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Tuesday, October 14, 2008
PETA goes after Shane Victorino
Shane Victorino screams after he gets hit in the foot by the ball during Game 3 of the National League Division Series. (Ron Cortes / Staff Photographer)

Been dying to call Shane Victorino the "Fryin' Hawaiian." And so...

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, having learned that his favorite dish is called Spam musubi, has sent him a letter alerting him to the findings of its latest investigation at a pig farm that supplies Hormel (the manufacturer of Spam).

"We suspect that the cruelty in every can of Spam will infuriate Shane more than a high Hiroki Kuroda fastball," says Dan Shannon, PETA's assistant director, in a note. "If Shane likes Spam a lot, he should buy tickets to the Broadway play but leave it off his dinner plate."

"PETA" also has been interpreted as "People Eager To Annoy." A Phillies rep said he'd ask #8 for comment after the World Series...

October 14, 2008

Shane Victorino, c/o Philadelphia Phillies

Dear Mr. Victorino:

On behalf of PETA and our thousands of members and supporters in the Philadelphia area, I'm writing in regard to the recent revelation that your favorite meal is a Spam dish. While Spam might be a popular foodstuff in your native Hawaii, before you take another cholesterol-packed bite, let me tell you about the horrific abuse of animals at the hands of Spam's pork suppliers.

PETA recently conducted an undercover investigation on a factory farm that breeds pigs who are slaughtered for Hormel, the maker of Spam. PETA documented staggering cruelty to animals, including that a supervisor shoved a cane into a sow's vagina and struck her on the back approximately 17 times. Multiple pigs were beaten with metal gate rods, and two men were witnessed jabbing clothespins into pigs' eyes and faces. A supervisor kicked a young pig in the face, abdomen, and genitals to make her move and told PETA's investigator, "You gotta beat on the bitch. Make her cry."

Virtually every factory farm that supplies pigs to Hormel confines mother pigs to metal crates that are so small that they can't turn around and cuts piglets' tails and testicles off without painkillers. In addition, a complaint is currently pending with the Food and Drug Administration regarding this particular farm's use of a cancer-causing substance on pigs who were to be killed for human consumption.

As you might know, PETA has named Citizens Bank Ballpark the Most Vegetarian Friendly Ballpark two years in a row for its astounding variety of protein-packed, delicious animal-friendly fare, including mock-chicken sandwiches, "crab-free crab cakes," Philly faux-steak sandwiches, veggie dogs, and flame-grilled Gardenburgers! We urge you to abandon the Spam, take advantage of the park's delicious veggie options, and consider joining other compassionate athletes—including John Salley, Ricky Williams, and Tony Gonzalez—in healthy and humane vegetarian eating.

Best of luck to you and the rest of the Phillies in your championship run. I can be contacted at 757-962-8253 or DanS@peta.org.

Best regards,

Dan Shannon

Assistant Director

Posted by Michael Klein @ 12:16 PM  Permalink | 71 comments
Comments   
Posted 12:49 PM, 10/14/2008
Citizen Rorshach
I bet PETA's PR team sat around giving each other High Fives after this one. terrible.
Posted 01:18 PM, 10/14/2008
Poeknows
I don't agree with many of PETA's more aggressive tactics, but you can't knock them for trying to get the truth of these horrors out to the public through outreach to celebrities and sports stars. They're not saying that Victorino is a bad person, just that he is uninformed about the cruelty, just like most meat-eaters. I bet if people knew what really went down at these slaughterhouses, they either would give up meat entirely or find farmers who humanely slaughter their animals. I respect that some people want meat in their diets, (I do), but people need to know that they can easily find a local farmer and get their meats from them, instead of just grabbing a slab from the local supermarket without even thinking about what that animal went through. If you can read that letter and decide to continue to buy pork products that are not humanely produced, you are just as bad as the supervisor at that farm.
Posted 02:27 PM, 10/14/2008
Scooter
maybe Utleys wife will have a talk with shane
Posted 02:28 PM, 10/14/2008
gmyers99
PETA:People eat tasty animals
Posted 02:36 PM, 10/14/2008
ILikeIke
I'm sure Shane could give two craps.
Posted 02:43 PM, 10/14/2008
bobg1812
The only PETA I support is People Eating Tasty Animals! Why do the people from PETA think they will change his mind Spam is a staple in poorer areas.The Hawaiians have an amazing ability to make it taste great.I think it taste much better than tofu in any of it forms. Oh and I can't stand how the poor soy plants are treated its terrible.
Posted 02:43 PM, 10/14/2008
bobg1812
The only PETA I support is People Eating Tasty Animals! Why do the people from PETA think they will change his mind Spam is a staple in poorer areas.The Hawaiians have an amazing ability to make it taste great.I think it taste much better than tofu in any of it forms. Oh and I can't stand how the poor soy plants are treated its terrible.
Posted 02:44 PM, 10/14/2008
bobg1812
The only PETA I support is People Eating Tasty Animals! Why do the people from PETA think they will change his mind Spam is a staple in poorer areas.The Hawaiians have an amazing ability to make it taste great.I think it taste much better than tofu in any of it forms. Oh and I can't stand how the poor soy plants are treated its terrible.
Posted 02:49 PM, 10/14/2008
Fuzzy Dunlop
geez bob, we get it!
Posted 02:50 PM, 10/14/2008
EaglesFanInStPete
Good old PETA trying to take the joy from Mudville. 1/2 of what they say is all lies. Anyone that thinks otherwise needs to remember when someone has an agenda, they'll do what it takes to make you agree with it. Just like the "Fish" billboards here. It has an airbrushed hook through the eye of a dog and says, "You wouldn't do this to your pet...why would you do this to a fish?" I hate animal abuse, but this is propaganda. SPCA = good intentioned people trying to make a difference. PETA = Evil people who lost their true mission decades ago.
Posted 03:01 PM, 10/14/2008
gmyers99
What purpose to pigs serve other than being extremly tasty?
Posted 03:02 PM, 10/14/2008
gmyers99
If we can't eat pigs they shouldn't exist.
Posted 03:03 PM, 10/14/2008
Janette
Someone has to stand up for animals. Yes PETA takes it to the extreme at times but if it weren't for some of their videos we'd all be eating downed meat.
Posted 03:04 PM, 10/14/2008
gmyers99
I used to have pet pig but I trapped him in a metal cage,slaughtered him and made bacon.He was delicious!!!
Posted 03:23 PM, 10/14/2008
Evil Overlord
i wish peta (not worh capitalizing) would stop thier SQUEALING. they are always trying to HAM it up. if they want to make a difference they should sit down and CHEW THE FAT with people who like meat. Personally i always make a PIG of myself at dinner and i am always in the kitchen BACON something in the oven. I bet thier friends RIBS them alot about being such wussies. Cant wait until sunday to eat some RINDS and watch some teams throw the PIGSKIN around!
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About Michael Klein
Michael Klein chronicles local people, places and things (in easy-to-digest portions) three days a week in his Inquirer column "INQlings." He also covers the restaurant scene in his Thursday Food column, "Table Talk." See his work at http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_klein.
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