Factory Farming’s Hidden Link: Investigating Livestock Auctions with Pete Paxton and Cailen LaBarge

Our Hen House: Vegan & Animal Rights Movement | Stories from the Frontlines of Animal Liberation

Undercover investigator Pete Paxton and attorney Cailen LaBarge from Strategies for Ethical and Environmental Development (SEED) discuss their groundbreaking investigation of livestock auctions across America. After infiltrating 17 auctions in 10 states, they reveal how these largely overlooked facilities serve as crucial links in industrial animal agriculture while fostering systematic abuse. The conversation explores how cultural dynamics perpetuate cruelty, SEED’s innovative environmental litigation strategy against factory farms, and the importance of understanding rural communities in creating lasting change.

This episode explores:
• How livestock auctions serve as a crucial but overlooked link in industrial animal agriculture
• The cultural dynamics that perpetuate animal cruelty in rural communities
• SEED’s innovative approach to environmental litigation against factory farms
• The intersection of worker exploitation and animal abuse
• Strategies for building alliances with rural communities to create lasting change

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Pete Paxton, Director of Investigations at SEED, has conducted groundbreaking undercover investigations exposing animal cruelty across multiple countries since 2001. His work, featured in HBO documentaries “Dealing Dogs” and “Death on a Factory Farm,” has unveiled abuse in puppy mills, factory farms, slaughterhouses, and beyond. A recipient of the US Attorney’s Office Coin of Excellence and co-author of “Rescue Dogs,” Paxton’s investigations have not only exposed animal cruelty but also highlighted the exploitation of undocumented workers in industrial agriculture.

Cailen LaBarge is an attorney, animal activist, and founder of Strategies for Ethical and Environmental Development (SEED), where she works at the intersection of animal protection, environmental justice, and human rights. A member of Sentient’s Board of Directors and admitted to practice law in New York and Massachusetts, LaBarge focuses on challenging industrial animal agriculture’s impact on animals, people, and the planet through legal advocacy and strategic development.

RESOURCES

• • Sick animals suggest COVID pandemic started in Wuhan market
  • Sally Rooney: When are we going to have the courage to stop the climate crisis?
  • Is Milk Safe? Your Questions About Bird Flu and Dairy, Answered.
  • Bird Flu Virus Is One Mutation Away from Binding More Efficiently to Human Cells
  • Sentientism on Bluesky
  • Strategies for Ethical and Environmental Development website
  • SEED Livestock Auction Investigation
  • SEED on Instagram
  • SEED on Facebook

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview.

_____________________________________________

Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Between now and December 31, all donations will be TRIPLED up to $20,000! Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content!

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review!

Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky.

The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.