Making Hay

Create Change. Join the 2010 Walk for Farm Animals

by Beth Begany

Every fall for the last 20 plus years, compassionate people have walked for farm animals in communities across North America. The number of people and the number of Walks is growing, reflecting the increasing concern about the way farm animals are treated. A record-breaking 75 Walks are already planned in communities across North America!

This year we’ve seen some pretty amazing and heartening movements toward compassion. In California, the tail docking of dairy cows has been outlawed, as has the sale of whole eggs from chickens raised in battery cages. Ohio has seen the voluntary acceptance by industry of modest humane considerations for farm animals as well as the halting of the construction of new battery-cage facilities – all important progress for farm animals.

But there have also been tragedies. One of the most poignant was the release of footage showing workers punching and abusing cows and calves on the Conklin Dairy Farm in Ohio, or the truck accident on I-94 in northern Indiana that left cattle burning on the side of the road. We regularly get calls here at Farm Sanctuary about some situation of outrageous abuse, because it’s happening every day.

Sometimes we can bring these animals to safety, as we’ve done with Jay, and remove these individuals from an industry that regards them as mere objects to be exploited. On a larger scale, we can advocate for better laws that protect farm animals to drive a spike in the cog of factory farming, as we have with Ohio and California this year.

This work is hard. It can feel at times overwhelming, as if we take a step forward only to take a half-step back – which is where the Walk for Farm Animals comes in. Whether you want to celebrate our progress, take a stand against cruelty, meet like-minded people, recharge your activism, educate others, or raise vital funds for Farm Sanctuary, the Walk presents an opportunity to do something positive and productive for farm animals.

Caring is the essence of the Walk for Farm Animals. Walking shows we care. Donating our time and resources shows we care. All of this adds up and sends a powerful message that we will not accept the abuse, mistreatment and neglect of farm animals in our name. It demonstrates the best of our humanity in the face of some of the worst of it.

So, I urge you to get involved in the Walk, whether you register to participate or make a pledge of support.

Remember: We can all contribute in our own way and inspire hope and create change for farm animals.

Calling All Californians – Cows Need Your Help TODAY!

By Casey

Governors sometimes have to make hard choices; this is not one of those times.

If you get Farm Sanctuary’s E-News and Action Alerts and you live in California, you probably already know that important legislation (SB 135) to ban the cruel tail-docking of cattle is on Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk. (If you don’t get our Action Alerts, you can mend my hurt feelings by signing up today!) Sadly, the erstwhile action hero has yet to take the heroic action of signing this bill.

Well, when the going gets tough, the tough call in a little star power to get things going. At least, that’s what we do when the going gets tough in California, where the governor’s IMDB credits are longer than a Star Wars prologue. Compassionate celebs who have signed a Farm Sanctuary letter urging Schwarzenegger to approve the tail-docking ban include Alicia Silverstone, Bill Maher, Bob Barker, Emily Deschanel, Eric Roberts, Esai Morales, Fred Willard, Ginnifer Goodwin, James Cromwell, Joan van Ark, Kim Basinger, Kristen Bell, Mariel Hemingway, Mimi Kennedy, and Valerie Harper.

But while these Hollywood helpfuls do a lot to put animal issues in the spotlight, we still need YOUR help if we want to see this legislation pass. Most California dairy farmers know that cutting cows’ tails off does nothing for the animals or consumers. The science is absolutely conclusive on those points. Even the American Veterinary Medical Association, normally quiet on the abuses of modern animal agriculture, has condemned routine tail docking. But some producers still cling to the outdated practice, which is known to cause both acute and chronic pain for the cows who are mutilated. It also increases their stress during fly season and hinders their ability to communicate with other cows – as with many animals, cows rely on their tails for body language.

While many laws to protect farm animals meet stiff resistance from factory farm lobbyists and their allies, this is not one of those bills. It should be a no-brainer for any compassionate politician. Schwarzenegger has helped animals before, such as when he signed legislation to ban foie gras production, limit the chaining of dogs outside and protect seals in La Jolla. Now we just need him to pick up that gubernatorial pen once more and put his well-practiced autograph on SB 135. If he hears from you today, we think he will do just that. Please take action, right now.