San Diego County investigated the Ward Egg Ranch, whose
workers said their arms got tired "from breaking the chickens'
necks, so they threw them into the machinery." USDA veterinary
consultant Gregg Cutler, who
sits on the Animal Welfare Committee of the AVMA, reportedly told
the ranch the wood chipper was "painless" (San Diego Union-Tribune,
2/22). Though County Animal Services Lt. Mary Kay Gagliardo said "It's
clearly animal cruelty" (North County Times, 2/28), the DA's
Office announced today that the company "did not commit any crime
because a veterinarian from the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave
them permission to use wood chippers to destroy the birds" (San
Diego Union Tribune, 4/11).
UPC had urged the District Attorney to prosecute the company and
wrote to the AVMA concerning Cutler's advice to use wood-chippers.
The AVMA wrote back: "Dr. Cutler informed us that he never
recommended using a wood chipper."
United Poultry Concerns is a nonprofit organization that promotes
the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl: http://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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