Would you dob in your boss to save a chicken?

Now if you asked this question to MM Site Manager Lana, she would say “HELL TO THE YES”. Animal welfare is incredibly important to her. More important than, say, me. Fortunately, I am cool with that and would never harm a chicken. But others would.

Lana writes….

Jan Cameron is well known within retail circles as the successful founder of outdoor business Kathmandu. She is also one of Australia’s wealthiest women who created Kathmandu from scratch in a true rags to riches tale after she started handmaking sleeping blankets in Melbourne in the 1970s.

As much as I admire her business acumen, her drive and her success, it is really the flip side of Jan’s character that made me, well really – made me develop a huge girl crush on her.

In 2006 it was reported that Cameron was making corporate history by donating every cent of the $8 million to $9m a year profits from her latest Tasmanian business venture to charitable causes.

What was more astounding is that no-one knew, other than the recipients. Cameron, who has a reputation as a publicity-shy recluse, says she simply hasn’t seen the need to broadcast it.

Now cynics on the tax benefit side of this arrangement notwithstanding, I admire a woman who gives generously and without the need for public praise and adulation.

That was in 2006 – fast track to 2010 and Jan Cameron is taking her philanthropy to new heights.

I did a mental yee-hah when I heard that Ms Cameron has offered a $5 million bounty to wipe out farm cruelty. (bear in mind that I am an animal lover and  have been known to shed a tear of two when even looking at frozen chicken pieces in the supermarket)

“Enigmatic Kathmandu founder Jan Cameron hopes “rewards” of up to $30,000 will entice insiders to dob in some intensive animal farmers to expose any cruelty at some battery hen and pig operations.

“You cannot defend the indefensible,” she said of some animal practices.

“Animals are not getting fair justice and this in part is a publicity campaign to make people think of how meat makes its way to the table after being tortured on the way.”

She hopes her money will help flush out cases of cruelty that may occur behind closed doors in some intensive farming operations that are partly protected by industry exemptions from normal animal cruelty laws.

Five hundred million animals – hens and pigs – are kept captive in intensive farming operations each year.”

The money will be used to establish the Animals Justice Fund which will be run by national welfare organisation Animals Australia.  Former policewoman Lyn White will investigate allegations of cruelty and legal advice will be provided by the Barrister’s Animal Welfare Panel.

Ms Cameron said she did not want to pit industry workers against their employers but wanted any who feared losing their jobs to step up with complaints of cruelty.

“I don’t think any would be driven by money but it may be a bonus,” she said.

The fund was not about sending farmers to the wall but about enlightening the public. “Unfortunately, no one really has access to see what’s going on. Farmers are not willing to put caged hens and pigs on display because people would be horrified.”

I can’t deny that I am thrilled that someone is offering to speak on the side of the animals, and personally I think it is an amazing initiative that stands to really help lessen the abuse that goes on in some farms across Australia IF it is properly managed.

But what about the concept of “dobbing” in your boss?   Geez, I would do almost anything to save a chicken or a pig a life of hell but would you?  Is there a way this money could be better used to incentivise farmers not to torture their animals?