Published Letters and Op-Eds from
COK’s Writers Group

Chicken Abuse Is Appalling

Published in the Daily News Tribune [W.Va.] on August 10, 2004.

As someone who has spent plenty of time around chickens, I was appalled to read of the extreme abuse of these birds at Pride's Plant slaughterhouse [Prosecutor in chicken cruelty cases say workers actions do not appear to be torture—Aug. 4]. I was even more outraged to read the horrible acts were not considered torture.

The dictionary defines torture as unbearable physical pain or intense feelings of suffering. If twisting heads off of birds, spitting tobacco into their eyes, spray painting their faces, and squeezing birds to the point of fecal expulsion are not considered torture, then what is?

If these same abuses were directed toward a cat or dog, there would be an enormous outcry. The only difference is that chickens are deemed "food animals."

Sincerely,
Laurel Long
Rockville, MD