Animal Welfare Group Files Lawsuit Against Perpignan Slaughterhouse Over Cruelty Allegations

The animal welfare organization L214 has filed a lawsuit against the slaughterhouse 'La Catalane d’abattage' in Perpignan, France, accusing it of severe acts of cruelty, abuse, and mistreatment. The complaint follows an investigation conducted by the association between May and July, prompted by an anonymous tip.

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the animals, because of these infractions, experience a death of extreme violence: they panic and try to flee, receive blows without interruption, struggle, raise their heads showing signs of consciousness, agonize for long moments, and are cut alive and often conscious.

Video and photographic evidence published by L214 reportedly shows disturbing scenes: animals being cut while still alive, cows being exsanguinated without prior stunning, and pigs being subjected to physical blows. The lawsuit details that these infractions result in animals experiencing extreme violence, panic, and prolonged suffering before death. The association also criticizes the very design of the facility, citing insufficient animal restraint systems that lead to chaotic situations, such as animals escaping and being bled on the floor.

In response to the allegations, the prefect of Pyrénées-Orientales has ordered an immediate and thorough inspection of the establishment by the departmental directorate for the protection of populations. The management of the slaughterhouse has also suspended the personnel directly implicated in the alleged incidents as a precautionary measure.

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the immobilization of animals is not sufficient. We see animals managing to free themselves from traps and run in the slaughterhouse, which leads to completely chaotic situations: they are bled on the ground.

However, L214 deems these actions insufficient, demanding the outright closure of the slaughterhouse. The organization insists that the facility's management must ensure proper staff training and verify that all slaughtering practices comply with European regulations, which mandate sparing animals from avoidable suffering during their killing. Notably, the complaint mentions that the slaughterhouse holds an Ecocert certification for organic production.

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this slaughterhouse must close.