A letter from Jane,
Animal Equality investigator

As an investigator going undercover into factory farms, it is normal to build a wall inside of you to separate yourself from the terrible things you see.

It is both a natural defence mechanism and the result of years of experience and training.

Much of what I record with my camera is very bleak, but there are a few things I keep close to my heart to keep me going.

There are the moments I share with the animals I see.

When I was on the pig farm and no one was looking, I would talk to the mother pig who was trapped under the bars of the farrowing crate.

It was very hard to look into her eyes, knowing that she had no chance of escape. But for those brief moments, I wanted her to feel affection for once in her life. 

When I saw her being slowly led away, across the yard and behind the wall, I saw the man was clutching a gun in his hand. I knew in that moment I would never see her again. And I promised myself that I would do everything I could to make this pain stop, if not for her, then for the animals just like her who are yet to be born. 

Her memory, and the memories I hold of thousands of others, they keep me going.

I also have the support of the Animal Equality team. I work with them because together we turn those stories into real, concrete change.

Seeing a piece of footage I have recorded turn into a moment of national importance is very powerful. It reminds me that every moment, no matter how terrible to witness, could be the spark that brings about change for millions of animals.

The stories we tell are heard all over the world. They inspire people everywhere to take action for animals and make more compassionate choices in their lives. They also act as the evidence we need to drive global companies and governments to make unprecedented changes.

I know the Animal Equality team won’t stop. They will always be by my side.

And then there is you. I will probably never meet you, but I feel the warmth of your support everywhere I go.

The industry we are fighting against is immensely rich and powerful. They employ thousands and thousands of people, many more than we could ever afford to.

We are outnumbered, but with you and all the other people who have chosen to fight alongside us, we stand a chance.

I know that seeing animals crying and screaming in pain is heartbreaking and something nobody wants to see. I know that those images make you deeply angry and that you wish you could stop all the suffering with just a snap of your fingers…

Believe me, this is something I feel every day. But unfortunately, that isn’t possible.

As hard as it is for me, I have come to accept that the animals I see will never be saved. That is not something we have the power to do.

But we do have the power to save the animals of the future. The animals who are yet to be born and without our help, will face the same fate as the animals you see today.

With every investigation, we are changing the course of history. But if we are going to truly succeed, we need your support today.

I know you may feel like it won’t make a difference. I have faced many moments where change seems impossible. Sometimes it feels as if nothing is happening; other times it seems to all happen at once. But change is happening, always.

And the next big moment of change – like the story of Jalisco or any of the other huge victories we have achieved in the past – could be right around the corner. 

It could happen with the next investigation. 

Please, if you are in a position to give, support us and our investigative work.

We do not receive billions of pounds in revenue like the companies we face. We are a UK charity, and to remain committed to our mission we must rely on generous members of the public, like you.

Monthly donations are incredibly important to our work. They give us the security we need to plan for the future so that the investigations we conduct will lead to real, lasting change.

By becoming a monthly supporter, you will be fighting for farmed animals with every investigation and through every campaign. I hope you will join me.

The simple fact that you are reading this reminds me that my work is being felt beyond the concrete walls of the farms I work on. And I feel a sense of resolution that the stories of the mother pig and the other animals have made it out alive, even if they never did.

Thank you. It means so much to me.

Jane