Today we’re a step closer to ending the
extreme confinement of farmed animals once and for all. This afternoon, Citizens
for Farm Animal Protection, a group backed by Mercy For Animals and a broad coalition of animal
protection, environmental, public health, and veterinary organizations, submitted
the final round of signatures needed to place a major new animal protection measure
on the Massachusetts ballot this November.
extreme confinement of farmed animals once and for all. This afternoon, Citizens
for Farm Animal Protection, a group backed by Mercy For Animals and a broad coalition of animal
protection, environmental, public health, and veterinary organizations, submitted
the final round of signatures needed to place a major new animal protection measure
on the Massachusetts ballot this November.
If approved by voters, the proposed law would
require that meat and eggs sold in the Bay State come from animals given enough
room to turn around, stand up, and fully extend their limbs, sparing millions of animals each year from unimaginable
suffering in battery cages, gestation crates, and veal crates. Similar laws are already
in place in California and elsewhere, while companies from McDonald’s to Walmart
are quickly transitioning from suppliers who use cage confinement. Support from
the people of Massachusetts may be the final push needed to end this cruel and
outdated practice.
require that meat and eggs sold in the Bay State come from animals given enough
room to turn around, stand up, and fully extend their limbs, sparing millions of animals each year from unimaginable
suffering in battery cages, gestation crates, and veal crates. Similar laws are already
in place in California and elsewhere, while companies from McDonald’s to Walmart
are quickly transitioning from suppliers who use cage confinement. Support from
the people of Massachusetts may be the final push needed to end this cruel and
outdated practice.
The proposed law already has incredible
momentum: More than a thousand volunteers stepped forward last fall to collect
133,000 signatures of support from Massachusetts voters—twice as many as required!
Today we completed the second and final round of signature gathering by
submitting an additional 40,000 signatures—four
times as many as required! You can bet this grassroots energy will translate
into an unstoppable campaign as we approach a vote this fall.
momentum: More than a thousand volunteers stepped forward last fall to collect
133,000 signatures of support from Massachusetts voters—twice as many as required!
Today we completed the second and final round of signature gathering by
submitting an additional 40,000 signatures—four
times as many as required! You can bet this grassroots energy will translate
into an unstoppable campaign as we approach a vote this fall.
Agribusiness interests are already determined
to fight this initiative tooth and nail. In April, they filed a lawsuit
desperately aimed at keeping the measure off the ballot. Fortunately, a state
court tossed out that lawsuit earlier this morning.
to fight this initiative tooth and nail. In April, they filed a lawsuit
desperately aimed at keeping the measure off the ballot. Fortunately, a state
court tossed out that lawsuit earlier this morning.
The stakes could not be higher for the
animals the proposed law would help—for example, the hens who produce most of the
state’s eggs. Confined in battery-cage facilities like Shady Brae Farms in Pennsylvania,
these birds are packed together so tightly they can barely move and commonly
become stuck in cage wires, condemned to die of dehydration or trampling.
animals the proposed law would help—for example, the hens who produce most of the
state’s eggs. Confined in battery-cage facilities like Shady Brae Farms in Pennsylvania,
these birds are packed together so tightly they can barely move and commonly
become stuck in cage wires, condemned to die of dehydration or trampling.
These hens deserve better. Thankfully, the
people of Massachusetts will soon get to speak up for them by demanding common-sense
standards to protect farmed animals.
people of Massachusetts will soon get to speak up for them by demanding common-sense
standards to protect farmed animals.
Please sign up here
to learn how to get involved with the campaign.
to learn how to get involved with the campaign.
