Santa’ To Give John Lewis Hell Over Reindeer Killings

‘Father Christmas’ to Confront Store Over Reindeer Rugs – Arrests Expected

For Immediate Release:
17 December 2003

Contact:
Andrew Butler 020 7357 9229, ext 230; 0773 457 9092 (mobile)
Nicola Drew 020 7357 9229, ext 225

Kingston-Upon-Thames – Santa is mad as hell, and he’s not going to take it anymore. You’ll find him dragging a blood-soaked ‘reindeer’ through the streets of Kingston and delivering the carcass to the busy John Lewis department store to protest John Lewis’ refusal to stop selling reindeer rugs. His pals from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will also be on hand with signs reading, ‘John Lewis – Don’t Skin Rudolf!’

Date: Thursday 18 December
Time: 12 noon sharp
Place: Outside John Lewis department store, Wood Street entrance

The group wants shoppers to know that during reindeer herding, the animals are terrified as they are rounded up into corrals by helicopters and snowmobiles. They are then pinned to the ground, and their ears are painfully mutilated for identification. Eventually, the reindeer are lassoed and dragged to lorries, where they are killed.

‘Reindeer are gentle, social animals who only seek to raise their young and live their lives free from harm’, says PETA Europe’s Sean Gifford. ‘During this time of peace and goodwill to all, we urge John Lewis to stop supporting the violence and suffering inherent in the reindeer-killing industry.’

For more information, please visit PETAUK.org. Similar demonstrations have taken place throughout the UK, including London, Nottingham, Sheffield, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

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