Budweiser Clydesdales at Houston Polo Club in March 2014.Photo:James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle via Getty
James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle via Getty
The iconic Clydesdale horses that have been featured inBudweisercommercials and events for decades will no longer have their tails docked, according to the brewer.
Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) — the parent company of Budweiser — announced on Wednesday that it will end the practice of tail docking, which involves removing portions of the horses’ tails, typically for cosmetic reasons.
“The safety and well-being of our beloved Clydesdales is our top priority,” an AB InBev spokeswoman said in a statement, per theNew York Times. “The practice of equine tail docking was discontinued earlier this year.”
The statement came after the company faced backlash from animal rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which argued that tail docking is “horrific” and “unnecessary.”
Budweiser Clydesdales on Second Street in Long Beach on Saturday, March 30, 2019.Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty
Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty
In aletterdated September 7, a group of organizations that work to protect animals — including PETA — asked Jason Turner, AB InBev CEO of Europe, to “immediately prohibit the amputation of the Budweiser Clydesdales’ tailbones.”
“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,” they added, concluding with, “Will you end this horrific practice now?”
Earlier this year, PETA launched an investigation and thenshared a video on their websitethat they claim shows the official breeding facility in Missouri for the Budweiser Clydesdales. The video documents alleged staffers at the facility saying that the tails of the horses are indeed docked.
Tailbone amputation for cosmetic purposes is illegal in 10 states and numerous countries,per NBC News.
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On Thursday, following the AB InBev announcement, Senior Vice President of PETA Kathy Guillermo shared a statement with PEOPLE.
“We campaigned hard to end the mutilation of the beautiful Clydesdales, but we’re grateful to Anheuser-Busch for listening at last,” Guillermo said.
“This victory comes after dozens of PETA protests, nationwide ad campaigns, and pleas from more than 121,000 concerned consumers,” she added, refering to the number of people who had sent PETA emails or made calls through their online action alert.
“PETA’s staff cracked open some cold ones to celebrate!” Guillermo’s statement concluded.
Jason Warner of AB InBev did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
