‘Hell on Wheels’ Truck to Blast Dying Pigs’ Cries Outside Charleston Eatery
For Immediate Release:
June 27, 2025
Contact:
Alex Payne 202-483-7382
Ahead of Independence Day—when Americans will gobble up around 150 million hot dogs—PETA’s “Hell on Wheels” is rolling into Charleston to give barbecue lovers an up-close look at the suffering behind every cholesterol-loaded frank. On Sunday, PETA’s hyper-realistic pig transport truck that looks as if it contains real pigs on their way to slaughter will bombard diners on their way into Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQand other Charleston eateries that serve pork with actual recorded sounds of the animals’ panicked screams along with a subliminal message every 10 seconds suggesting that people go vegan.
“Every hot dog, barbecued rib, and pulled pork sandwich represents the suffering of a once-living, sensitive individual who was crammed onto a truck for a terrifying, miserable journey to their death,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA’s ‘Hell on Wheels’ truck is an appeal to anyone who eats pigs to remember that the meat industry is cruel to them and that the only kind meal is a vegan one.”
Where: Outside Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ, 126 Williman Street, Charleston
When: Sunday, June 29, 12 noon
Why: Pigs dream when they sleep, recognize their own names, and show empathy for other pigs who are happy or distressed. In the meat industry, workers chop off piglets’ tails, clip their teeth with pliers, and castrate the males—all without pain relief. Every year, more than 1 million pigs die, and at least 40,000 others sustain injuries during transport to slaughterhouses. It’s common for pigs on the way to slaughter to suffer from heat exhaustion or even become frozen to the sides of trucks.
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. PETA’s free vegan starter kit is filled with tips to help anyone looking to make the switch. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
