PETA has announced plans to purchase a billboard to memorialize the thousands of Pure Prairie Poultry (PPP) chickens that died last month after the birds were allegedly left on transport trailers without food or water for five days as temperatures outside rose into the 80s and cooling fans failed.
PETA says PPP’s actions last month killed a “significant” number of chickens, as confirmed by federal officials. PETA plans to place a billboard in their honor near the site, “reminding everyone that the victims were thinking, feeling individuals.”
PETA notes the Charles City Police Department is investigating the incident after the group alerted Floyd County Attorney Todd Prichard to multiple whistleblower reports regarding incidents involving birds left on parked trucks at the floundering facility. PETA had previously notified officials with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, but says the agency did not respond for weeks—before finally saying the matter was out of its jurisdiction because the trailers were parked across the street rather than at the plant itself.
PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in a statement, “Chickens died in agony after being abandoned for days without food or water, and the traumatized survivors faced the slaughterhouse knife.”
PETA says the “chickens would not have died if everyone adopted a vegan diet,” claiming that each person who goes vegan spares nearly 200 animals every year, dramatically shrinks their carbon footprint, and reduces their risk of suffering from cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and obesity.
No word on when and/or where the PETA billboard will go up.
PETA spokesperson Sara Groves tells KCHA/KCZE News, “We’re working with billboard companies to find the soonest spot available near the site.”
