by Gene
Over the past year, more than 500,000 Ohio citizens signed a petition aimed at placing an initiative on the statewide ballot this November to ban cruel factory farming practices. Those signatures gathered by tireless volunteers, many of whom were Farm Sanctuary members, were to be submitted this week, kicking off an initiative battle to be waged over the course of the next several months. However, at the eleventh hour, as it became clear that we had enough signatures to make it on the ballot, agribusiness came to the table and an agreement was brokered by Ohio’s Governor Stickland. Here’s what came of the agreement pertaining to farm animals:
• A ban on veal crates, to be phased out within six years, as outlined in the ballot initiative.
• A ban on new gestation crates in the state after December 31, 2010. Existing facilities are grandfathered, but must cease use of these crates within 15 years.
• A permanent moratorium on permits for new battery cage facilities in place immediately.
• A ban on the transport of downed cows and calves for slaughter, as outlined in the ballot initiative.
• A ban on strangulation and other forms of on farm killing that are not included in euthanasia standards as outlined by the American Veterinary Medical Association and part of the ballot initiative.
• Enactment of legislation establishing felony-level penalties for cock fighters.
This agreement didn’t accomplish everything we would like, as quickly as we would like, but we will continue raising awareness and actively fighting to ban these intolerably cruel systems. And, if agribusiness doesn’t comply with this agreement, we have the option to go back to the ballot with the 500,000 signatures already gathered.
Ohio has been known for its exceptionally weak animal protection laws and, as the second largest egg producer, it is among the most entrenched factory farming states in the U.S., so these developments are especially important. The moratorium on new egg laying facilities includes putting a stop to plans for a six million hen battery cage operation that was in the final stages of approval. And no less than six new gestation crate facilities were in the works in the state. We have driven a spike into the cogs of factory farming and agribusiness leaders are finally coming to recognize that treating cows, pigs, chickens and other animals as mere production units is inconsistent with popular sentiments.
When citizens speak up, change is inevitable. Agribusiness never would have come to the table had it not been for all the volunteers giving their time and commitment to this cause by gathering signatures and gaining endorsements. We are proud to have stood alongside these volunteers as well as several organizations working toward one common goal to end cruel factory farming practices in Ohio. The movement to protect farm animals is gaining momentum, and the reforms announced this week in Ohio will reverberate in Washington, D.C. and send ripples across the United States.
I am amazed and happy to know that animals are slowly given the rights that people have. Keep it up.
Posted by: Mark@Ephedra | July 06, 2010 at 04:12 AM
That is one big step! Ohio!
Now, New York, New Jersey, places like Kansas, the Plains, where these poor animals are born and killed like machinery!
Posted by: The Erdan family | July 16, 2010 at 10:38 AM
I am so happy to hear about the ruling . . . I live in Colorado; please let me know how I can help raise consciousness in our state as well!
Posted by: Gwen Viviani | July 16, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Steps in the right direction. We have a long way to go. Humans should ask first, would I want to be treated like we're treating the cows, the pigs, the lambs, the chickens?
Let's keep striving for the humanE way if we're going to call ourselve humans.
Thank you for your collective work!
Posted by: Kim Hogan | July 16, 2010 at 03:31 PM
thank you so much for your tireless efforts which are showing albeit slowly a change in the fate of these poor animals. i will continue to do whatever i can to help in their battle. God bless.
Posted by: Kate Vieira | July 16, 2010 at 09:45 PM