PETA is asking fans of the popular beer brand and its beloved mascots to think about the tail end of their relationship – literally.
Aug 15, 2023 3:32 pm EDT | Updated Aug 15, 2023 3:34 pm EDT
NEWARK, NJ — When many people think of Budweiser, they are likely conjuring up images of its iconic team of Clydesdales, which have been part of the Anheuser-Busch legacy for more than 80 years. But People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is asking fans of the ubiquitous beer brand and its beloved mascots to think about the tail end of their relationship – literally.
To mark the 90th anniversary of the Budweiser Clydesdales this year, PETA has launched a campaign against a controversial procedure that its members claim Anheuser-Busch is performing on the horses who serve as the face of Budweiser: tail docking.
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What is tail docking? According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the procedure involves amputating the distal part of the boney part of the tail – which PETA claims is being done either with a scalpel or with a tight band that stops the blood supply to the tail, causing it to die and fall off.
The AVMA elaborates on the procedure on its website:
“Docking traditionally has been performed to prevent the tail of the horse from interfering with harness and carriage equipment. Specifically, if a rein passes under the horse’s tail the horse may clamp its tail down and cause the driver to lose control of the horse. Docking may also be used to improve cleanliness of the tail and to make harnessing easier. However these justifications are not universally accepted … The Animal Welfare Council of Belgium conducted a review and concluded that tail docking was not necessary for draft horses; consequently it supported a national ban. Docking has also been described as cosmetic in the veterinary literature. Welfare concerns appear to relate less to the pain that might be caused by the procedure, and more to the surgery being unnecessary and reducing the tail to the extent that it cannot be used to fend off flies and biting insects. The intact tail is also useful to the horse for displays of mental and physiological states (e.g., estrus).”
The procedure is banned in 10 states and several countries around the world.
PETA has launched a boycott campaign against Anheuser-Busch, demanding that the company stop docking the tails of its horses. It can be seen online here.
As part of the ongoing campaign, PETA has paid to erect a billboard at 350 Route 1 and 9 South, just across from the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Newark. It reads: “Hey Bud, Whassup With Amputating Horses’ Tails – Budweiser, End Tail Docking Now!”
“Budweiser must be a few cans short of a six-pack if it thinks people will look the other way while it disfigures horses to sell beer,” PETA senior vice president Kathy Guillermo said.
“Until the King of Tears stops this cruel practice, PETA is calling on everyone to break with Bud,” Guillermo added.
Patch reached out to Anheuser-Busch seeking comment about PETA’s boycott. We will update this article with any reply we receive.
Anheuser-Busch has previously responded to PETA’s claims by saying the health of its Clydesdales was a “top priority,” Newsweek reported.
“Combined with our highly trained staff of professional caretakers, we partner with an equine medical expert to ensure out animals receive the highest level and quality of care,” a company spokesperson told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Here’s what the company has to say about its iconic Clydesdales on its website:
“From the Prohibition era to Super Bowl commercials, there is perhaps nothing more iconic in Budweiser’s storied history than its team of Clydesdale horses. More than just a mascot, the Clydesdales have been an integral part of Anheuser-Busch for more than 80 years … Today, the Budweiser Clydesdales continue to be an enduring symbol of the brewer’s heritage, tradition and commitment to quality, making hundreds of appearances across the country each year.”
The Budweiser Clydesdales reside at the Anheuser-Busch breweries in St. Louis for public viewing. Visitors can also see the Clydesdales up-close at Warm Springs Ranch in Boonville, Missouri, the company says.
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