Video from an undercover investigation of alleged animal abuse at a Southern California livestock operation was released today.

A spokesman for the group Mercy For Animals described the footage to the Weekly as depicting “animals being kicked, beaten and stomped on” as well as “ill or injured animals neglected and left to die without food, water or veterinary care.”

The organization says its investigation has led to …

… 21 counts of animal cruelty against the owner and seven employees of Ontario Livestock Sales in San Bernardino County.

Mercy For Animals plans to hold a news conference at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown L.A. at 11 a.m. tomorrow to reveal more details.

In the meantime, Nathan Runkle, executive director of the group, states:

This case graphically illustrates the cruel, inhumane and illegal abuses that farmed animals are all too often subjected to in California. In a civilized society, it is our moral obligation to protect all animals, including animals raised and killed for food, from needless suffering. We hope these charges send a strong message to livestock auctions that animal abuse will not be tolerated.

The group let Temple Grandin, USDA adviser, review the tape. She He claimed:

If this auction had been a federally inspected meat packing plant, they would have suspended inspection and shut them down.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

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