Urge Sacramento SPCA to take animals off the menu

Like This? Share This!

URGE SACRAMENTO SPCA TAKE ANIMALS OFF THE MENU

After years of adhering to a meat-free menu policy for shelter sponsored events, the Sacramento SPCA became the first shelter in the country to reverse a progressive menu policy.

Former CEO, Rick Johnson, established a formal vegetarian policy for events in response to community concerns for farmed animals. Immediately after entering the position, Mr. Johnson’s successor informed the executive committee of the board that the policy would be overturned.

Sacramento locals contacted Animal Place, concerned over the sudden change at the shelter. The policy, which had been in place for years, had been modified without input from community members. In response, Food for Thought Program Manager, Patti Nyman, reached out to the new CEO to ask him to consider returning to a more ethical policy. He declined our offer, despite the fact that the SPCA had previously endorsed the program publicly.

Putting farmed animals back on the menu at shelter functions sends a mixed message, akin to the American Lung Association putting ashtrays on the dinner table at their annual gala.

If shelter dogs were treated in the same horrific way as pigs raised for their flesh — males castrated without anesthesia, females kept in crates where they cannot turn around — shelter staff would be outraged. With this recent policy change, the SPCA may serve the flesh of pigs kept in these same conditions at their events.

Reversing their animal-friendly menu policy is out of step with the hundreds of other animal shelters that are extending their compassion to include farmed animals.

Join us and urge the Sacramento SPCA to return to its animal-friendly menu policy.