Anheuser-Busch has stated that they no longer cut off the tails of Budweiser Clydesdale horses. According to sources, the InBev company issued a statement confirming that the practice has been discontinued:
“The practice of equine tail docking was discontinued earlier this year. The safety and well-being of our beloved Clydesdales is our top priority.”
Earlier this month, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent a letter to the company with a demand to “immediately prohibit the amputation of
the Budweiser Clydesdales’ tailbones.” Explaining why the docking practice is cruel:
“This unnecessary procedure—which involves severing the spine—is a permanent disfigurement that causes lifelong pain, affects the horses’ balance, and leaves
them without natural protection from flies and other biting insects. Horses also depend on their tails to communicate with herdmates, and removing all or part of their tailbones interferes with this important function.”
Tail docking, which is condemned by the American Veterinary Medical Association is banned in 10 states. This week, PETA celebrated the news from Anheuser-Busch, stating:
PETA’s staff are cracking open some cold ones today to celebrate that Budweiser is cutting out the cruelty by agreeing to stop painfully severing horses’ tailbones. This victory comes after dozens of PETA protests, nationwide ad campaigns, and pleas from more than 121,000 concerned consumers, and it sends a message to other companies that animal abuse doesn’t sell.
The iconic Budweiser Clydesdales have long been a part of the company, whose website reads:
More than just a mascot, the Clydesdales have been an integral part of Anheuser-Busch for more than 80 years.
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