Pilgrim's Pride fires 11 workers after a PETA video shows animal cruelty

[Cannikin]

DENVER (Reuters) - Poultry processor Pilgrim's Pride said Wednesday it fired 11 employees at its Moorfield, West Virginia, facility after a video from animal rights group PETA showed cruelty to chickens.

The company said it dismissed one superintendent, one supervisor, one foreman and eight hourly employees following an investigation it began on Tuesday after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) released the video.

The tape showed workers at a West Virginia Pilgrim's Pride plant ripping off birds' beaks, spitting tobacco into their mouths and eyes and kicking live chickens.

"While we are making considerable progress with our investigation, we will continue with this investigation until we're confident that every employee -- regardless of rank -- who had knowledge of these incidents has been held accountable for their actions," O. B. Goolsby, president and chief operating officer said in a statement.

http://money.cnn.com/2004/07/21/news/midcaps/pilgrims_pride.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. OK I was vegetarian for four years and it didn't work for me physically

but this story really gets me in touch with how violent it really is to eat meat..I know the chickens would have been slaughtered anyway..but the fact that these sadists could have a godd time doing this shit really worries me for humanity...maybe it is our diet :shrug:

[sandnsea]

2. Send PETA to Abu Ghraib

They get quicker action on chickens than we get on torture of human beings.

(I'm glad they stopped this with the chickens, cruelty is cruelty)

[roguevalley]

3. where are the cops!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!

[TreasonousBastard]

4. The local fishwrap covered this yesterday...

and mentioned a couple of other things.

A bunch of them were throwing live chickens at the wall, target practice they called it, when a supervisor walked by.

"Cease Fire," he yelled. After he passed, he said "Carry on." I assume he's now looking for work.

One game they had was squeezing the chickens so shit would fly out of their asses. More target practice.

This is the plant that KFC gave its highest accolades to a year or so ago. KFC was contacted, and made the appropriate noises about being appalled. I suspect they really are. Pilgrim's Pride is their primary chicken supplier, and they get nothing out of this but bad press.

Reminds of an article many years ago about the rabbit problems some Midwest farmers were having. When they were hauled up before the judge on animal cruelty charges, they were warned that there should be no more "bunny baseball."

[rpannier]

5. And People are a higher order how????

It amazes me that anyone would not be appalled at this behavior. I'm guessing Yum Foods is claiming it was unaware of what was going on. But, if you've gone to the PETA website over the past 6 months as I have, PETA has been talking about this on their website for at least that long -- Yumm Foods has continually denied the allegations, until now.

[Kenneth ken]

6. rigged voting

" And People are a higher order how???? "

People are only considered a higher order by people. I've known humans are over-rated since I was about 12. Unfortunately, we're stuck with our species, so the best we can do is try to shame/cajole/charm/encourage/embarrass etc. people into trying to live up to the praise they are granted as a matter of birth.

Long road though isn't it. As a species we seem to be making about one stride toward "humanity" every couple hundred years or so. Miles to go before we sleep.

[Scout]

7. "Goddess, please help me to be the person my dog thinks I am."

must try harder to earn the devotion!