News Editor
In a statement published on their website, animal rights activist group
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) called for a protest of Food
Lion’s usage of live lions during the filming of their commercials. Though the
American Humane Association (AHA) has made a commitment to monitor the
treatment of animals before, during, and after the filming process, PETA
remarks that the monitoring is incomprehensive and irresponsible claiming, “The Hollywood Reporter's investigation
into the AHA revealed what PETA has been helping to bring to light for
years—that the AHA's monitoring of film and television productions is woefully
inadequate. As a result, animals have often been put in dangerous situations,
injured, or even killed.”
In the original statement made by PETA, “Many [lions] are torn away
from their mothers shortly after birth and subjected to abusive training
methods, such as electric shocks and food deprivation. Once they grow old and
are no longer useful to their trainers, they are usually cast off and sent to
seedy roadside zoos or other substandard facilities.”
However, on April 20 The
Charlotte Observer reported that a group of PETA protestors disassembled
after learning that Food Lion had decided not to use a live lion on the set of
their commercial. In response, PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna
Winders said, “No lions were dragged to Food Lion’s commercial shoot in Van
Nuys today, and PETA is calling on the company to make a pledge for the future:
no wild animals in ads, ever. Whether they’re filmed in front of a green screen
or on a cramped commercial set, lions in the entertainment industry are denied
everything that’s natural and important to them and are even beaten into
obedience. Food Lion can and should create eye-catching ads without resorting
to the use of deprived, captive wild animals.”
