Have You Ever Smelled Death?

June 9, 2010 3:30pm

For a field trip we went to a slaughterhouse that slaughters pigs, goats, and sheep. Everything was going so well and the group was all giggles at the beginning of the tour. We saw the dead pigs being sawed into two and their intestines being cut out, and I was all in giggles. It was almost like laughter was the only way to keep me sane. Then we went to the room where the pigs were being killed. It was, honestly, just too much for me. I cannot even describe in words how much it freaked me out. Even just thinking about it gives me the shakes and I’m currently feeling ill in my stomach (from thinking about it and because my body is not agreeing with me right now). The pigs are stunned with carbon dioxide and then their jugular is slit. Watching the pigs go into the cage alive, go under the floor, and come up stunned was just too much for me. They were squealing and I couldn’t take it. The rest of the time at the slaughterhouse I was pale and dizzy, and I couldn’t wait to leave. The rest of the group wasn’t effected the way I was, so I kind of feel like a wimp. I’m just glad its over.

Even now as I sit here, cleanly showered and my clothes in the wash, I cannot get that smell away from me. It’s implanted in my brain and I fear that if I close my eyes, this is all I will be able to see. I cannot even look at the pictures that I took while I was there.

Have you ever smelled death? I'm not talking about a horrid smell of manure, blood, mold, drunk puke running down your legs, etc. Do you know what death smells like? Have you ever actually smelled death? I have, today. I can tell you right now that I never again in my life want to experience what I experienced today.