Slaughterhouse Faces Scrutiny After ‘Cut Corners’ Leads To ‘Agonizing Death’ For Calf

Campaigners are calling on a California District Attorney’s Office to investigate a meat company for the ‘botched stunning of a calf’.

Animal rights charity PETA has written to the DA Office in Madera County asking to file charges – as appropriate – against JJ Meat Company and the worker or workers responsible for the painful slaughter of the animal.

The organization has included a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, described as ‘damning’, with its letter.

Report

PETA says: “According to the first USDA report, on April 3, an inspector discovered a calf who’d been improperly shot in the head crying out in the blood pit and attempting to stand up.

“A worker then finally rendered the calf unconscious with a second shot. PETA notes that this incident may violate California Penal Code § 597 (b), which states that “every person who … tortures [or] torments … any animal … is … guilty of a crime.”

“Further, federal officials had warned JJ Meat Company management about repairs and maintenance needed on its stunning equipment on five separate occasions since December 2017, yet the company failed to take steps to prevent this ‘egregious’ violation.”

Terrifying death

“JJ Meat Company cut corners and, as a result, a gentle calf endured a prolonged, agonizing, and terrifying death,” said PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch.

“PETA is calling for a criminal investigation on behalf of this calf and the members of the public who care about animals and want to prevent their suffering.”

The letter follows a second report released on May 10 revealing that workers at the slaughterhouse dragged a conscious goat by the back legs into the blood pit on April 25, claims the organization.