Vegans’ vile death threats to staff selling Xmas turkeys
Farmers targeted for inviting families to pick a bird for the oven
A turkey farm has been targeted by militant vegans for offering families the chance to name and care for their bird until it is slaughtered.
Staff have been branded murderers and received death threats since Greendale Farm Shop advertised the pick-your-own service on Facebook.
the post on Sunday attracted more than 4,000 comments, mostly from the ‘Vegan Mafia’. Farm owner Matt Carter was called ‘twisted’, ‘psychopathic’ and a ‘murderer’.
Others rallied to his defence and thanked him for giving them the opportunity to educate their children about the circle of life.
Mr Carter, 35, has offered shoppers the chance to select their Christmas turkey from his flock. they name, feed and look after it for two months until it is slaughtered, stuffed and handed to them oven-ready. Shop workers have received death threats and insults from people identifying themselves as the Vegan Mafia, he said. One caller said staff ‘should be the ones being killed’ instead of the ‘innocent animals’.
yesterday staff found ‘Murder! Go vegan’ had been sprayed on the front door. Pheasants ready for sale had also been sprayed with the bright blue paint.
Mr Carter, whose family has farmed in exeter for five generations, said: ‘ I’m not going to remove the post or stop being a farmer because we’ve had a bit of opposition from vegan groups.
‘If you are going to eat meat, I think our way is the best way of doing it – where you can see the animals and then go to the butchers and buy the meat.
‘It was the bit about naming they really didn’t like. I guess that’s because it brings it home that it’s a real animal – but that’s the whole point. that’s why we treat them with respect.’ One vegan critic posted about the turkeys: ‘ they are sentient beings. they enjoy life just like we do. they are not a meal.’ Mr Carter has reported the threats to the police.
the National Farmers’ union said: ‘ everyone has the right to choose what they eat. What’s not Ok is for some animal rights activists to use social media to not only post mistruths and inaccuracies about the way food is made but also send particularly distressing messages and accusations. Farmers take the health and welfare of their animals very seriously.’
Dr Zoe Davies, chief executive of the National Pig Association, said there has been a ‘ concerning increase’ in the number of members being targeted by activists. the Vegan Society said it ‘does not support any threats of violence, or abusive behaviour or language’ adding: ‘We encourage vegan activists to share their message peacefully and positively.
‘ It’s important to note that veganism is based on kindness and compassion.’
‘We treat them with respect’