Santa Slays ‘Reindeer’ On Oxford Street

Rudolf to Be ‘Butchered’ in PETA Protest of John Lewis’ Reindeer Skins

For Immediate Release:
1 December 2003

Contact:
Sean Gifford 020 7357 9229, ext 226; 0773 457 9092 (mobile)
Dawn Carr 020 7357 9229, ext 224

London – Wielding a butcher knife and chasing, catching and finally ‘skinning’ a ‘bloodied’ ‘reindeer’, an ominous Father Christmas will lead members of PETA in a protest of John Lewis department stores’ refusal to stop selling reindeer-skin rugs. One activist will use a megaphone to inform holiday shoppers about the horrors of the reindeer-skin trade, while others wave signs reading, ‘John Lewis – Don’t Skin Rudolf!’

Date: Tuesday, 2 December
Time: 12 noon sharp
Place: Outside John Lewis department store, Oxford Street, between Holles Street and Old Cavendish Road

Why is PETA calling John Lewis on the carpet over reindeer-skin rugs? During reindeer herding, the animals are terrified as they are herded, by helicopters and snowmobiles, into corrals. 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. By purchasing reindeer meat or reindeer rugs, Britons are supporting the slaughter of innocent animals.

‘Reindeer are gentle, social animals, who only seek to raise their young and live their lives free from harm’, says PETA UK’s Sean Gifford. ‘Apparently, John Lewis’ interpretation of the spirit of the holidays includes the suffering of animals, as long as it’s profitable. No animals should be killed for their skins.’

For more information, please visit PETAUK.org.