A toy depicting a pig slicing up its own stomach has been described as ‘sickening’ by a vegan.
The ‘dashboard wiggler’, which is currently for sale on Amazon, is called ‘Slicey the Pig’.
Vegan Javid Ahmed wants Amazon to stop selling the item, as he believes it promotes a violent message.
He believes: “Slicey the Pig promotes animal cruelty, sends out the wrong message that animals are objects and have no desire to live, and teaches people it is okay to accept animal suffering.”
He also said the online giant would never sell a similar toy depicting a human.
‘Maniacally’
According to the item’s description: “Slicey the Pig just realized how delicious he is and now he wants to share himself with you!
“Taken from an old French advertisement, this vinyl pig holds a large carving knife to his own mid-section while he grins maniacally.”
Petition
Ahmed launched a petition earlier this summer calling on the retailer to drop the toy. So far more than 17,000 people have signed it.
According to the petition: “Amazon is not global respectable retailer. This product is offensive and shows a lack of respect for animals and that Amazon supports and promotes animal cruelty. The CEO Jeff Bezos has now twice refused to remove the product from from Amazon despite this petition.”
Support
A number of people have added supportive comments to the document.
One wrote: “I have compassion for animals and don’t agree with portaying them as objects for mutilation.”
Another added: “This is not a toy but an object of torture.
“Stop teaching children that it’s fun to murder sentient beings.”
‘Encourages cruelty’
Juliet Gellatley, founder of vegan charity Viva! told PBN: “Being marketed as a toy, ‘Slicey’ tells kids and teenagers that killing animals is good for a laugh.
“It’s exactly that attitude which encourages cruelty to animals and to each other.
“Viva! encourages people to sign the petition and to write a review on Amazon.”
PBN has contacted Amazon for comment.