Stop Farming Greyhounds for Their Blood!
- by: PETA
- recipient: James Wiltz, Interim President, CEO & Director, Patterson Companies, Inc. and Shane Altizer
At The Pet Blood Bank, Inc. in Cherokee, Texas, 150 greyhounds are permanently imprisoned in an old turkey shed. Many of them have already been used, abused and discarded by the notorious dog racing industry. These animals, who've already endured lifelong deprivation, are now being exploited for blood products, most of which are distributed by Patterson Veterinary Supply, Inc., a corporate giant with sales of nearly $3 billion in 2016 alone.
The only time these dogs are let out of their pens is when they are being bled, when up to 20% of their blood volume is extracted. The dogs are constantly exposed to snakes, mice, fleas and ticks in the open-air shed, putting them at risk of blood-borne and other diseases. Dogs receiving the blood extracted from these greyhounds are usually anemic or in critical condition. The veterinarians expect the donor blood to be from healthy dogs, not sick, diseased and abused greyhounds.
Sign this petition and ask that The Pet Blood Bank surrender all the greyhounds for immediate veterinary care and rescue and urge them to pledge never to hold animals captive again. Please also ask Patterson Veterinary Supply to source any blood they sell exclusively from dogs who are well cared for and live in homes with their guardians, not from captive animals.
Dear Mr. Wiltz and Mr. Altizer,
I just watched shocking video and saw photographs of greyhounds confined and neglected at a Cherokee, Texas, kennel doing business as The Pet Blood Bank, Inc. I am disgusted to see these dogs factory-farmed for blood products that have long been distributed by Patterson Veterinary Supply, Inc.
I urge Patterson to announce that it will immediately begin sourcing its companion animal blood products exclusively from animals who live in homes with loving guardians—no longer from animals like these captive greyhounds. I also hope to see Patterson dedicate resources to funding immediate veterinary examinations and rescue of all the greyhounds from this kennel.
I also urge The Pet Blood Bank to surrender all the greyhounds in its possession for urgent veterinary care and rescue without delay. Please, pledge never again to keep animals captive for your business. If you continue to sell dog blood, you can instead conduct blood drives and rely solely on guardians who wish to donate blood from their well cared-for dogs.
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Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
