For Immediate Release: August 18, 2002

Contacts: Mercy For Animals (937) 652-8258

"SAVE A BABY, GO DAIRY-FREE"

Ex-Dairy Queen Employee Dares to Dish Dirt on Dairy Industry

Columbus, OH - Lead by 16 year-old Lizz Petroff, an ex-Dairy Queen employee turned vegan animal rights activist, members of the Ohio animal rights organization Mercy For Animals (MFA) will air their beef with the dairy industry’s cruel treatment of cows and the killing of unwanted baby "veal" calves, outside of Dairy Queen tomorrow. Petroff will confront Dairy Queen customers with shocking, undercover video footage of animal abuse by the dairy industry on a mobile TV unit. MFA members will carry a banner reading "Dairy is Udderly Cruel", and signs that declare "Save a Baby, Go Dairy-Free!" Lizz hopes to melt the hearts of Dairy Queen patrons by distributing free vegan, dairy-free ice cream that will have even the most die-hard dairy-lover screaming for seconds.

Date: Monday, August 19

Time: 12 Noon - 1 PM

Location: Dairy Queen, 920 High Street, Worthington, Ohio

What’s wrong with dairy? The truth is, dairy cows typically live on muddy, feces- and urine-soaked lots devoid of any vegetation. The animals are repeatedly impregnated and are genetically and chemically manipulated in order to force them to produce unnaturally high quantities of milk, stressing their systems to the fullest. To save time and human labor, factory farmers use milking machines that often cause cuts, inflammation, and electric shocks to cows' udders. Their babies are torn from these extremely maternal animals within days of birth, causing severe distress, and many of the males are relegated to the dark, cramped conditions of a veal crate. Cows used for milk production are worn out and sent to be slaughtered for meat at just a fraction of their natural life expectancy. As exposed by numerous undercover investigations, including the investigation by the Washington Post on April 11, 2001, many of the animals are still alive and conscious when their skins are ripped from their backs at the slaughterhouse.

"There is a hunk of veal in every bite of dairy," says MFA director Nathan Runkle. "During veal calves’ brief lives they never feel the sun or touch the earth, they never feel or taste the grass, their anemic bodies crave proper sustenance, their muscles ache for freedom and exercise, and they long for maternal care."

Broadcast-quality video footage of animal abuse by the dairy industry will be available on site.