People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an animal rights nonprofit, accused workers at a New Zealand sheep farm owned by former NBC host Matt Lauer of abusing animals during shearing operations.
PETA Asia-Pacific released video footage Monday showing what it says is evidence of animal mistreatment, including workers stepping on sheep’s necks, dragging the animals across floors and performing stitching procedures without painkillers, the organization wrote in a statement to the Daily Caller.
(WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT)
Lauer reportedly invested at least $1.6 million into Hunter Valley Station, his New Zealand property, which houses a major sheep shearing operation. PETA claimed to uncover evidence of “incredibly rough handling, and callous shearing practices” at this and 10 other farms that produce ZQ-brand wool, according to the nonprofit’s statement to the Caller.
Brands such as Allbirds, Fjällräven, Smartwool, Loro Piana, Helly Hansen and others sell the ZQ-certified wool, which claims to be “the world’s leading ethical wool brand,” according to PETA.
“Matt Lauer’s New Zealand getaway is hell for scared sheep who are flung about, pinned down, and cut up,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said. “PETA wants Lauer to wash his hands of the bloody wool business — and asks that anyone upset by the cruelty we have uncovered in the sheep sheds choose only vegan materials.”
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 02: Matt Lauer seen at NBC’s “Today” show at Rockefeller Center on March 2, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/GC Images) Getty Images
PETA claimed their Asia-Pacific’s investigators uncovered instances of abuse including “whipping, manhandling, and hitting sheep with objects, including a metal-tipped pole,” on the farms they visited.
They allege “one shearer repeatedly slammed a sheep’s head against a hard wooden board while hurling expletive-laden threats at her.”
“A sheep was smothered to death after being forced into a severely crowded enclosure – and her wool was still shorn. Dead sheep were observed strewn around the farms,” the statement continued.
PETA said they have issued a letter to Lauer asking him to take immediate action to end sheep farming cruelty on his property.
Lauer has not commented publicly on the allegations.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
