Thanks to everyone who voted YES on the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act!

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MHS responds to Marin IJ on Prop 2

"Proposition 2 is a well-intentioned measure aimed at setting more humane standards for the confinement of farm animals. It gives the agriculture industry until 2015 to comply with new rules. Backers of Proposition 2 make a good argument for more humane conditions, but it is a measure that sets standards that should be established through the legislative process, not by voter-approved initiative."
Marin IJ 10/16/08

The Marin Humane Society strongly disagrees with the IJ’s opposition to Prop 2.

For more than 25 years animal welfare advocates have struggled with the legislative process in attempting to establish more humane standards for the treatment of farm animals in California . From our efforts to outlaw the forced molting of hens to increasing the size of veal crates by a mere two inches, legislative bills have failed because of the high-dollar industrial agricultural lobby.

Thankfully, the initiative process allows voters to have a direct and immediate effect on lawmaking. In California, this form of citizen action has proven effective in banning sport hunting of mountain lions (Proposition 117 in 1990), and in outlawing leg-hold traps and poisons as lethal predator control (Proposition 4 in 1998).

400,000 valid signatures were required for the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act to qualify for the November ballot, a number that was easily eclipsed as nearly 800,000 Californians signed petitions in support of this important measure. Proposition 2 will prevent California factory farms from confining animals in the most restrictive crates or cages – specifically, veal crates for calves, battery cages for egg-laying hens, and gestation crates for breeding pigs. Prop 2 helps to establish the principle in law that animals raised for food deserve humane treatment.

About Proposition 2

On November 4, Proposition 2 on the ballot was the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act. This moderate initiative will provide the most basic protection to farm animals: merely allowing them to turn around and extend their limbs.

The measure will prevent three of the most inhumane forms of confinement of farm animals: veal crates, battery cages, and gestation crates. The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act will reduce the suffering of nearly 20 million animals confined on California factory farms.

To learn more about this issue, as well as what you can do to help, click on one of the videos below. WARNING: the second video contains graphic and disturbing content. More information is available at www.humanecalifornia.org.

Prop 2 was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show on October 14, and both supporters and opponents of Prop 2 voiced their opinions. Visit Oprah's website to learn more.