Crying Cow Repeatedly Electroshocked at Gaffney Slaughterhouse; PETA Seeks Criminal Probe

For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2025

Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382

A damning U.S. Department of Agriculture report just obtained by PETA reveals that a cow was electroshocked approximately seven times at Brown Packing Co. Inc., located at 116 Willis St. in Gaffney. In response, PETA sent a letter this morning to The Honorable Barry Barnette, Solicitor for the Seventh Judicial Circuit, urging him to investigate and file appropriate criminal charges against the workers responsible.

According to the report, on August 8, 2024, a federal inspector saw an employee electroshock the cow approximately three times, causing her to repeatedly cry out. After intervening, the inspector then witnessed a second employee electroshock the same animal about four more times, prompting the inspector to deem it “excessive use” of the electrical prod.

“A cow already facing the horrors of slaughter endured agonizing electroshocks over and over and over again,” says PETA Vice President of Legal Advocacy Daniel Paden. “PETA is calling for a criminal investigation on her behalf 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 considering making the switch. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Barnette follows.

January 16, 2025

The Honorable Barry Barnette

Solicitor

Seventh Judicial Circuit

Dear Mr. Barnette:

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 electroshocking a cow approximately seven times at Brown Packing Co. Inc., located at 116 Willis St. in Gaffney. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) documented the incident in the attached report, which the agency just made available to the public.

On August 8, 2024, an FSIS inspector saw a Brown Packing employee electroshock a cow approximately three times, causing her to cry out repeatedly. After intervening, the inspector then saw a second Brown Packing employee electroshock the same animal about four more times. Again, the cow repeatedly cried out. The FSIS inspector deemed all this “excessive use” of the electrical prod, or hot shot.

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 conduct described above appears to violate South Carolina Code of Laws § 47-1-40. State law affords this victim her only chance at a small measure of justice. We urge your office to seek it. I can be reached at [email protected]. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Daniel Paden

Vice President of Legal Advocacy

Cruelty Investigations Department