Group Cautions Heat Star Not to Sign Up With Company Steeped in Animal Suffering
For Immediate Release:
July 12, 2011
Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382
Louisville, Ky. -- This morning, PETA sent a letter to Miami Heat star guard Dwyane Wade urging him to take KFC's offer to serve as an "honorary captain" at a Miami KFC and turn the tables on the cruel franchise by urging the company to switch to a less cruel method of chicken slaughter that would stop millions of birds from having their bones broken and being scalded to death. Wade jokingly posted a message to his Twitter account seeking employment because of the NBA lockout.
"Dwyane is known for looking out for the less fortunate, so teaming up with a company that's notorious for including a massive dose of animal abuse in every bucket of chicken is a mismatch if ever there were one," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "When it comes to the humane treatment of animals, KFC fouled out long ago."
For more information, please visit PETA's website KentuckyFriedCruelty.com.
PETA's letter to Dwyane Wade follows.
July 12, 2011
Dear Dwyane,
Greetings from PETA. I hope this message finds you well. You can count all of us here among your many fans!
We're writing today after reading about KFC's offer to have you serve as an honorary captain at one of its restaurants during the lockout. We're glad that you kicked KFC's buckets years ago in favor of a different career, and although we're sure you'll not give KFC's offer a second thought, we thought you would want to know of another good reason to reject any offers that the cruel franchise throws your way. While defenders know that "broken ankles" are a risk with your crossovers on the court, chickens killed for KFC often have their fragile legs broken when they are slammed into metal shackles, among other horrifying abuses.
Chickens destined for KFC's buckets live their entire lives mired in their own waste and filth, only to be shackled upside down in shackles and have their throats cut while they are still conscious at the slaughterhouse. Several of KFC's own animal welfare advisors have resigned in frustration, as the chain still refuses to make even basic improvements, including a less cruel slaughter method that would end the worst abuses of chickens killed for the chain. PETA's Kentucky Fried Cruelty campaign isn't just for vegetarians—it's for anyone concerned with the cruelty that flourishes for corporate greed, which is why Reverend Al Sharpton hosted this video exposé and endorsed the campaign.
After learning about this abuse, will you take a stand for chickens by urging KFC to require its suppliers to use a less cruel slaughter method? Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Michelle Cho
Senior Manager
PETA