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PETA appeals rejection of turkey memorial sign

Posted at 11:43 AM, May 06, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-07 09:40:03-04

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah representatives for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals hope the Utah Department of Transportation will reconsider their rejection of a roadside memorial sign for hundreds of turkeys that were killed in a crash last month.

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PETA's proposed memorial sign

Over 700 turkeys died when the semi-trailer hauling them crashed into Deer Creek Reservoiron April 24.

Following the crash, PETA requested the placement of a memorial sign at the crash site.

"In Memory of the Hundreds of Terrified Turkeys Who Died Here in a Truck Crash," the proposed sign says.

UDOT rejected the request, saying roadside memorials are for people, not turkeys.

“Any loss of life is unfortunate,” UDOT Spokesman John Gleason said. “But the roadside memorials are specifically for people that have been killed in crashes and for the family members that want to memorialize those people.”

In its appeal letter, which was addressed to UDOT's Region Three Director Teri Newell, PETA argued that "[t]hese individuals, who develop strong bonds and feel pain just as we do, are as deserving of our empathy as are human crash victims."

Scroll down to read the rest of PETA's appeal letter.

Tell us what you think. Should PETA be allowed to erect a memorial sign for turkeys?