Peter Dinklage asks fans to join him in making kind choices by not hurting animals or asking others to hurt animals for them. LEARN MORE.
"NY Ink" star and tattoo artist Ami James says that people should "never be silent" for animals in a new ad for PETA. LEARN MORE.
Animals and the planet depend on us, and actor Maggie Q wants us to know what we can do to help. LEARN MORE.
Animals are forced to endure the pain of having chemicals applied to their sensitive eyes and skin. Join Dave in buying only cruelty-free products. LEARN MORE.
Actor Taraji P. Henson wants us to show dogs the unconditional love that they so graciously give us. Make animals a part of your family. LEARN MORE.
For Immediate Release: July 8, 2010
Contact: Michael Lyubinsky 757-622-7382
Oak Brook, Ill. -- Today, PETA sent a letter to reigning NASCAR champion Jamie McMurray asking him to drive home a crucial message to his sponsor, McDonald's. Because millions of chickens are killed for the fast-food behemoth each year, PETA is calling on McMurray to use his unique position to urge the restaurant chain to adopt a less cruel method of chicken slaughter that would spare birds the worst abuses. PETA's request comes just as McMurray prepares for an appearance at a McDonald's location in Oak Brook, Ill.
"McMurray is a genius on the racetrack, but when you see him partnering with McDonald's, you have to wonder if he’s lost control of the wheel," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "We hope that he can help us convince McDonald's to end its cruel slaughter practices and be a champion not only on the racetrack but also for chickens."
McDonald's American suppliers use an archaic killing method in which birds often have their wings and legs broken, have their throats cut while they are still conscious, and are sometimes even scalded to death in defeathering tanks. PETA--along with members of McDonald's own animal welfare advisory panel--has urged the company to switch to a modern slaughter method, that’s already used by some of McDonald's European suppliers.
For more information, please visit PETA's Web site McCruelty.com.
PETA's letter to Jamie McMurray follows.
July 8, 2010
Jamie McMurray
Dear Jamie,
As you sign autographs for flocks of eager fans today, please consider signing a letter for the millions of chickens who are scalded to death for McDonald's every year. Your sponsor, McDonald's, still allows its U.S. suppliers to cut chickens' throats while they are conscious and even to scald birds to death in defeathering tanks. Will you use your unique position with the company to urge it to adopt the less cruel chicken-slaughter technology that's already in use in Europe? As you can see at McCruelty.com, we've been pushing McDonald's to phase in the purchase of chicken from suppliers that use the less cruel slaughter method that is already used by McDonald's European operations. This method renders chickens unconscious while they are still in their transport crates, sparing the birds the pain of live shackling and mutilation. As the leading purchaser of chicken in the U.S., McDonald's has the ability--and the market power--to make this method the industry standard for chicken slaughter, yet the company refuses to require its suppliers to make this common-sense switch. A letter from you would surely resonate with McDonald's executives, and we'd be happy to draft it. Thanks for considering this--you could make a huge difference. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Dan MathewsSenior Vice PresidentPETA