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The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act provides the most basic protections to farm animals in California: merely allowing them to turn around and extend their limbs. Currently, cruel confinement of egg-laying hens, male calves raised for veal, and female breeding pigs is the inhumane reality of factory farming throughout much of the United States. In order to produce veal, male calves are taken from their mothers at birth and tethered by their necks in crates so small they cannot turn around. Egg-laying hens are often confined in battery cages with several birds to a cage in large warehouses. Each bird can barely move and cannot even spread her wings, much less engage in other natural behaviors such as nesting, dust bathing, and walking. During their pregnancies, female breeding pigs (sows) are confined in gestation crates so small, they cannot turn around or assume normal bodily postures, which results in crippling joint disorders and lameness.
By getting the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act on the November 2008 ballot, and winning the majority of the public’s votes, 20 million animals each year will be spared of the most excruciating suffering known to factory farmed animals – veal crates, battery cages, and gestation crates. These are the most cruel and inhumane forms of extreme confinement, and they will be banned when this law is passed (although producers are given a 6 year phase out period). Gestation crates for pigs have already been banned in Florida, Arizona, and Oregon. Arizona has banned veal crates as well. Extensive polls of public opinion in CA already show there is enough public support for this measure to pass easily. 650,000 valid signatures from California voters must be gathered by February 22, 2008 in order to get this very important initiative on the November 2008 ballot -- just to give voters the chance to voice their opinion.
Please consider volunteering your time to help gather signatures. If you would like to learn more or are interested in volunteering your time for the animals to gather signatures, please visit www.humanecalifornia.org for further information, including certain legal requirements which must be met in order to obtain valid signatures.
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