Cows Beaten in the Face, Electroshocked at Center Hill Slaughterhouse; PETA Seeks Criminal Probe

For Immediate Release:
January 30, 2025

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

PETA has just obtained disturbing U.S. Department of Agriculture reports revealing that a truck driver struck a cow in the face with a paddle at Florida Beef Inc.’s slaughterhouse in Center Hill and employees there repeatedly beat and electroshocked another cow. In response, PETA this morning sent a letter to State Attorney Bill Gladson urging him to investigate and file appropriate criminal charges against those responsible for the abuse.

According to one just-released report, an inspector on July 9 witnessed a cow hesitate to exit a truck and the driver forcefully striking her in the face with a paddle four times. The inspector then saw one of the driver’s children poking the cow in the nose with the paddle. On December 15, 2023, an inspector saw multiple employees repeatedly beat a cow—who balked at walking to the enclosure where she would be shot in the head—with a paddle and electroshock her six times, causing her to kick.

“These frightened cows recoiled at being led to their deaths, and workers responded by making their final moments even more painful and terrifying,” says PETA Vice President of Legal Advocacy Daniel Paden. “PETA is calling for an investigation on behalf of these animals and urges everyone to please go vegan to help spare animals the horrors of the slaughterhouse.”

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 Gladson follows.

January 30, 2025

The Honorable Bill Gladson

State Attorney

Fifth Judicial Circuit

Dear Mr. Gladson:

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 individuals responsible for repeatedly striking one cow in the face and beating and electroshocking another one at the Florida Beef Inc. slaughterhouse, located at 571 W. Kings Hwy. in Center Hill. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) documented the incident in the attached reports, the latest of which the agency just made available to the public.

On July 9, 2024, an FSIS inspector saw that a truck driver “struck [a] cow with [a] rattle paddle four consecutive times in the face … with blunt force.” Then, the inspector saw one of the driver’s children start “poking the animal with a rattle paddle in the nose three consecutive times.” The FSIS inspector noted that such excessive use of the paddle “could lead to animal injury.”

This follows a similar incident on December 15, 2023. That day, an FSIS inspector saw several Florida Beef employees repeatedly strike a cow on the flank and electroshock her six times, which caused her to kick repeatedly.

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 Florida Statutes § 828.12 (1). Florida 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.

Sincerely,

Daniel Paden

Vice President of Legal Advocacy

Cruelty Investigations Department