Crying Steer Electroshocked 10 Times by Truck Driver at Local Slaughterhouse; PETA Seeks Criminal Probe
For Immediate Release:
November 25, 2024
Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382
Following a just-released U.S. Department of Agriculture report revealing that a steer was electroshocked multiple times by a driver unloading the animal from a truck at Double J Meat Packing Inc. in Pierce, PETA sent a letter today to Weld County District Attorney Michael J. Rourke urging him to investigate and file appropriate criminal charges against the man.
According to the report, on May 6, a federal inspector witnessed the driver discharging a “hand-held battery-operated electric prod” at least 10 times on the neck, sides, abdomen, and hindquarters of a steer standing inside a trailer, causing the animal to cry out and kick. Despite instructions from the inspector and a slaughterhouse worker to stop, the truck driver continued electroshocking the steer.
“At this hellhole for animals, a truck driver mercilessly electroshocked an already terrified steer, who cried out in pain,” says PETA Vice President of Legal Advocacy Daniel Paden. “PETA is calling for a criminal investigation on behalf of this animal and urges everyone to help prevent animals from suffering in slaughterhouses by going vegan.”
PETA is pursuing charges under state law because federal officials haven’t prosecuted any inspected slaughterhouses for acts of abuse since at least 2007.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Rourke follows.
November 25, 2024
The Honorable Michael J. Rourke
Weld County District Attorney
Dear Mr. Rourke:
I’m writing to request that your office (and a law-enforcement agency, as you deem appropriate) investigate and file applicable criminal charges against the individual responsible for electroshocking a steer at least 10 times, as the animal cried out, at Double J Meat Packing Inc., located at 726 W. Main St. in Pierce. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) documented the incident in the attached report, which the agency just made available to the public.
On May 6, an FSIS inspector witnessed a “truck driver … inside [a] trailer using a hand-held battery-operated electric prod (hot shot) to prod” a steer. The witness “observed the driver prodding the steer at least 10 times: on the rump, sides, neck and abdomen of the animal.” Even after the inspector and a Double J Meat Packing employee “verbally requested him to stop … the truck driver persisted in prodding the steer …. Consequently, the animal began to kick with [his] hind legs and vocalize. During unloading, this animal was excessively prodded.”
Please note that FSIS’ action carries no criminal or civil penalties and does not preempt criminal liability under state law for acts of cruelty to animals. This conduct appears to violate C.R.S.A. § 18-9-202. Given that FSIS has not initiated a criminal prosecution of a licensed slaughterhouse for inhumane handling since at least 2007, Colorado law affords this victim his only chance at a small measure of justice. We urge your office to seek it.
Thank you for your time and consideration and for the important work that you do.
Sincerely,
Daniel Paden
Vice President of Legal Advocacy
