The recent raid on the Butterball turkey facility that was allegedly abusing its animals brings up something that we as a society cannot seem to grasp.

I understand another poultry plant was severely criticized because the chickens, already killed, plucked, and on the line for processing showed signs of bruising, indicating that they were mistreated at some point in their lives. Now, I am not one to condone the abuse of any animal, but let’s get real here.

These birds are bred for one thing and one thing only, so that you and I can have them for our dinners. Now, why is it that these abuses can raise the ire of the citizens, cause the Agriculture Commissioner to have to take to the airwaves to provide some answers, but no one seems to care that thousands of men, women, and especially children, will, on the day you read this letter, go to bed hungry, abused, neglected, and in some cases, homeless and cold, and this hardly gets a mention outside of the holidays we just celebrated?

Have we raised the cause of animal rights to the point that it supercedes the need to help people who find themselves in bad situations? When was the last time you heard about a major crackdown on the abuse of innocent human beings?

Edgar Taylor

Knightdale