The Humane Society of the United States Undercover Investigations

Dear [my real name]:

I often go by the name "Brian." It's not my real name, of course. But I'm an undercover investigator for The Humane Society of the United States. And I must remain anonymous.

As for my work, that's a different story. I want everyone to know when animals are being mistreated. Far too often, cruelty against innocent animals happens in the shadows, out of sight of the public. My work is to bring this misery into the sunlight, where it cannot survive.

You probably saw the results of my most recent work. I was The HSUS investigator at the Hallmark Meat Packing Company slaughter plant in Chino, California. I was there for six awful weeks. Day after day, I witnessed -- and recorded -- the most horrifying cruelties inflicted on dairy cows.

Animals cannot talk. But they can scream. Their faces convey pain. Sadly, the only way to end this needless suffering is to make people aware that it's happening. But we can't do it without you.

The slaughterhouse investigation landed with a wallop. It should have. The USDA shut down that slaughter plant. And from school cafeterias in more than two dozen states to the halls of Congress, reaction has been swift and calls for meaningful reform loud and clear. The awful agonies of the animals who were mistreated at this plant were not in vain.

I was asked to write this note because investigations are one of the most powerful weapons that The Humane Society of the United States can bring to bear against the mistreatment of animals -- whether pets, wildlife, or farm animals. But it's costly work. It takes lots of time. My colleagues and I can't get the job done without you standing with us. Today, please support our Investigations Fund with a gift of $35, $50, $100 or more.

As I write this, I am about to undertake my next assignment. It's not easy to live a normal life with friends and family, only to disappear for weeks or months at a time when I get embedded in an investigation. But with your support and the knowledge that my work will save potentially thousands of animals from suffering, it's the most meaningful kind of quest I can imagine.

Please help ensure that we have the resources to allow my work -- and that of our entire team of undercover investigators -- to continue. Donate to our Investigations Fund today.

Sincerely, "Brian"