Those of us who care about other animals often wonder how someone is capable of raising animals and then killing them. Even those who consume animals often claim not to be able to see how they are treated, let alone how they are killed. 

For this reason, companies involved in animal exploitation intentionally omit these images, offering instead pictures of "happy" animals cared for with "love". You will never see a pig's throat being slit or his head shot off in an advertisement. Why? Because we can understand the pain these animals feel, we can put ourselves in their shoes. There is no problem in watching a tomato being pulled from the plant, because obviously there are no feelings involved.

So how does someone cope with killing someone else? How does he cope with seeing him get sick and let him die without giving him help if it is going to mean an economic loss for his company? How does he cope with seeing him being used as a mere object of production?

Juan liked animals. He learned that, since he had that sensitivity, he should work in a place where he could be close to them. It could be a zoo, a pet store or a farm. Those who own these businesses often say that they "love their animals" and that no one could care more about them. They also talk more and more about how they implement acclaimed animal welfare measures.

So Juan came to work on a pig farm in Catalonia. This is what he told us.

Work by Linas Korta and Xiana Castro.

Published in November 2023.