An investigator documented severe animal abuse at a Tyson chicken slaughter plant over 21 days, revealing a lack of concern for animal and worker welfare. The high-speed requirement of hanging 35 chickens per minute led to inhumane treatment of the birds and hazardous conditions for workers. Maral Cavner, a law student and animal rights advocate, supports the efforts of the Animal Legal Defense Fund to combat such cruelty.

1. Animal Abuse Once Again Caught
on Film at Tyson Chicken
Maral Cavner

2. Introduction
 Though she is currently still in law school, Maral Cavner
has already made great strides in the world of animal
rights, a field she would like to work in once she is an
attorney. To support the humane treatment of animals
everywhere, Maral Cavner is an enthusiastic supporter of
the Animal Legal Defense Fund and their work.
In the summer of 2015, the Animal Legal Defense Fund
sent anonymous investigators into a Tyson chicken
slaughter plant to document suspected animal cruelty
violations. Over a 21-day period, an investigator
observed “horrendous” violations of animal and
workplace laws, showing a systematic disregard for the
well-being of both animals and factory workers.

3. Animal Abuse
 In an anonymous interview, the investigator suggests that
the Tyson requirement for workers to hang 35 chickens
per minute on the slaughter line contributes greatly to
poor conditions. Workers scramble to arrange the live
birds quickly enough, often causing the birds to get
crushed, maimed, or suffocated in the process.
In addition to causing drawn-out and inhumane deaths
for chickens, these conditions are uniformly hazardous to
workers. Employees routinely get feces in their eyes and
mouth, resulting in blisters, infections, and respiratory
complications.
If you are interested in joining the fight against systematic
animal cruelty, consider signing the ALDF petition online
at:
org2.salsalabs.com/o/5154/p/dia/action3/common/public/
?action_KEY=21276.