PETA protest against ASPCA fails as frozen manure mishap goes viral

PETA activists protesting ASPCA's factory farm certifications fail to dump frozen manure.

On January 24, 2025, activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protested outside the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) headquarters in Manhattan, New York City. The demonstration took a surprising turn when their attempt to dump a truckload of manure in front of the building failed due to freezing temperatures, which solidified the waste.

He's lucky it didn't break free and crush him. Normally I'd make fun of this guy but his stupidity could have gotten him killed and that's not funny. It is an epic fail though because they're losers.

— Someone Important (@justimportant2) January 27, 2025

I saw another caption that described the dirt as manure....even funnier. Manure has moisture in it; of course it will freeze when the temps are low. We had frozen horse ball fights at the barn; those things HURT!

— AmenAmo (@LGoB2024) January 27, 2025

Videos of the incident quickly went viral, showing an activist struggling to break chunks of frozen manure from the truck. Efforts included climbing atop the truck to loosen the material, but they were unsuccessful. Social media users reacted with humor, with one commenting, “I’m guessing they don’t work construction very much,” while others pointed out the obvious effect of cold weather on moisture-rich manure.

Real farmers know how to use a rigid rake and pole to poke it loose.

— Michael Mistretta (@xerofly) January 26, 2025

The protest stemmed from PETA’s opposition to ASPCA’s endorsement of Global Animal Partnership (GAP) certifications for factory farms. PETA alleges that labels such as “animal welfare certified” mislead consumers into believing animals are treated humanely, even when evidence of cruelty persists in GAP-certified facilities. PETA claims these labels are marketing tactics rather than true guarantees of ethical practices.

ASPCA defended its stance, stating that while factory farming is cruel and needs reform, their focus is on improving welfare standards within the current system. The organization criticized PETA’s approach, emphasizing their differing strategies toward animal welfare.

Law enforcement intervened during the protest, detaining the PETA activist attempting to dump the manure and the truck driver. Both are scheduled to appear in court next month. Protesters carried signs reading, “ASPCA: Your Support of Factory Farming Stinks.”