Veterinary Magazines Cite United Poultry Concerns Leadership
on Wood-Chipper Probe into the Role of AVMA Animal Welfare Committee Member
Veterinary Magazines Cite United Poultry Concerns Leadership on
Wood-Chipper Probe into the Role of AVMA Animal Welfare Committee
Member
LETTERS NEEDED - See below. "United Poultry Concerns is demanding my expulsion form the AVMA
Animal Welfare Committee position. Their own Web site demonstrates
how they are advancing their agenda by attempting to connect this
atrocity to AVMA's position on induced molting. I am nothing more
than a poster child under attack." "Cutler speaks out on his own behalf," DVM Newsmagazine ,
January 2004 Machipongo, Va. - The January issues of Veterinary Practice
News and DVM Newsmagazine emphasize the leadership
of United Poultry Concerns in pursuing the case against, and
publicizing the role of, Dr. Gregg Cutler, a member of the animal
welfare committee of the American Veterinary Medical Association
(AVMA), in a California egg company's decision to throw tens
of thousands of unwanted live hens into wood-chipping machines
last February. The episode prompted a 65-page report by the San Diego County
Department of Animal Services showing that Cutler authorized the
use of wood chippers as a "painless and humane" method of killing
adult chickens. Even before obtaining the report, UPC "demanded
in March that the AVMA remove Cutler from its animal welfare committee" based
on the information then available (VPN). Though Cutler was part of a team of veterinarians, poultry producers,
and government officials that recommended killing chickens in wood
chippers during last year's Exotic Newcastle Disease epidemic,
and for three years previously according to the egg company's manager,
United Poultry Concerns is targeting Cutler because of his position
on the AVMA's animal welfare committee, where he supports the egg
industry practice of starving hens, known as forced molting, and
because he epitomizes the AVMA, which as a body actively opposes
every effort to improve welfare standards for birds and other farmed
animals, while calling itself "the leading voice for humane and
proper care of animals." Cutler not only authorized the use of the wood chippers; he lied
to the AVMA about doing so, and he is still changing his story.
In Veterinary Practice News , he says, "I did not advise
them to do it." In DVM Newsmagazine he says: "My only
regret is speaking as a scientist to county representatives and
consumer media who misconstrued my openmindedness for new alternatives
to euthanasia during a crisis."
Both magazines state that the AVMA claims to be gathering facts
for an AVMA judicial hearing this month to decide if Cutler "breached
ethical standards and the Veterinarian's Oath." Meanwhile, United
Poultry Concerns has joined the San Diego County Department of
Animal Services in urging the California Veterinary Medical Board
to investigate Gregg Cutler's role in the wood-chipper episode
with a view to revoking his license to practice veterinary medicine
in California.
What Can I Do? Urge the AVMA to remove Gregg Cutler from the animal welfare committee,
and urge the California Veterinary Medical Board to investigate
the case against Gregg Cutler with a view to revoking his license
to practice veterinary medicine in California. Bruce Little, DVM Executive Vice President
AVMA
1931 North Meacham Rd, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4360
Ph: 847-925-8070; Fax: 847-925-1329
Email: Blittle@avma.org Administrator
Veterinary Medical Board
1420 Howe Avenue, Suite 6
Sacramento, CA 95825-3228
Ph: 916-263-2610; 916-263-2621
Email: vmb@dca.ca.gov United Poultry Concerns is a nonprofit organization that promotes
the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl. www.upc-online.org
United Poultry Concerns, Inc.
PO Box 150
Machipongo, VA 23405-0150
757-678-7875
FAX: 757-678-5070
www.upc-online.org
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