Seaboard Foods maintains an absolute zero-tolerance policy toward the mistreatment of any animals. At Seaboard Foods we understand we have a moral and ethical obligation to treat all animals in a humane manner.
Under no circumstances will the abuse or mistreatment of animals be condoned or tolerated. The repercussions of such abuse or mistreatment, from a company standpoint, will be immediate termination. Seaboard Foods also recognizes the possible criminal implications of non-compliance with this policy, and reserves the right to assist law enforcement in any criminal investigation against any employee, current or former, as it relates to accusations of animal abuse or mistreatment.
Each employee shall make proper animal care and handling, including the following, a top priority in the performance of their job:
- Moving animals using low stress techniques
- Identifying and treating sick animals
- Maintaining medical and treatment records
- Proper use of veterinarian prescribed drugs
- When necessary, the proper procedure for euthanasia of animals
- Stop any acts of animal mistreatment
- Report animal mistreatment to supervisor or Seaboards Foods’ Animal Abuse Hotline
The following actions are examples of those which constitute animal abuse and absolutely will not be tolerated anywhere in the Seaboard Foods’ system.
- Striking an animal with any hard object.
- Striking an animal on the head or face with anything.
- Throwing live pigs for any reason.
- Purposeful dropping of pigs.
- Failure to immediately euthanize any animal meeting Seaboard Foods’ Euthanasia criteria.
- Not using methods of euthanasia as described in Seaboard Foods’ Euthanasia policy.
- Failure to seek veterinarian assistance when unclear on how to proceed with any sick or suffering animal.
- Unavailability of food and water.
- Failure to stop or report animal mistreatment as described above.
