On the 2nd of December 2024, the animal rights group PETA sued American Ostrich Farm, an ostrich farm in Kuna, Idaho, US, demanding a jury trial and asking the Washington District of Columbia Court to halt the company’s messaging on its packaging, website, social media and online retailer Amazon because it claims the “false” advertising could lead consumers, who pay a premium for the farm’s ostrich meat and other ostrich-derived products, to erroneously believe that the birds are raised “humanely,” “ethically” and with the “highest standards of care and respect.”
In May this year, PETA made public information provided to them by a whistleblower from the farm alleging horrific animal abuse. PETA said the whistleblower reported that workers on the farm violently hit and kicked ostriches frequently. According to the whistleblower, some ostriches were reported to be attempting escape in panic, running full force into fences, breaking their wings and toes, skinning their legs, and ripping their chests open. American Ostrich Farms claimed that the ostriches are “humanely raised,” and that they “have access to a thermally comfortable environment at all times, so that heat/cold stress does not occur” and “have access to fixed or mobile housing that keeps them dry and protects them from wind.” However, the whistleblower reported that the farm confined birds to wet, muddy enclosures without adequate shelter from rain, snow, and wind.
In their lawsuit, PETA cited several reasons for suing in the District of Columbia, including the fact that American Ostrich Farms relies on online sales placed via its website and Amazon, which are accessible to D.C. residents, the farm ships products to customers across the country, including to D.C., and because the farm’s internet advertising is accessible in D.C.
Dan Paden, vice president of legal advocacy at PETA, told Idaho’s Statesman then that PETA had spoken with six former farm employees who corroborated the allegations. He said, “We’re certainly convinced that these people are speaking the truth,” Paden said. “Obviously, we object to raising any animals for flesh, but even putting that aside, these animals deserve protection under state law, and we’re not convinced that they’re getting it.”
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