Thousands Join PETA in Opposing Turkey Prison

For Immediate Release:

21 December 2017

Contact:

Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 7837 6327, ext 222; [email protected]

THOUSANDS JOIN PETA IN OPPOSING TURKEY PRISON

Nearly 7,000 Compassionate People Agree: Authorities Should Stand With the Public and Block Farm Proposal

Staffordshire, West Midlands – A proposal has been submitted for a new intensive turkey farm to be built in Staffordshire that would condemn 60,000 gentle birds a year to a miserable life and terrifying death – and in response, PETA has sent a petition with nearly 7,000 signatures from local residents and other concerned members of the public urging South Staffordshire Council to reject the plan.

In the petition, the group points out that in addition to causing cruelty to animals on a massive scale, a farm of this kind would likely have many negative effects on the local area, including noise from high-velocity roof fans, increased traffic from heavy goods vehicles on narrow country roads, and the generation of environmental pollutants such as ammonia. Huge quantities of manure produced on site could also potentially contaminate surrounding water sources and land and have a detrimental impact on wildlife.

“Thousands of compassionate people have spoken, and South Staffordshire Council should heed their concerns for animal welfare, the environment, and the health of the community,” says PETA Director Elisa Allen. “PETA is calling for the proposal to be rejected, sparing thousands of birds a lifetime of suffering and an agonising death.”

PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat” – notes that in nature, turkeys are protective and loving parents as well as spirited explorers who can climb trees and run as fast as 25 miles per hour. In the wild, they live for up to 10 years, but those killed for food are normally slaughtered between 12 and 26 weeks of age. The young birds are often hung from metal shackles by their feet and dragged through an electrified bath that can cause full-body tremors. Some are still conscious when their throats are slit and as they’re placed into scalding-hot water to remove their feathers.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.

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