PETA seeks criminal probe after Tyson Foods worker in Dexter accused of punching bird

DEXTER, Mo. (KBSI) – PETA is pursuing charges after discovering a worker at a slaughterhouse, formerly known as Tyson Foods, allegedly abusing a chicken.

According to a report, on August 23 a USDA inspector saw the employee “punch a bird” that was hanging upside down on the slaughter line.

“There’s no excuse to take out your boredom, your frustration, on a 5-pound bird who’s literally hanging from her frail legs, upside down in medal shackles, being spun in circles,” said Daniel Paden, who is President of Evidence Analysis for Cruelty Investigations for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

PETA sent a letter to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Sawyer Smith calling on him to investigate and file criminal charges against the individual responsible.

“We just ask that Mr. Smith’s office can take a look at this to determine whether it violates Missouri’s Anti-Cruelty statute. And if so, file a class A misdemeanor charge,” said Paden.

The letter also points out that the slaughterhouse additionally has a history of drowning birds: “On July 7, 2022, dozens of chickens were plunged into scolding-hot water and drowned, and on December 28, 2021, at least six birds were scalded alive; with four of them confirmed as being conscious at the time. These are just the incidents that inspectors witnessed.”

The organization is pursuing charges under state law because federal officials haven’t prosecuted any inspected slaughterhouses for acts of abuse since at least 2007.

“We hope that if there’s no justice for this animal under federal law, that there’s a speck of it, perhaps under Missouri law,” said Paden.

He additionally suggests alternatives to handling these birds without causing harm.

“There is gas stunning now for chickens and turkeys where the animals are slowly and painlessly rendered unconscious with a gas-like nitrogen or argon,” said Paden.