Dr. Sarah Mason, the director of animal programs in North Carolina’s agriculture department poultry division, has been suspended for two weeks without pay. She allegedly tipped off a veterinarian at the Butterball facility in Shannon, North Carolina about an upcoming raid.
The group Mercy for Animals had videotaped workers at the plant beating and mistreating turkeys. Dr. Mason admitted she tipped off the plant about the raid, because she thought they would stop the abuse immediately.
Dr. Mason released a statement on January 17, 2012, which said in part, “I deeply regret that actions I have taken have reflected poorly on the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services… My rationale for contacting Dr. Eric Gonder was to immediately curtail avian abuse.”
