The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals plans to erect a billboard in memory of several pigs who died in a vehicle fire on Tuesday in Tecumseh.
Manager Marissa Price said the group is still looking for the best place to put up the billboard, but it will be near the accident site on North Talbot Road at County Road 8.
The group said it would point out who is responsible for the deaths of the pigs that died in the fire, everyone who is not vegan.
Price said while incidents like the fire are horrific, PETA has been successful in turning people away from meat with similar billboards.
"When we've been able to put up billboards in areas where animals have died a particularly horrific death, we've been able to really open people's eyes, and we're seeing a lot of positive responses to these types of billboards and monuments," she said.
"Each of these pigs was an individual who died in pain and terror, engulfed by smoke and flames," said PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman, quoted in a release from the animal rights organization. "PETA urges everyone to prevent pigs from being crammed into trucks in the first place by taking the easy step of going vegan."
Firefighters arrived before 8:30 a.m. They put the fire out quickly, and the driver wasn't hurt.
Investigators believe the fire was mechanical in origin.
"Pigs are playful, intelligent, friendly animals who are soothed by music, love playing ball, sleep in 'pig piles,' and even enjoy getting messages," read the release from PETA. "Each person who goes vegan spares nearly 200 animals every year."
