Cypress Foods, Inc. is one of the nation's largest egg producers. When it
filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year, more than one million
hens at its facilities in Georgia and Florida had their food cut off. Hens
trapped at nine facilities in Georgia were so diseased and emaciated by
the time they were discovered that agriculture officials deemed nearly
800,000 of them "unsalvageable."
In Florida, 30,000 hens reportedly died
of starvation and 170,000 more were gassed and buried by state officials.
One rescuer described the scene as "a nightmare," and the Tampa Tribune
(03/09/02) described it as "gruesome and appalling." The Tribune further
states:
"Florida has strict laws against inflicting cruelty on animals, either
purposely or through neglect. It does not matter whether animals are pets
or used to produce food. Under the law, all must be protected from such
cruel treatment. Clearly, this is a case of miserable failure and neglect
that requires the prosecution of those deemed responsible."
The Pasco County Sheriff's office is currently investigating possible
animal cruelty charges in Florida (no word yet on a similar investigation
in Georgia).
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Write to the Pasco County State Attorney and tell him you want Cypress
Foods and all responsible parties investigated for animal cruelty and
prosecuted accordingly. Remind him that Florida law makes it illegal for
an "owner" (which includes corporations) to deprive animals of sufficient
food, and that, as stated by the Tampa Tribune, "financial difficulty
offers no excuse to starve animals."
Write to:
State Attorney Bernie McCabe
14250 14th St. North, Room 1000
Clearwater, FL 33762.
You can also call the State Attorney's office (ph: 727/ 464-6221) and
leave a message for Mr. McCabe, asking him to make sure Cypress Foods is
investigated for animal cruelty.
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