Williamsport Slaughterhouse Faces Inhumane Treatment Accusations After Incident

WILLIAMSPORT, MD News (7/30/2024) – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called for a criminal investigation into an incident at Hamzah Slaughter House LLC in Williamsport, where a worker reportedly sawed a conscious calf’s throat, causing prolonged suffering. The request follows a detailed report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which documented the events.

The USDA report describes the incident from March 14th of this year. A calf was brought into a “head catch,” and a “nose pincher” was attached. The calf’s head was then pulled upward, and a worker used a “lamb skinning knife” to cut her throat, sawing back and forth 10 to 15 times as the calf cried out. After her head was released, the calf backed into the chute, standing and vocalizing loudly for approximately two minutes. Her suffering was only ended when a slaughterhouse supervisor used a larger knife to deliver a fatal cut.

In light of these findings, PETA has sent a letter to Washington County State’s Attorney Regina M. Cirincion, urging her to investigate the incident and file appropriate criminal charges. Daniel Paden, PETA’s Vice President of Legal Advocacy, emphasized the severity of the situation. “At this miserable slaughterhouse, a worker mercilessly sawed a calf’s throat, causing her a prolonged, agonizing death,” Paden stated. “PETA is calling for a criminal investigation on behalf of this calf whose last minutes were tremendously painful and horrifying and urges everyone to help prevent animals from suffering in slaughterhouses by going vegan.”

PETA’s letter outlines the incident and highlights the lack of federal prosecution for such abuses, noting that no inspected slaughterhouses have faced charges for acts of cruelty since at least 2007. The letter appeals to state law for justice, as federal actions typically do not include criminal or civil penalties.

Hamzah Slaughter House, located in Williamsport, Maryland, specializes in providing Halal slaughter of animals such as lambs, goats, or cows.

The halal slaughter process, known as Dhabiha, is designed to be humane and ethical, following specific Islamic guidelines. A sharp knife is used to make a swift, deep cut across the animal’s throat, severing the windpipe, food pipe, and blood vessels in the neck while avoiding the spinal cord, ensuring a quick and painless death. The animal is treated with respect, given water and rest before the procedure, and a prayer is recited to invoke Allah’s name. In contrast, the documented incident at Hamzah Slaughter House deviated significantly from these standards. The report describes a calf being sawed at the throat 10 to 15 times with a skinning knife, causing prolonged suffering as the animal remained conscious and vocal for minutes. This method starkly contrasts with the swift, single-cut requirement of halal slaughter, leading to unnecessary pain and distress for the animal.

According to the report, a representative of the slaughterhouse apologized for the incident in a meeting the following day, acknowledging its inconsistency with halal slaughter practices. She committed to stopping the employee involved from slaughtering cattle until he receives proper training. Additionally, she planned to discuss proper knife sharpening with all employees on Sunday. When asked about any prescribed religious methods of slaughter, she indicated she would investigate further. She also inquired if there were other topics to address with her employees, and it was recommended to discuss knife selection, emphasizing the use of sufficiently sharp and appropriately sized knives for different animals. She agreed to include this in her meeting instructions.

A request for written comment by Hamzah Slaughter House was submitted on July 30th through their website, but no response was received as of publishing of this article.

The Washington County State’s Attorney’s office has not issued a public statement on the incident.

Story by multiple RFHC contributors