Feds Discover Hundreds of Chickens Killed in Wreck, Others Drowned; PETA Seeks Legal Expenses
For Speedy Launch:
October 17, 2022
Contact:
Nicole Meyer 202-483-7382
Hammond, La. – Following not too long ago obtained federal reviews documenting that roughly 3,000 chickens died when an employee-operated truck crashed and others drowned or burned to demise on the Sanderson Farms Inc. slaughterhouse close to Hammond, PETA fired off a letter in the present day to 21st Judicial District Lawyer Scott M. Perrilloux, calling on him to analyze and file relevant prison prices in opposition to these accountable.
In line with the reviews, on June 7, a trailer hauling greater than 3,000 chickens overturned on the slaughterhouse—“possible” because of the driver’s error—evidently inflicting virtually all of the birds to suffocate and be crushed to demise beneath each other as the warmth index reached 97 levels. On June 27, Sanderson staff left chickens hanging the wrong way up with their heads “completely submerged” in electrified water within the slaughter line, inflicting them to drown. This incident follows an analogous one on April 22, during which two chickens remained acutely aware, wanting round with their “eyes open,” whereas being plunged right into a tank of scalding-hot water, during which they drowned or burned to demise.
“These disturbing reviews present that hundreds of chickens skilled terrifying deaths in a trailer crash and that others endured agonizing ache as they had been drowned or scalded to demise,” says PETA Vice President of Proof Evaluation Daniel Paden. “PETA is asking on the district lawyer to step in and stop extra unlawful struggling by investigating and bringing acceptable prices—and we’d wish to remind everybody that the one humane meal is a vegan one.”
PETA factors out that chickens, pigs, cows, sheep, and different animals really feel ache and worry and worth their lives, simply as people do. The group is pursuing prices beneath state legislation as a result of federal officers haven’t prosecuted any inspected slaughterhouses for acts of abuse and neglect corresponding to these at Sanderson since at the least 2007.
PETA—whose motto reads, partly, that “animals should not ours to eat”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For extra info on PETA’s investigative newsgathering and reporting, please go to PETA.org or observe the group on Twitter, Fb, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Perrilloux follows.
October 17, 2022
The Honorable Scott M. Perrilloux
District Lawyer
21st Judicial District
Pricey Mr. Perrilloux:
I’m writing to request that your workplace (and an area law-enforcement company, as you deem acceptable) examine and file relevant prison prices in opposition to the employees liable for killing 3,000 chickens in a trailer crash—and leaving others to drown and/or be scalded to demise whereas acutely aware—on the Sanderson Farms Inc. slaughterhouse positioned at 13111 Hwy. 190 W., close to Hammond. The Meals Security and Inspection Service (FSIS) documented the incidents within the hooked up reviews, which the company simply made obtainable to the general public.
In line with the reviews, on June 7 a trailer confining greater than 3,000 dwell chickens overturned on the above deal with, “possible” because of the error(s) of a then-Sanderson truck driver. A federal agent—solely notified of the incident 80 minutes later—apparently discovered that birds had been crushed and suffocated beneath each other, as the warmth index reached 97 levels. Roughly 3,000 birds had been killed, and solely 20 animals survived the incident.
On June 27, throughout a stoppage within the slaughter line, an FSIS agent discovered that Sanderson personnel had left chickens hanging the wrong way up with their heads in electrified water. The animals died there, possible of drowning, though the water vat might have been drained in roughly 1 minute when the road stopped.
Lastly, on April 22 FSIS workers noticed two still-conscious chickens being conveyed right into a tank of scalding water, the place they had been drowned and/or burned to demise.
This conduct doesn’t signify the otherwise-exempt “normal … processing of agriculture merchandise” and thus might violate LA. REV. STAT. ANN. § 14:102.1. Please observe that FSIS’ easy reviews on the issues carry no prison or civil penalties and don’t preempt prison legal responsibility beneath state legislation for cruelty to animals. Thanks to your time and consideration and for the essential work that you just do.
Sincerely,
Daniel Paden
Vice President of Proof Evaluation
Cruelty Investigations Division