Scott Sechler, owner of Bell & Evans, has written a blog entry on his company’s website responding to an undercover video released by the animal rights group Compassion Over Killing. The video, which CoK says was filmed at a Bell & Evans hatchery in Fredericksburg, Pa., alleges mishandling of chicks at the hatchery, as well as sick or injured chicks being euthanized in a grinder.
The blog reads:
“It has come to my attention that the radical Washington based activist group TryVeg/COK planted an undercover agent at our hatchery with the goal to challenge Bell & Evans leadership in humane treatment of animals. The TryVeg mole was planted in our hatchery for two weeks with the goal to stage an attention grabbing media show.
Over my 40 years as a chicken farmer I always strive to be the leading advocate of humane treatment for all animals. At our hatchery we’ve never strayed from humane animal best practices. It is our first priority and responsibility to euthanize only the sick and lame birds that would otherwise suffer.
Most recently Bell & Evans installed the Slow Induction Anesthesia (SIA) system, endorsed by Temple Grandin as the most humane process in the world.
I invite the leaders from TryVeg/COK to meet face to face and discuss their concerns.
I will continue to be the humane animal leader that I have been over the past 40 years for the next 40 years.”
Tom Stone, director of sales and marketing for Bell & Evans, said the hatchery was audited yearly to ensure it complies with animal welfare standards.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, Bell & Evans
