PETA requests end to Pony Penning

CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. – PETA has called for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company to end its annual pony swim after the death of a pony during the event on July 26.

In a press release, the animal rights organization announced it sent a letter to the CVFC, urging the company to make the 2018 pony swim the last one.

PETA says it reached out the CVFC back in May about ending the event, but the pony’s death made the organization ramp up its efforts once again.

“This pony’s needless death is the latest proof that continuing to pen ponies and auction off their foals makes the Chincoteague fire department look increasingly backwards, reckless, and cruel,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in the release.

In an email Tuesday, a PETA spokesman said the organization has sent a letter to the volunteer fire company asking that they cancel the event. The horse’s death “should put a nail in the event’s coffin,” they said.

Ashley Byrne, PETA’s associate director, said the volunteer fire company should “end its cruel and dangerous event and find a humane way to manage the island’s wild pony herd instead.”

Below is the CVFC response to PETA on their Facebook page:

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