Turkey Abusers Convicted: One Jailed! June 29, 2009
Posted by Rachel-O | Permalink | Comments ( 28 ) | TrackBack
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factory farms turkeys victory Aviagen
We're starting this week off with another historic victory for animals! Check out this blog from PETA's Karin Bennet!
Late last year, some factory-farm employees were fired from Aviagen Turkeys, Inc. in response to PETA's undercover investigation, which documented that workers were breaking turkeys' necks, stomping on their heads, and shoving feces and feed into turkeys' mouths.
Then, in February, a grand jury handed down 19 indictments, including 11 felony charges, against three former Aviagen workers, marking the first time in U.S. history that factory-farm employees have faced felony cruelty-to-animals charges for abusing birds.
Fast forward: Two of the three ex-employees, Scott Alvin White and Edward Eric Gwinn, recently pleaded guilty to cruelty charges. On June 8, White was sentenced to serve one year in jail—the maximum period permitted by law! Today, Gwinn was sentenced to serve six months' home confinement—the maximum period permitted by law—on each count, concurrently, and is banned from living with, owning, and working with animals for five years. The case against the third ex-employee, Walter Lee Hambrick, is pending.
These historic victories by no means even the score for the turkeys who were punched and thrown or the many other birds who suffered when they were forced to watch as other turkeys were abused at Aviagen. After watching our undercover video, animal behavior expert Dr. Lesley J. Rogers stated, "It is now known that when social animals, like turkeys, see and hear other members of their species under stress or suffering physical injury, their levels of stress become elevated. Hence, the behavioural stress is widespread in the birds in the vicinity of those that have been injured and/or handled roughly."
Still, these convictions will remind workers on other factory farms that if they don't clean up their acts, PETA investigators (and the whistleblowers who tip us off) will have their eyes on them.
Stay loud!
Comments
bout damn time :D
Posted by: cody at June 29, 2009 4:48 PMServes them right! They got what they deserved. Still, I think they deserve worse.
Posted by: Veg~Cutie at June 29, 2009 6:49 PMIt still doesn't make up for the fact of what he did to those poor little birdies (ok, big birdies) but it is a step closer to stopping factory farms.
Posted by: Emily at June 29, 2009 11:09 PMhell yeah. but those people need more time
Posted by: leida at June 30, 2009 11:20 AMThis is great news
Posted by: Kirsty at June 30, 2009 12:04 PMthis is great.. they now get what was coming for them..
Posted by: Gareth at June 30, 2009 12:17 PMawesome x 125656946841!
Posted by: Morgan at June 30, 2009 12:19 PM:/ They should have gotten more time...
At least its a step to end animal cruelty.
Posted by: Karlee at June 30, 2009 12:25 PMWay to go PETA!!! AND!! Big pat on the back for all of US supporters!! This is proof that CHANGE CAN HAPPEN!! Never stop speaking for those who can't speak for themselves!!
Posted by: Charles at June 30, 2009 1:02 PMIts So About Time! I Wish More Could Have Been Done, But They Get What They Deserve! Hey Peta :)
Posted by: kelli at June 30, 2009 2:04 PMyayyyy!!!!
Posted by: Meg at June 30, 2009 4:00 PMYAY! I think thats not a good enough punishment tho =] Shove feces into their mouths =]
Posted by: Becci at June 30, 2009 4:22 PMI can not even watch the entire video.. makes me sick!
Posted by: fechysue at June 30, 2009 5:10 PM6 months isn't much of a strong punishment for abusing animals and taking their lives.
Posted by: joey at June 30, 2009 6:14 PMOh yea! [:
Posted by: Leana at June 30, 2009 10:05 PMI totally agree, I honestly could not get through the whole video. those people deserve a punishment
Posted by: Sarah at July 1, 2009 12:47 PMWay to go Peta, a fine victory, lets hope tey are locked up with some real bad crims :)
We need this bringing to the UK
Posted by: Michele at July 1, 2009 5:24 PMHow can they stand to do that? I can't even finish watching the video! I'm so glad they were punished! And I'm also glad I watched the videa because I don't think I'll be eating turkey this Thanksgiving.... I'm still working on going veg :(
Posted by: Cati at July 3, 2009 11:31 PMThough this Thanksgiving I will be enjoying a Turkey, that doesn't mean they should be beaten and killed in cruel and unusual ways. Hopefully these guys have learned their lesson, but in the end this is hardly the worst case of animal cruelty, and its hardly the last. Personal note: If I got locked up for killing a turkey, I think I would have learned my lesson, no matter the time. Punishment is a step but education is far more important and far more effective.
Posted by: Cameron at July 6, 2009 3:53 AMyessssssss!
Posted by: christina at July 7, 2009 12:53 AMThat's amazing.
Too bad they didn't get more time in jail. :(
Posted by: Claire at July 8, 2009 3:03 AMWOOT!! WOOT!! :) Thank you Lord :)
Posted by: Amanda at July 9, 2009 2:08 PMi couldn't watch the whole video. it's ridiculous.
Posted by: kayla zimering at July 9, 2009 3:24 PMthank goodness! i'm so glad that the company fired the employees right away and didn't stand up for them at all!
Posted by: Rachel at July 10, 2009 4:02 PMi just watched that hidden camera video! ... i ... am crying so bad. that is sooooo terrible i am happy that those ... those... there is no word for these people... that they are punished!
Posted by: Christina at July 12, 2009 12:31 AMYYYAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!! They get what they deserve.
Posted by: April at July 14, 2009 6:55 PMYYYAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!! They get what they deserve.
Posted by: April at July 14, 2009 6:55 PMPost a comment
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SCORE!!!
Posted by: Jessica at June 29, 2009 1:07 PM