Two animal welfare groups who were planning to serve dead chickens at a luncheon to help raise awareness of the need to spay and neuter companion dogs and cats canceled the luncheon after animal advocates protested the intended meal. A representative of The Humane Alliance of Western North Carolina told United Poultry Concerns President Karen Davis today that the July 31 fundraiser was canceled after UPC emailed a letter to the group yesterday urging that their humane education programs be consistently applied to all feeling beings and that animals not be pitted against each other in bids for support.

When Carolina Animal Action President Stewart David alerted UPC of the intended meal we posted an Action Alert earlier this week. Carolina Animal Action has been urging the two organizations, Haywood County Animal Welfare Association and The Humane Alliance of Western North Carolina, along with other North Carolina humane societies, to support "Campaign Humane" by pledging to serve only vegetarian meals at all of their functions. The groups are now "seriously considering" all-vegetarian functions in the future.

United Poultry Concerns is sending both groups complimentary copies of our vegan cookbook Instead of Chicken, Instead of Turkey: A Poultryless Poultry Potpourri to show how easy and delicious vegan cooking is.

We thank everyone who wrote letters imploring the two groups not to serve abused dead animals at their humane awareness fundraising luncheon.

United Poultry Concerns is a nonprofit organization that promotes the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl. For more information visit www.UPC-online.org