N.C. vet charged with tipping Butterball off about animal abuse investigation
North Carolina authorities have files two misdemeanor charges against Dr. Sarah Mason, a veterinarian who serves as director of poultry health programs in the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' veterinary division. She is charged with telling a Butterball staff veterinarian that an animal protection group had turned over to authorities an undercover video showing the alleged abuse of turkeys at a company facility, reports Reuters.
Department officials said Mason contacted the company's employee on December 23, the same day law enforcement officials had informed the agriculture department about an animal cruelty investigation into a Butterball turkey farm in Shannon, North Carolina. Mason, who pleaded guilty to obstruction charges, was placed on probations for 12 months and given a two-week suspension at her job.