Here is the response I got today from the Coca Cola corporate machine:
Thank you for contacting The Coca-Cola Company.
Like you, Coca-Cola cares about the welfare of animals and supports their proper treatment. That is why the Company and our U.S bottling partners will not sponsor events or attractions that feature animals unless the event organizers have policies and procedures in place to support the humane treatment of animals and provide ready access to quality veterinary care to protect the animals’ health and safety. Additionally, the Company’s trademarks may not be used to promote an event or an attraction that violates local, state or national laws or is contrary to the Company’s policy and guidelines.
We appreciate the opportunity to respond. If you have questions or comments in the future, feel free to contact us again.
INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS
THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
I just love it when someone answers an email or letter with exactly the same words you sent originally. NOT !! I will be responding again to their non-answer but wanted to share with you our correspondence or rather, lack of it, thus far.
Here’s a copy of my original comments on the webform at the Coca Cola site:
In your company policy statement posted on your site you state: "Coca-Cola cares about the welfare of animals and supports their proper treatment. That is why the Company and our U.S. bottling partners will not sponsor events or attractions that feature animals unless the event organizers have policies and procedures in place to support the humane treatment of animals and provide ready access to quality veterinary care to protect the animals health and safety."
I would like to know what part of "humane treatment of animals" and "animals health and safety" you don’t get when you continue to contribute to animal cruelty by sponsoring rodeos. The latest bad press for Coke is the 2009 National High School Rodeo Finals where video is shown of horses and bulls being electroshocked before being released from the holding pens. This practice is not only cruel but it’s against the policy of the organization that runs the event. These are children being taught that not animal cruelty is accepted, so is breaking the rules. And there are Coke sponsorship signs everywhere.
Don’t you think that looks kind of bad for Coke? I’ve already told you in previous letters that I am boycotting Coke even though it was my favorite drink. I am now drinking PEPSI! I am also blogging about your contribution to animal cruelty every chance I get and encouraging my readers, my friends, co-workers and family to also boycott and spread the word.
Get your collective heads out from wherever they are stuck and clean up your policy with regards to rodeos. Until you do, I will continue to blacklist Coke at every opportunity.
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