"I made him aware of the angst that the contest was causing both locally and internationally and that the President of United Poultry Concerns would like to speak to him." -Autumn Wagner, Utah Animal Rights Coalition

United Poultry Concerns is pleased to announce that a bar in Salt Lake City that had planned to throw tomatoes at a penned chicken for prize money tomorrow evening was cancelled following protests from United Poultry Concerns President Karen Davis and Utah Animal Rights Coalition (UARC) leader Autumn Wagner. Cruzrs Saloon manager Flatz responded positively to our urgent request that this heartless event be cancelled and that the Budweiser banner advertising the tomato-throwing contest be removed immediately. The banner is gone, and the manager has pledged that the bar will henceforth avoid the use of chickens and other animals in their entertainments. It does not appear that they have used animals in the past.

Last evening Autumn and her group met with the manager. He said several other people had complained to the bar after seeing the banner announcing the cruel contest and that his lawyer advised him not to use live birds. If the event had not been cancelled yesterday, UPC and UARC planned to issue News Releases and to file animal cruelty charges. UARC members planned to put themselves in front of the chicken to prevent him or her from being pelted. Fortunately, the manager, who told UPC President Karen Davis on Sunday that he loves animals and doesn't hunt, was cordially receptive to adopting "an ethical, though still outrageous," fun-raiser.

United Poultry Concerns is a nonprofit organization that promotes the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl. We join with other organizations and individuals to support Clean Fun, Not Mean Fun. For more information visit www.UPC-online.org