An animal-rights group concerned about the alleged torture of chickens at a Hardy County, West Virginia slaughterhouse is taking its case to higher powers.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants Gov. Wise or the Attorney General's Office to help find someone to prosecute the case before it's too late to file misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.

PETA says the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute is dragging its feet on the case which involves a Pilgrim's Pride processing plant in Moorefield.

The institute's acting director, Wood County Prosecutor Ginny Conley, was in court Tuesday and tells WTAP News that's simply not the case.

In July, PETA released secretly recorded video of plant workers stomping, kicking and slamming chickens against walls.

Hardy County Prosecutor Lucas See stepped down from the case in September, citing a potential conflict of interest.

The Prosecuting Attorneys Institute has yet to recommend a replacement.