*
SHOP AT WHOLE FOODS ON JANUARY 25TH TO SUPPORT ANIMAL WELFARE:
Whole Foods Market, already a leader in organics and natural foods, has
launched a new and exciting program to advance the welfare of farm animals.
On January 25th, 5% of all sales generated at Whole Foods stores worldwide
will be allocated to help create the Animal Compassion Foundation (ACF) to
develop more humane farming practices.
Billions of farm animals are currently reared for food in intensive
confinement -- such as gestation crates for breeding pigs, veal crates for
calves, and battery cages for egg-laying hens -- and this new effort by
Whole Foods could mark the beginning of sweeping reforms for farm animals.
*Animal
Compassion Foundation will promote compassionate animal farming
methods and serve as a resource center and forum for global technology
exchange – where farmers in the U.S. can learn from their peers around the
world. ACF will create an online library to help interested ranchers and
farmers convert to more compassionate farming methods which have animals’
physical needs, natural behaviors and well-being as the most important goal.
With annual sales topping $3.9 billion in 2004, and a typical day of sales
approximately $10 million, Whole Foods hopes to use its clout as the world’s
leading natural and organic foods supermarket to raise the bar for farm
animal welfare.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Shop at Whole Foods on January 25th to help support the creation of the
Animal Compassion Foundation. Whole Foods Market has 166 stores in the
United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, with plans to open even more
locations. If you want to help ensure the fair and humane treatment of farm
animals, use the power of your dollar – your compassion will make change
happen.
Read more about Whole
Foods' Animal Compassion Foundation.
WEST VIRGINIA REFUSES TO PROSECUTE
SLAUGHTERHOUSE CRUELTY:
On Thursday (1/11), Ginny Conley, head of a state prosecutors organization,
announced that no criminal charges would be filed in response to documented
and massive animal cruelty at Pilgrim’s Pride slaughterhouse in Moorefield,
West Virginia.
Undercover video shot at the Pilgrim’s Pride facility in August 2004 clearly
shows workers maliciously stomping on chickens, kicking them and hurling
them against a wall. Eyewitness reports further state that workers twisted
chickens’ heads off, sprayed aerosol paint into their eyes and dumped
suffering, incapacitated birds in a trash bin to die.
According to Conley, the decision to not prosecute came in part “due to the
fact that these were chickens in a slaughterhouse”, and that she feels the
case “needs to be handled more on a regulatory end than prosecuting someone
criminally.” However, West Virginia’s animal cruelty law prohibits the
intentional torture or mistreatment of all animals, including chickens in a
slaughterhouse. Moreover, there are no state or federal regulations dealing
with the humane slaughter of chickens.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Contact Ginny Conley and urge the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys
Institute to reconsider the recent decision to not file charges in the case
against Pilgrim’s Pride. Remind her of the legal obligation to enforce state
law in the face of documented animal abuse and to charge all responsible
parties at Pilgrim’s Pride with animal cruelty.
Ginny Conley, Acting Executive Director
West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute
90 MacCorkle Ave. S.W., Ste. 202
South Charleston, WV 25303
304-558-3348
304-558-3360 (fax)
Please cc your letters to:
Governor Bob Wise
Governor-Elect Joe Manchin
Office of the Governor
State Capitol Complex
1900 Kanawha Blvd. E.
Charleston, WV 25305
Fax: 304-558-2722
Email: Governor@WVGov.org
If you haven't done so already, please sign
HSUS' Petition for Poultry, asking the USDA to include poultry (which
comprise 90% of the animals slaughtered in the U.S.) under the federal
Humane Slaughter Act.
VICTORY AGAINST ANIMAL FIGHTING:
In an unprecedented action, a U.S. District Court jury in Virginia returned
a guilty verdict against animal fighting promoter, Bob Stevens, on all three
counts of violating the federal animal cruelty depictions law. Under this
law, it is a felony to sell depictions of animal cruelty across state lines,
and in this case, Stevens was convicted of selling dog fighting and hog-dog
fighting videos. The HSUS is enormously pleased with the good work of
Assistant United States Attorney Steve Kaufman in this case.
Steven's conviction is very significant for future investigations and
prosecutions of those who promote and profit from animal fighting. For
those working to wipe out the cruel and barbaric animal fighting industry
and other forms of animal cruelty, this conviction is a great victory and
speaks volumes beyond the proverbial slap on the wrist.
Read an article about the
animal fighting bust from
MSNBC.com.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR ANIMALS ---
TODAY!!
To receive directly, call 202-955-3668 or email
humanelines@hsus.org For more
information on legislation, how to find your legislators, or past
HUMANElines, go to
http://www.hsus.org/ or
http://www.fund.org/ |