). The gross enlargement of his liver had decreased air space for his lungs, and caused his respiratory ailments. Due to his abuse and neglect, his legs are also severely deformed. He will never walk or swim like a normal duck.
Harper arrived in our care missing his left eye. He was experiencing difficulty breathing, and had an abnormal head tilt. The left side of his head was malformed and depressed more than the right. His potassium and uric acid levels were low as a result of the protein-deficient diet fed to foie gras ducks. Further adding to his struggle, his bill was deformed and he was missing patches of feathers.
Burton arrived at Farm Sanctuary stumbling. He had an enlarged liver and severe mucus in his upper respiratory tract. Along with Kohl and Harper, he had to be tube-fed formula because he could not eat on his own.
With your gift today, Kohl, Harper and Burton will receive the special needs care they require as a result of their abuse. Because of the horrific conditions from which they came, their care will be ongoing and intensive. Farm Sanctuary needs your help to support their special veterinary care and habitat–customized to provide for their needs. Harper, who is missing an eye, and Kohl, who will always have severe physical disabilities and require special swim therapy because he is unable to swim on his own in our large pond, will need individualized living areas for the duration of their lives.
Kohl, Harper and Burton suffered through one of the greatest tortures on earth. But, they have escaped from the foie gras industry to see a different side of humanity at Farm Sanctuary. Here, they are beginning to trust that they will be cared for with a loving touch each day. With your help, they will forever know human hands as reaching out to help, rather than hurt them.
Your gift will not only provide loving care for Kohl, Harper and Burton, but also will allow us to expose the unbearable torture they experienced and defend the thousands of ducks still suffering.
We’ve achieved significant legislative progress on the foie gras issue, so we know that it is only a matter of resources and campaigning to continue this success and pass laws to outlaw foie gras cruelty nationwide. Foie gras has been banned in California and Chicago, not to mention more than a dozen countries throughout the world. Together, we can end the pain for all foie gras ducks in the U.S. forever.
We can’t do it without you. Please, send in your support and help innocent ducks escape the torture. In honor of Kohl, Harper and Burton, and the pain they endured, please make a donation now. Thank you for your support today.
