Why Everyone Should Attend a
Slaughterhouse Vigil Recently, I attended my second vigil with Bristol Animal Save. If you're not aware, a vigil involves standing outside a slaughterhouse and bearing witness to the animals who are going to be killed. The idea is to show them love in their last moments, as well as documenting what they go through. I believe that everyone, regardless of their diet, should attend a vigil at least once. In this article, I'll explain why, as well as giving some idea of what to expect for those who are apprehensive.
My experience It was still dark when I left the house to go to the vigil. I caught a bus to Bath and got a lift with another activist from there, as the slaughterhouse was located just outside Bristol. For obvious reasons, abattoirs tend to be in outoftheway locations, so you often need a car to get there. As we approached the slaughterhouse, we saw smoke billowing out of the chimneys on top. It was an extremely sinister spectacle we wondered what exactly was producing it. Disturbingly, a truck full of pigs on their way to the slaughterhouse loomed large on the road behind us.
We made it to the slaughterhouse gates just in time to catch the truck. The activists stopped it, requesting a few minutes to say goodbye to the pigs. The truck stopped and we all approached it. The pigs inside were standing in their own filth, and the whole truck reeked of it.
An emotional experience Pigs have strikingly humanlike eyes. As you look into them, it's hard not to be moved by their plight. Pigs are said to be as intelligent as threeyearold human children, and when you observe their friendly inquisitiveness, this isn't hard to believe. Even after six months of suffering at the hands of humans, they still trusted us. We talked softly to the pigs, stroking them through the gaps in the side of the truck. Our three minutes were up far too quickly. Watching the trucks trundle through the gates is always a heartbreaking experience many people are moved to tears by the tragedy of these beautiful creatures going to their deaths. This particular slaughterhouse kills pigs by gassing them,
seedling magazine | 46
