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