SAFE LovePigs Campaign : Mike King story

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Mike King story

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LovePigs campaign

Pigs in New Zealand

Uncovering the truth

Late in 2008 SAFE sent Mike King information about factory farming of pigs in New Zealand. In utter shock and disbelief, he began researching for himself how pigs were reared to produce pork, bacon and ham. He searched internet sites, spoke with friends and began asking questions of his employer, the New Zealand Pork Board.

On Christmas Eve he was surprised to be told his services as ‘Mister Pork' were no longer required. Mike says they told him it was due to financial reasons.

He soon viewed disturbing footage taken inside a New Zealand pig farm by Open Rescue, a group of passionate individuals who investigate factory farms. Mike felt he needed to see the conditions depicted on the videos for himself so arranged to accompany Open Rescue on a secret farm visit.

Mike meets the real faces of pork

On a cold wintry morning Mike King entered a shed of a North Island intensive piggery containing some 50 to 60 large pregnant sows. He says the pigs appeared highly distressed and agitated. He recalls the noise was deafening and the smell overpowering.

"All I remember when we walked through the door was the screaming. These pigs were screaming. It is one of those sounds you never forget. It was the same way you hear babies crying in distress," says Mike.

"I just walked around, looking at these beautiful animals, huge animals, wedged in these cages. You look into their eyes and they were either despairing, terrified, lost...it was absolutely harrowing."

Mike says he is absolutely sickened and disgusted at the conditions. He is sorry that he ever promoted such cruelly produced products.

"I should have investigated the industry before I agreed to promote it. I am deeply ashamed that I was blinded by and took part in promoting this style of farming."

"Pigs were chewing at the bars. Froth was coming out of their mouths and they were screaming. It was like they were screaming for you to help them. They were just looking at you terrified, but hopeful. It was just harrowing and disgusting."

Mike King says NO to cruel pork!

Mike King has since vowed to never eat factory farmed pork products again. He has challenged the Minister of Agriculture, David Carter, to ban sow stalls and has pledged to support SAFE's LovePigs campaign until the New Zealand government agrees to ban sow stalls.

"Sow crate farming should be illegal and we should outlaw it right now. It is absolutely disgusting and I am sorry that I was part of it."

SAFE commends Mike King

SAFE applauds Mike King for his courage in speaking out against cruel pig farming practices. From being the country's leading poster boy for kiwi pork to becoming SAFE's biggest defender of pigs, makes him the most unexpected addition to the ever-increasing list of kiwi celebrity supporters.

"SAFE is delighted to add the weight of Mike King to the campaign to vastly improve the lives of pigs in New Zealand. He joins over 25 other well-known celebrities, comedians, musicians, actors and television personalities defending pigs," says SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek.

"If Mike King, the face of the pork industry, can make the decision to never eat factory farmed pork again, then there can be no excuse for other New Zealanders not to follow his example," says Hans. "We expect that by denouncing the cruel and horrific practices of the pig industry, Mike King will be instrumental in bringing about meaningful change for tens of thousands of pigs," says Hans.

"I didn't know it [sow stalls] was going on. The New Zealand public didn't know it was going on. I honestly believed our clean green image and the way we love animals would never, never, ever allow that crap to go on."

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