A sign the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals just put up on Main Street in Ramona is called a “memorial” to the roughly 70,000 chickens that died in a fire last month at a local egg ranch, officials said Thursday.
The sign is a response to July 18 fire at the Demler Brothers’ Pine Hill Egg Ranch at 24818 Highway 78, said Sara Grove, public relations coordinator for PETA.
A 25,000-square-foot building housing 70,000 chickens caught fire around 5:30 p.m. Firefighters contained the blaze to a single building near 10 other poultry buildings in that row.
Featuring a close-up of a chicken’s face peering out of a steel cage, the sign reads: “Too high a price on eggs? She paid with her life. Please go vegan.”
Grove stated in an email that the sign “reminds viewers that, whether in a fire or at a slaughterhouse, hens pay the ultimate price for eggs.”
Demler Bros. officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
PETA said the location of the sign — at 517 Main St. in the center – located near several restaurants that serve chicken and egg dishes.
Ramona is home to the Demler Brothers’ Pine Hill Egg Ranch as well as the Demler Brothers’ Pullet Farm at 24555 Old Julian Highway.
According to Cal Fire, the fire resulted in a loss of approximately $2 million, including the building and the chickens inside.
Kimberly King, a spokeswoman for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, said in an email at the time that there were no indications that the fire was suspicious in nature.
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