CRIMES WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES - gpvec

Crimes Without ConsequenCes
local officials have cited either lack of evidence or federal jurisdiction over slaughter
establishments, as illustrated by the case studies below.
Arizona, 1999
In October 1999, members of the Arizona Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (AzSPCA) videotaped seriously ill and injured calves in holding pens at the Tri-
Western Meat Packing plant in Phoenix. A number of obviously ill calves were found to
be held in urine- and feces-filled pens along with healthy animals; injured calves were
filmed lying in bins with dead animals. Although the AzSPCA requested that the plant be
prosecuted for felony animal cruelty, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said it was
unable to find enough evidence to file charges. The USDA also failed to take any action.
In a statement to police, the USDA inspector on duty at the plant said he had verbally
reprimanded employees for rough handling of calves. 214
Washington, 2000
In May 2000, employees at an IBP (now Tyson Foods) cattle slaughter plant in Wallula
took a video showing animals being cut while still conscious. The video also captured
fallen cattle being trampled and dragged and one incident where workers stuck an electric
prod on the head of a fallen cow and then into the animal’s mouth. HFA, which had
provided the video equipment to plant workers, obtained affidavits about cruel treatment
of animals from 23 plant employees. The group released the video footage to the media
and requested that the state prosecute the plant for violations of Washington state animal
cruelty and humane slaughter laws. 215 Although the governor ordered an impartial
investigation of the allegations, the Walla Walla County Prosecutor declined to bring
charges against the plant, citing insufficient evidence. However, the Washington State
Department of Agriculture (WSDA) entered into an agreement with IBP that required the
company, among other things, allow the department to make unannounced inspections
and inspect IBP records. IBP also agreed to operate three video cameras and allow
WSDA access to the tapes. In declining to prosecute, the county attorney noted that IBP
had been “put on notice, so that future violations might be easier to prosecute.” 216
Washington, 2002
In October 2002, the Seattle television station KIRO aired a series of reports on its
investigation into the inhumane handling of downed cattle at Midway Meats in Chehalis.
Reporters for the station observed conscious non-ambulatory cattle being dragged
by a chain around the neck off trailers and to slaughter. Although the Lewis County
Prosecuting Attorney and the Washington State Attorney General were asked to prosecute
Midway Meats under the state animal cruelty law, no charges were ever brought.
214 DeFalco B, Meatpacker faces charges of cruelty to animals at plant, Arizona Republic, October 19, 1999;
DeFalco B, Meat packing plant open despite cruelty accusation, Arizona Republic, November 12, 1999.
215 Sanders E, Workers accuse slaughterhouse of animal cruelty, Seattle Times, May 1, 2000; Locke orders probe
of alleged cruelty at IBP slaughterhouse, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 5, 2000; Animal welfare group says
cattle slaughtered inhumanely at Washington plant, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, January 25, 2001.
216 State investigation of IBP meat packing plant is concluded, State of Washington News Release, April 18,
2001. (http://www.atg.wa.gov/releases/rel_IBP_041801.html) See also Investigation into alleged violations of
state law by IBP, Inc: summary report, Washington State Department of Agriculture, April 2001.
(http://www.atg.wa.gov/pubs/IPB/IBP%20Investigation%20Summary%20Report.pdf)
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