Conscious Sheep Cries Out as She’s Dismembered at Pasadena Slaughterhouse; PETA Seeks Criminal Probe

For Immediate Release:
June 25, 2026

Contact:
Andrew Grant 202-483-7382

Houston –

A U.S. Department of Agriculture report just obtained by PETA reveals that on May 1, a worker at Evangel International Foods slaughterhouse in Pasadena botched the shooting of a sheep with a captive bolt gun, leaving her conscious and crying out after workers cut her throat and began dismembering her. Instead of ending her suffering, workers simply pinned down the struggling animal. In response, PETA sent a letter this morning to Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, urging him to investigate and file appropriate criminal charges against those responsible.

“This sheep was still alive and bellowing in pain after workers shot her in the head, sliced her throat, and began to cut her apart,” says PETA Vice President of Legal Advocacy Daniel Paden. “PETA is calling for a criminal investigation on her behalf and urges everyone to please go vegan to help spare others from 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 when it comes to the ability to feel pain, hunger, and fear, a sheep is a dog is a boy. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Teare follows.

June 25, 2026

The Honorable Sean Teare

Harris County District Attorney

Dear Mr. Teare:

I hope this letter finds you well. I would like to request that your office (and the proper local law-enforcement agency, as you deem appropriate) investigate and file suitable criminal charges against the Evangel International Foods worker(s) responsible for botching the shooting of a sheep, who regained consciousness and cried out when staff began to dismember her on May 1 at 2727 Westside Dr. in Pasadena. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) documented the incident in the attached report, which states the following:

On Friday, May 1, 2026 … [an FSIS] Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI), observed an adult sheep stunned in the knock box with a captive bolt [gun]. After sticking and while bleeding, the sheep was transferred to a stainless-steel table for dressing procedures. The sheep initially appeared unconscious, exhibiting no corneal reflex and a protruding tongue. As soon as the first incision was attempted, the sheep vocalized and attempted to right [themselves]. The sheep continued to vocalize, actively struggled, and continued attempts to right [themselves]. Evangel employees [redacted supervisor] and [redacted production employee] applied physical restraint to prevent the animal from rising. No additional attempts were made to render the animal insensible.^[1]

This conduct appears to violate Texas Penal Code § 42.09. Importantly, FSIS’ action carries no criminal or civil penalties and does not preempt criminal liability under state law for slaughterhouse workers who perpetrate acts of cruelty to animals.^[2] Given that the FSIS has not initiated a criminal prosecution of a licensed slaughterhouse for inhumane handling since at least 2007, charges under state law are this victim’s only chance at a small measure of justice.

Please let us know what we might do to assist you. Thank you for your consideration and for the difficult work that you do.

Sincerely,

Colin Henstock

Associate Director of Project Strategy

^[1]FSIS District Manager Dr. Jennifer Beasley-McKean, D.V.M., Notice of Suspension, Evangel International Foods (May 4, 2026) https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/documents/M51245-P51245-NOS-05042026.pdf. Last accessed June 25, 2026.

^[1]See Nat’l. Meat Assoc. v. Harris, 132 S. Ct. 965, 974 n.10 (2012) (“States may exact civil or criminal penalties for animal cruelty or other conduct that also violates the [Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA)]. See [21 U.S.C.] §678; cf. Bates v. Dow Agrosciences, LLC, 544 U.S. 431, 447 (2005), holding that a preemption clause barring state laws ‘in addition to or different’ from a federal Act does not interfere with an ‘equivalent’ state provision. Although the FMIA preempts much state law involving slaughterhouses, it thus leaves some room for the States to regulate.”).