FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Eric Phelps, eric@idausa.org, 503-754-0977

In Defense Of Animals Offers $2,500 Reward
In Mass Chicken Bludgeoning

A second $1,000 reward is being offered for anyone with
evidence of animal cruelty at any Foster Farms facility

Fresno County, Calif. (October 1, 2014) – In Defense of Animals (IDA), an international animal protection organization based in San Rafael, California, has offered a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whomever bludgeoned to death 920 chickens at a Foster Farms factory farm on Saturday, September 20, in Caruthers, California.

Foster Farms employees discovered the gruesome scene at around 8 a.m. on September 20. The perpetrators entered the factory farm complex, located at 3691 West Swanson Avenue in Caruthers, through a hole in the fence. Once inside they brutally beat to death 920 chickens.

IDA is offering a second reward of up to $1,000 to anyone providing photographic or videotaped evidence of animal cruelty by employees at any Foster Farms facility that leads to arrest and conviction.

“This is an awful crime against innocent birds already suffering from a miserable life on a Foster Farms factory farm,” said Eric Phelps, emergency response unit coordinator for IDA. Phelps added, “we’re shocked at the brutality of this crime, but also at the horrific conditions these chickens were forced to live in prior to this despicable act.”

An undercover investigation at Foster Farms facilities in 2005 exposed horrendous conditions for both chickens and Foster Farms workers (http://bit.ly/1vvgtKS). While it’s now true that Foster Farms has received the “Humane Certified” seal from the American Humane Association (AHA), this meaningless badge of approval does nothing to truly improve the lives of chickens raised for food at Foster Farms facilities. It’s also important to note that Foster Farms paid AHA an undisclosed sum for the privilege of using the “Humane Certified” seal.

IDA urges anyone with information about this appalling attack to contact the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-3111. Anyone offering photographic or videotaped evidence of animal cruelty at any Foster Farms facility is urged to contact IDA at (415) 448-0048, ext. 218. To contribute to IDA’s Animal Cruelty Reward Fund, please call IDA at (415) 448-0048, ext. 218.

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