Animal Cruelty at the Kaiserslautern Slaughterhouse
Serious animal cruelty has been uncovered at a slaughterhouse in Kaiserslautern. Animals were slaughtered while fully conscious.
The Kaiserslautern Public Prosecutor's Office has charged three employees of a slaughterhouse with failing to properly stun animals prior to slaughter.
The animal rights group led by activist Philipp Hörmann demanded the immediate closure of the slaughterhouse.
The managing director of the GmbH company is also accused of failing in his supervisory duties, as the public prosecutor's office announced on 28 June 2022. When the trial will begin remains unclear; the district court must first decide whether to admit the charges.
The investigation stems from footage recorded by an animal rights group, which passed it on to the Southwest Broadcasting Corporation (SWR). Following the emergence of the allegations, the Kaiserslautern district administration inspected the facility and ruled that slaughter operations must cease there for the time being. According to the district, the company has since surrendered its licence as a slaughterhouse.
According to the prosecution, a 32-year-old man allegedly failed to stun approximately 40 pigs as required during slaughter over the course of one month in autumn 2021. The animals suffered considerable pain in some cases, reportedly due to incorrect application of the electric tongs or the use of faulty equipment. The electric tongs are used to stun the animals at the head prior to slaughter. The suspect denies the allegations, according to the public prosecutor's office.
A 58-year-old man is accused of not slaughtering eleven cattle and three horses in accordance with regulations. In these cases, an initial captive bolt shot allegedly failed to produce adequate stunning. The required immediate follow-up bolt shot was administered only after a delay. Furthermore, the cut for bleeding was reportedly made without sufficient stunning, causing the animals considerable pain in some instances. The 58-year-old has declined to comment on the allegations, it was stated.
A 57-year-old colleague of the man is alleged to have assisted him and additionally to have caused unnecessary pain to cattle in three cases. He denies this, the public prosecutor's office further stated.
The managing director of the facility is alleged to have violated his supervisory duties, thereby committing an administrative offense, which he reportedly denies. The court may impose a fine against him if it considers the charge proven. Administrative proceedings have also been initiated against the business itself, a limited liability company.
The facility also made use of a so-called electric prod. Electric shocks are used to drive the animals into the stunning box. The footage shows that slaughterhouse workers also applied the electric prod to the facial areas of the animals. This form of use is not permitted.
In the event of a conviction for animal cruelty, a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine may be imposed.
