Pig Wounded, Bleeding After Being Pushed Off Trailer at Local Slaughterhouse; PETA Seeks Criminal Probe
For Immediate Release:
July 15, 2025
Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382
A just-released U.S. Department of Agriculture report revealed that a farmer delivering pigs to Green River Meats LLC, located near Campbellsville, forcibly removed the animals from a trailer by dragging and shoving them—leaving at least one pig injured and bleeding—prompting PETA to send a letter today to Taylor County Attorney John D. Bertram, urging him to investigate and file appropriate criminal charges against the perpetrator.
According to the report, on March 19, a federal inspector witnessed an individual unloading pigs from the trailer, dragging a pig by her ear and another by the hind leg, causing the animal to cry out. The same person pushed another pig off the back of a trailer, causing the animal to fall, cry out, and suffer a bleeding snout after hitting the ground.
“At this hellhole for animals, a person mercilessly dragged and shoved pigs off a trailer like they were inanimate objects,” says PETA Vice President of Legal Advocacy Daniel Paden. “PETA is calling for a criminal investigation on behalf of these animals, who feel pain and fear just as humans do, and urges everyone to help prevent animals from suffering in slaughterhouses by going vegan.”
PETA is pursuing charges under state law because federal officials haven’t prosecuted any inspected slaughterhouses for acts of abuse since at least 2007.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness and free vegan starter kits for anyone thinking of making the switch. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Bertram follows.
July 15, 2025
The Honorable John D. Bertram
Taylor County Attorney
Dear Mr. Bertram:
I’m writing to request that your office (and a law-enforcement agency, as necessary) investigate and file applicable criminal charges against the person responsible for pushing one pig off a trailer—and “forcibly” pulling others by their ears and legs—at Green River Meats LLC, located at 4000 Greensburg Rd., near Campbellsville.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) documented the incident in a report that the agency recently made available to the public. (See attachment.) According to the report, on March 19, an FSIS inspector saw an individual “forcibly push one hog off the edge of [a] trailer, an approximate drop of 1 foot. The hog fell and landed on [his] body cavity, [cried out], and was observed with a bloody snout as a result of the fall.”
Moments later, the inspector saw the same suspect “pull on the hind leg of a second hog with force,” again causing the animal to cry out. Despite notifying a Green River Meats supervisor of this “unacceptable” behavior, the inspector then saw the suspect “forcibly pulling on the ear of [a third] hog while attempting to remove [her] from the trailer.”
Please note that FSIS’ simple report on the matter carries no criminal or civil penalties and does not preempt criminal liability under state law for acts of cruelty to animals.
The acts described above appear to violate KRS § 525.130 (a), which prohibits anyone from intentionally or wantonly subjecting any animal to cruel or injurious mistreatment. The egregious abuse of these animals was distinct from the act of killing them for consumption, which is otherwise exempt from prosecution. Kentucky law affords these victims their only chance at a small measure of justice. We urge your office to seek it.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Daniel Paden
Vice President of Legal Advocacy
Cruelty Investigations Department
