What: The Canadian survival-based TV show Pioneer Quest. The goal of Pioneer Quest is to select 4 people (2 couples) and have them live life as it would have been in the early settler days. Running for a total of 1 year, the pioneers must make their own shelter and food and tackle the many other problems arising with this type of life.

Who: The first couple: Deanna and Tim. The 2nd. couple: Frank and Alana. This specifically involves Frank and Deanna (in control, or out of control of the axe) - who, inhumanely slaughtered a chicken for food, and than disrespected its body by kicking its head off the chopping block.

Why: The chicken was slaughtered for food, however, the process was very inhumane. The chopping block was unstable - nothing more than some wooden boards and even though the instrument used to slaughter the chicken (an axe) may have been sufficient enough to do the job right, Deanna wasn't. Deanna didn't hit the chickens neck properly and Frank jumped. What makes this ordeal more disturbing is that the first attempt to slaughter the chicken was unsuccessful: The chicken ran around the chopping block, trying to escape his certain death. The 2nd. attempt saw the chicken slaughtered, however the torture didn't end there. With the writhing carcass taken away, the chicken head was kicked off the chopping block to the ground. Laughter followed from the contestants.

When: The episode of Pioneer Quest centering around this issue aired between Mid-January and Mid-February, 2001. Episodes are aired in pairs: I'm talking about the 3rd and 4th episode here.

Where: The above-mentioned incident occurred on the set of Pioneer Quest in a remote area of Manitoba, Canada. As a rule, outsiders are not permitted on the set of Pioneer Quest.

Notes:

While I understand the education and entertainment value of a show such as Pioneer Quest, I do not understand the need to make the animals relive that time. Certainly when it comes to the slaughtering of the animals, we can use a more modern technique instead of making the animals also re-living the pioneer way of life ...or death.

When confronted about this issue, Lynne Skromeda (production assistant of Pioneer Quest) had this to say:

We do not feel that there has been animal cruelty on the site and everything has been taken care of in the most humane way possible. We reflect the realities of pioneer life. All the pioneers are animal lovers, things are dealt with on-site with the utmost consideration for the animals. Those people love their horses, cow, dog, cat, and chickens (one is even a mascot if you read the web site).

What You Can Do:

Please help! Either snail-mail or email Lynne Skromeda and let her know that animal cruelty is wrong, and will not be tolerated.

Using animals as mascots is comparable to parading them around like circus attractions. Its cruel, and it must stop.

If Pioneer Quest MUST slaughter an animal, they should at least provide the contestants with the necessary tools (either training, or otherwise) to carry out the process both quickly and humanely. That was never done.

Below you'll find her email address and snail-mail address:

Click here to email Lynne Skromeda.

Main Page
Pioneer Quests Official Website