Goats Froze to Death at B & R Meat Processing; PETA Seeks Criminal Probe
For Immediate Release:
July 21, 2025
Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382
A just-released report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reveals that two goats froze to death and nine other animals were deprived of water at B & R Meat Processing, near Winslow, prompting PETA to send a letter today to 4th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Brandon Carter, urging him to investigate and file appropriate criminal charges against all responsible parties.
According to the report, on February 20, a federal inspector discovered that two goats—who had been deprived of bedding and other protection against sub-zero temperatures overnight—had apparently “frozen to death” in a pen where eight survivors were “shivering and huddling for warmth.” The inspector also found that a steer and the eight surviving goats were deprived of access to drinking water, after what remained in the buckets provided to them had “frozen solid.”
“These goats were deprived of even the most basic protections against the harsh winter cold before their bodies gave out and they froze to death,” says PETA Vice President of Legal Advocacy Daniel Paden. “PETA is calling for a criminal investigation on behalf of these goats and urges everyone to please go vegan to help spare others suffering in slaughterhouses.”
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 Carter follows.
July 21, 2025
The Honorable Brandon Carter
4th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney
Dear Mr. Carter:
I’m writing to request that your office (and a law-enforcement agency, as necessary) investigate and file applicable criminal charges against the person(s) responsible for fatally neglecting two goats—and depriving nine other animals of water—at B & R Meat Processing, located at 633 N. Devils Den Rd., near Winslow.
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 February 20, an FSIS inspector discovered that two goats—who had been deprived of bedding and other protection against subzero temperatures overnight—had apparently “frozen to death” in a pen where eight survivors were “shivering and huddling for warmth.” The inspector “expressed concerns” to the company’s president and general manager that “had weather related actions been take[n] the animals would likely have survived the night.”
That same morning, the inspector found that a steer and the eight surviving goats were deprived of access to drinking water, after what remained in buckets provided to them had “frozen solid.”
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 omissions described above appear to violate A.C.A. § 5-62-103, which prohibits anyone from failing to provide animals in their custody with “adequate shelter” and “a sufficient quantity of … water.” The egregious and even fatal neglect of these animals is not among the the lawful “agricultural activities” that are exempt from prosecution. Arkansas 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
