Florida no longer unique in protecting pigs on factory farms, but that’s a good thing!
November 8th, 2006 by admin
Yesterday’s election was disappointing for animal advocates in Florida. Amendment 3, which will require a super-majority (60%) to enact future amendments to the state Constitution, passed with 58% of the vote- ironically, supporters of the amendment did not meet their own standard.
But the news was much better on other animal-related ballot initiatives in the country. Voters in Michigan overwhelmingly voted against a proposal to allow the hunting of mourning doves. In Arizona, 62% of voters approved a proposition that will ban both veal crates and gestation crates. In 2002, Florida became the first state in the nation to outlaw cruel gestation crates.
Gestation crates and veal crates are among the worst cruelties on factory farms- preventing pregnant pigs and young calves from turning around, lying down comfortably or even extending their limbs. The losers in Arizona included the National Pork Producers Council (who contributed over $300,000), the AZ Pork Council (who gave $100,000), the American Meat Institute and several pig farming organizations from across the country.