Ailing Pigs Kicked and Shoved by Truck Driver at Local Slaughterhouse; PETA Seeks Criminal Probe

For Immediate Release:
November 26, 2024

Contact:
Maddy Missett 202-483-7382

Following a just-released U.S. Department of Agriculture report revealing that pigs apparently suffering from heat stroke were kicked and shoved by a driver unloading the animals from a truck at Vermont Packinghouse in North Springfield, PETA sent a letter today to Windsor County State’s Attorney Ward H. Goodenough urging him to investigate and file appropriate criminal charges against the driver.

According to the report, on June 3 a federal inspector and a senior federal veterinarian witnessed the driver kicking pigs in their heads and necks and pushing them off the back of a trailer, causing some of the animals to fall and roll onto their backs after hitting the ground. The veterinarian noted that “almost all” of the pigs—who had been hauled eight hours from New York—had “severely elevated respiratory rates” and were likely suffering from heat stroke.

“At this hellhole for animals, a truck driver mercilessly kicked ailing pigs and shoved them off a trailer like they were inanimate objects,” says PETA Vice President of Legal Advocacy Daniel Paden. “PETA is calling for a criminal investigation on behalf of these animals, who feel pain and fear just as humans do, 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 and free vegan starter kits for anyone thinking of making the switch. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Goodenough follows.

November 26, 2024

The Honorable Ward H. Goodenough

Windsor County State’s Attorney

Dear Mr. Goodenough:

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 kicking ailing pigs—and shoving them off a trailer—at Vermont Packinghouse, located at 25 Fairbanks Rd. in North Springfield. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) documented the incident in the attached report, which the agency just made available to the public.

On June 3, an FSIS inspector and a senior FSIS veterinarian witnessed a truck driver’s “inhumane … handling” of pigs, but there was “no intervention by [Vermont Packinghouse] employees supervising the process.” The pigs, who had been hauled for eight hours from New York, were apparently suffering from heatstroke. The inspector saw the suspect “kicking the animals in the head/neck while trying to move [them] within and off the trailer.” The driver also “push[ed] the animals off the back of the trailer with some falling over and rolling on their backs.”

The senior veterinarian then saw that “almost all” these pigs had “severely elevated respiratory rates.” The veterinarian saw the driver continue to push pigs “off the trailer causing them to be more stressed with some stumbling, falling, and rolling over on their back after striking the ground. … The pigs … already pushed off the trailer … were all laterally recumbent and panting heavily. No inventions by [Vermont Packinghouse] were taken … to address this immediate animal welfare concern.”

Vermont Packinghouse has apparently been emboldened by FSIS’ toothless responses to its history of violations, with no fear of penalties or consequences. 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. The above conduct appears to violate 13 V.S.A. § 352. Vermont law affords these victims their 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