Rock Icon Chrissie Hynde Calls For International Boycott Of Iams Over Deadly Experiments On Dogs And Cats

Pretenders Singer Takes Break from Tour to Boost PETA Campaign

For Immediate Release:
3 February 2004

Contact:
Sean Gifford 020 7357 9229, ext. 226

London – Chrissie Hynde has a bone to pick with pet-food maker Iams. The legendary Pretenders signer has joined PETA’s international campaign against Iams and vows to boycott the company until it stops conducting cruel and deadly experiments on dogs and cats. Taking a break from her band’s world tour, which hits Japan this week, Hynde brandished a handmade sign reading, ’Boycott Iams‘, and posed with her pampered pooch for an exclusive picture that will headline PETA’s IamsCruelty.com Web site.

Why are Hynde and PETA fed up with Iams? A recent PETA undercover investigation revealed deplorable conditions at an Iams contract laboratory. At least 27 dogs were killed, while others died of illnesses that went untreated, despite assurances from Iams that no animal in any Iams test would ever be deliberately killed. PETA’s investigator found the following:

·       Dogs and cats confined to small, barren cages, some for up to six years
·       Dogs’ vocal cords surgically cut out so that they couldn’t bark
·       Workers’ reports of a live kitten who was washed down a drain
·       Kennels that were extremely hot in the summer and near freezing in the winter
·       Dogs being force-fed vegetable oil through tubes inserted down their throats

‘Animal lovers unwittingly fund horrendous cruelty to dogs and cats when they buy Iams products, and we’re thrilled that Chrissie is helping PETA get the message out’, says Sean Gifford, Director of European Campaigns ‘Animals shouldn’t live in squalor and misery for the sake of Iams’ profits.’

Broadcast-quality footage of animals in an Iams contract laboratory is available. For more information, please visit PETA’s Web site IamsCruelty.com.

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