The battle over Covance continues to rage in Chandler despite the
company choosing a site on Gilbert and Ryan roads that does not
require approval by the Chandler City Council. Opponents and
proponents took to the streets and city hall to get their messages
across.
While dozens of anti-Covance demonstrators packed the Oct. 26 Chandler
City Council meeting voicing their concerns, a huge sign-truck
patrolled arterial streets in Chandler proclaiming the animal rights
activist organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,
being as guilty of mistreating animals as Covance stands accused.
The sign-truck advertised in huge letters "PETA Kills Animals,"
directing people to visit a Web site where graphic photos of dogs
allegedly killed by PETA workers are displayed.
The site, created by the Center for Consumer Freedom, an organization
claiming to support consumer choices, alleges two employees of PETA
face a Nov. 13 felony trial on animal-cruelty charges in Hertford
County, N.C.
...
PETA spokeswoman Dr. Alka Chandra said PETA began helping animals in
North Carolina after being contacted by a police officer who was
appalled by the conditions at a North Carolina pound, where animals
were left to drown or freeze to death and dogs were suffering from
contagious diseases and painful injuries that went untreated.
She said before PETA was invited to help in North Carolina, animals in
the pounds were either shot or gassed in a rusty, windowless metal box
or injected with a paralytic.
...
Jan McClellen, co-founder of Chandler-based Citizens Against Covance,
criticized the impartiality of the Center for Consumer Freedom.
"The Center for Consumer Freedom, formerly called the Guest Choice
Network, is a front for the restaurant, alcohol and tobacco
industries," Ms. McClellen said in an e-mail. "It runs media campaigns
which oppose the efforts of scientists, doctors, health advocates,
environmentalists and groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving
(MADD), calling them 'the Nanny Culture.' The fact is CCF is against
consumers' freedom to arm ourselves with the truth. Now they're
attacking us in Arizona on behalf of Covance and factory farmers."
...
Mayor Dunn said Chandler would remain vigilant over any facility
coming into the city, including Covance.
"If there was an environmental issue in our city, don't you think we
would be on top of it?" Mayor Dunn said. If we see smoke in the sky,
we will investigate."
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Editor Tommy Acosta can be reached at 497-0048 or tacosta@newszap.com.
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full story:
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