Petition: Tell American Veterinary Medical Association to Oppose Inhumane “Depopulation”

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Ventilation Shut Down (VSD) and VSD Plus have “come under greater scrutiny in the past year.”

VSD and VSD Plus are methods for killing pigs and chickens in mass quantities. VSD involves “closing the facility, shutting inlets, and turning off the fans associated with the ventilation system.”  VSD Plus “incorporates components such as heat, humidity, and carbon dioxide, in addition to shutting down the ventilation system.”  Essentially, VSD slowly suffocates animals; VSD Plus suffocates them and bakes them alive.

Since Covid-19, meat processing plants have experienced employee shortages and diminished processing capacity.   As a result, more facilities than ever are relying on VSD or VSD Plus to kill animals.  And although many vets oppose VSD and VSD Plus, the AVMA enables this practice by listing VSD Plus as “permitted in constrained circumstances.”

Given recent scrutiny, an AVMA expert panel is giving these practices “further consideration.”  While the AVMA reconsiders its official stance, sign this petition urging the organization to adopt a “not recommended” standard.

To continue speaking up, sign these other petitions as well:

• Pass Stricter Regulations for Live Chicken Transportation
• Tell IFC to Divest from Factory Farming

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Also, don’t forget to download the Food Monster App on iTunes — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, vegan and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!