Fantastic! California's Proposition 2—the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act—won 63% of the votes on Nov 4, so the statute passed. The proposition will prohibit confining some farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.Unfortunately, the animals that will benefit from this—calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs—may have to wait until January 1, 2015 for any change in the deplorable treatment they currently receive. Farming operations have until that date to implement the new space requirements. Also unfortunately, a failure to comply will result only in misdemeanor penalties, including a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment in jail for up to 180 days.
The good news is that farm animal treatment is gaining exposure as an issue of tremendous importance. When we understand that the way we treat farm animals affects us directly and indirectly in multiple and significant ways—health, economy, and environmental sustainability, to name a few—we will make choices more circumspectly. Everyone gains, and most importantly our animal friends are accorded a life more worth living.
Photo by Phillie Casablanca. Creative Commons.
