A QUEENSLAND business owner says a vegan group is targeting his shop and dragging its name through the mud.

media_camera Gary Thompson at The Squealing Pig.

The Squealing Pig, a butcher shop, opened in Burpengary last week, but owner Gary Thompson said a vegan social media group had bombarded his Facebook page.

He said group members had left one star reviews and derogatory and misleading comments.

“All of a sudden we were just bombarded with one star reviews. I had a look, and the people leaving the reviews were all part of a Facebook group called ‘Unapologetic Vegans Australia’,” he said.

One Facebook user said: “That name is horrible. There is nothing on this earth worse than a gentle innocent creature squealing in pain and terror being slaughtered. Just think about it. And the message it gives.”

Mr Thompson said: “I blocked some of the really bad comments, calling me a ‘cruel man’ and a ‘sick b*stard’.”

Mr Thompson said he never intended to offend people with the name of his business.

“I just thought it was a catchy name,” he said.

“I don’t have anything against vegans, I respect their right to have an opinion, but they are putting people’s jobs and livelihoods at risk by trying to discredit our business,” he said.

“These comments aren’t coming from my customers, all my customers have been very supportive.”

Other Facebook users have leapt to the business’ defence.

“Pigs squeal in the paddocks mate, it’s got nothing to do with anything other than the noise they make. Stop trying to make something out of nothing,” one Facebook user said.