At least they did not have to watch "politically incorrect".
Posted on 06/22/2002 11:41:01 AM PDT by gitmo
Chickens called losers at Aztar
By JOHN MARTIN Courier & Press staff writer 464-7594 or jmartin@evansville.net
June 20, 2002
A national animal rights advocacy group is speaking out against "Chicken Challenge" games being played at Aztar Corp. casinos, including Evansville's Casino Aztar.
The game, which features a hen playing a human in a game of tick-tack-toe, made its debut June 1 at Casino Aztar. The hen is inside a game machine and places her "O" on the tick-tack-toe board by pecking on a screen.
Humans who defeat the highly trained hen win $5,000.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wrote a letter Monday to Aztar Corp. President and Chief Financial Officer Robert M. Haddock alleging that the "Chicken Challenge" treats the animals cruelly.
The letter is signed by Amy Rhodes, a "cruelty caseworker" for PETA in Norfolk, Va. Rhodes says PETA has received "many calls of concern about 'Chicken Challenge' games in Aztar-owned casinos."
"Some callers are concerned about the poor quality of life for the chickens kept in the tiny boxes, others are irritated about the message of disrespect conveyed by the 'game,' and still others are outraged by both," Rhodes said.
Pam Martin, Casino Aztar's director of advertising and public relations, said the Evansville casino has received no negative local comments about the "Chicken Challenge."
Casino Aztar has 15 hens for use in the game. A new chicken is placed in the game booth every hour.
Martin said all chickens are kept in a temperature-controlled, smoke-free environment where they are regularly cared for and fed. "I think it's a considerate environment for any animal," Martin said. "It's a much better life than some chickens are subjected to."
Casino Aztar and its sister properties obtained hens for the "Chicken Challenge" from a Springdale, Ark., farm operated by Bunky Boger. Boger's farm has trained animals for circus acts and other entertainment purposes. Boger could not be reached for comment.
PETA's letter to Haddock alleges that Boger's farm has been cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, which sets animal care standards for exhibitors.
Birds, however, are not covered by the Animal Welfare Act, according to the PETA letter.
Martin said she could not comment on the allegations against Boger's farm. However, she said chickens the farm provided to Casino Aztar receive excellent care. Before the "Chicken Challenge" began, Martin said the hens and their coop were inspected by Vicki Kavanaugh, director of Evansville Animal Care and Control.
"I did not see anything in any way cruel," Kavanaugh said Wednesday.
The hens are kept in individual cages with cedar chips underneath to control odor, Kavanaugh said. "We went through everything, and the setup was absolutely wonderful for the chickens."
Kavanaugh said she has received no complaints about the "Chicken Challenge" or the care that the hens receive.
Animal Care and Control would immediately follow up on any complaint, Kavanaugh said, and "even without a complaint we follow up from time to time."
PETA's letter to Haddock asks that Aztar Corp. remove the "Chicken Challenge" games from its casinos.
It says, "We know that Aztar casinos employ individuals who are creative and innovative enough to envision games and entertainment that go far beyond relying on outdated and cruel uses of animals." There has been one $5,000 winner so far in Casino Aztar's "Chicken Challenge," but casino officials say they are withholding details until Friday.
I always wondered about who would play this. If you win, all you can brag about is that you beat a chicken at tic-tac-toe. If you lose, well ....
FMCDH
At least they did not have to watch "politically incorrect".
Ms Rhodes is mentioned in an article I just posted complaining about cow-pie tossing contests: Tax-exempt PETA supports eco-terrorism
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