Scenes in Texas Ranch House Involving the Roping of Cows Disturbed Airline Passengers

For Immediate Release:
October 28, 2009

Contact:
Kristie Phelps 757-622-7382

Chicago -- After receiving complaints from United Airlines passengers about in-flight programming that included scenes in which cows were roped and thrown to the ground and calves were forcibly separated from their mothers, PETA wrote to the company to inform its president and CEO of the pain that such actions cause animals. Within days, PETA received an e-mail stating that the airline would no longer show the Texas Ranch House reality series during flights.

As PETA pointed out to United Airlines, animals suffer broken bones and torn muscles when they're roped and thrown to the ground. Mothers of nearly all animals become anguished when they're separated from their babies. Cows bellow after their young, and many cows have been seen on dairy farms or on trucks headed to slaughter trying to jump out of stalls or attempting to run after or even swim after their captured calves.

"We are so pleased that United Airlines is heeding customer concerns and keeping the skies friendly for animals," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "So often, the compassionate choice also makes good business sense."

United Airlines is operated by UAL Corporation of Chicago and had sales of more than $20 billion in fiscal year 2008. The airline serves more than 200 destinations in approximately 30 countries.

For more information about PETA's work to protect animals, please visit PETA.org.