THORNTON,IA-Legislation currently making its way through the Iowa Senate would put an end to videotaping or taking pictures of farming operations without consent.It would also make it illegal to seek employment on a farm just to go undercover.
Area farmers say this is something that has been needed for many years, but some animal rights activists worry it will make it too easy for farmers abusing the animals to hide behind closed doors.
Animal Rights Activist Sybil Soukup says, "I feel like this bill protects large factory farms and puppy mills by making undercover animal investigations in animal care illegal."
These images were shot by someone working undercover for PETA.
The bill making this illegal has already passed the House and is now in the Senate.
There are mixed opinions about the legislation.
Hog Farmer Douglas Caffrey says, "we need that law to protect us from this, but we also need to be very conscious that we protect ourselves by taking the absolute best care of our animals that we can."
Caffrey say he understands that people want to know what is going on.
But he says the way some people have been going about it is wrong.
Caffery says, "I guess it’s kind of just the way to handle it by the law and take care of it that way rather than trying to get all the public opinion against us on this."
Soukup says, "we have a right to know what's going on with animal welfare in the state of Iowa and what's happening behind those closed doors."
Soukup say sometimes these undercover investigations are the only way to expose wrongdoing.
She says those abiding by the rules have nothing to worry about.
Soukup says, "I think the groups that are going out there and targeting with undercover investigations know that there is neglect and abuse going on inside the walls of these barns and these factory farms."
Supporters of the legislation say the video is often staged, which makes the situation even worse.
There is also a concern about people trespassing to get pictures and video.
They can spread disease to the livestock.
Trespassing laws already prohibit this, but supporters of the new legislation say it would send an even stronger message to folks about going after these farms in the wrong way.
If the bill passes it would be considered a felony to do these investigations.
Violators could face fines and jail time.
The Department of Agriculture is in charge of looking into any animal abuse cases.
