A live animal slaughterhouse does not belong in a residential neighborhood — and yet, that’s exactly what’s being proposed for Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville.

Right now, the City Council is considering rezoning part of a quiet, family-oriented area to allow Apna Bazar to build and operate a live animal processing facility just steps from people’s homes.

We cannot let this happen.

Residents who’ve lived in the Southside Estates neighborhood for decades are speaking out — and they’re right to be outraged.

A slaughterhouse brings industrial-scale noise, blood, waste, and emotional distress into a place where families live, children play, and communities grow. The idea that neighbors might hear animals crying out or witness trucks full of live animals outside their window is simply unbearable.

And the cruelty goes beyond proximity. The process of live animal slaughter is inherently violent, and placing it in the heart of a residential zone shows a disturbing disregard for both people and animals.

No child should be exposed to the trauma of hearing animals groan in fear or pain. No family should be forced to live next door to suffering.

This isn’t the first time Apna Bazar has tried this — they withdrew a similar proposal last year after public outcry. Now they’re back, hoping the city will approve a rezoning that residents never asked for.

We’re calling on the Jacksonville City Council, the Land Use and Zoning Committee, and the Planning Commission to:

• Reject the rezoning request that would allow a slaughterhouse in this residential area
• Protect families from unnecessary exposure to industrial animal killing
• Respect community voices and prioritize humane, community-focused development
   

If this goes through, it won’t just be a loss for this neighborhood — it’ll be a precedent for industrial cruelty to creep into any community.

Sign this petition to protect Jacksonville neighborhoods from slaughterhouses and to stand against unnecessary animal suffering.