VANCOUVER—The BC SPCA is investigating an incident of a live chicken going through a sanitizing washer at Hallmark Poultry in downtown Vancouver. The aftermath of the incident was captured by photographer Kornelia Kulbacki, who was at the slaughterhouse as part of a demonstration against cruelty in the chicken industry. Her photo showing the soaked and distressed chicken has since gone viral on Facebook (see here and here).

“I was horrified to see a live animal huddled in the corner of a crate being stacked with other empty crates,” said Ms. Kulbacki. “I pleaded with one of the workers in charge to let us rescue the animal and take him or her to a sanctuary, but he refused. Science has shown that chickens are emotionally complex individuals who have the capacity to suffer, just like our beloved dogs and cats at home. At slaughterhouses, the sentient animals we call ‘food’ are treated like mere commodities by workers desensitized to the overwhelming violence of the system.”

“This incident appears to be a clear violation of both federal and provincial laws that protect animals,” said lawyer Anna Pippus, director of farmed animal advocacy with Animal Justice. “Allowing live animals to be exposed to the scalding water and chemicals of sanitizing washers is blatant animal cruelty. Law enforcement authorities must act to hold the slaughterhouse accountable for its callous disregard of living animals.”

Ms. Kulbacki has reported the incident to the BC SPCA, which enforces provincial animal welfare laws, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which enforces federal slaughter laws at meat processing plants. The BC SPCA has commenced an investigation.

For more information:
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Anna Pippus
Director of Farmed Animal Advocacy
apippus@animaljustice.ca

Animal Justice