Tag: farm animals

Factory farms are baking pigs alive during the pandemic. Veterinarians call for changing guidance on this barbaric killing method

Animal Rights & Environment, The Humane Society of the United States

Ventilator shutdown involves locking a flock or herd of animals in a building and turning off the ventilation systems. As the temperature rises and gases inside the building accumulate, the animals suffocate to death, usually over a period of many hours. Photo by Dpa picture/Alamy

As a result of slaughterhouse closures during the pandemic, some producers have used a cruel method called “ventilation shutdown,” or VSD, to kill whole herds of pigs. Ventilator shutdown involves locking a flock or herd of animals in a building and turning off the ventilation . . . 

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In 2020, we dismantled more cruel cages on factory farms and set new records for egg-laying hens

Animal Rights & Environment, Humane Economy, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States

U.S. Department of Agriculture data showed that the egg industry is now 28.5% cage-free. That translates to over 90 million hens who will never suffer in a cage. Photo by David Paul Morris/For the HSUS

We have made remarkable progress in our work to end cruel cage confinement of farm animals during 2020. As a result, millions more animals around the world will no longer face lives of abject misery in tiny cages and crates on massive factory farms that . . . 

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HSUS, HSLF and partners urge Congress to end higher killing speeds at slaughterhouses

Animal Rights & Environment, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes slower speeds are needed, recommending that facilities reduce their rates of animal processing to allow for critical social distancing measures. Photo by t-lorien/iStock.com

In recent weeks, even as slaughterhouses have emerged as hotspots for the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration has been quietly issuing record numbers of waivers for them to kill animals at higher speeds. Now, a coalition of animal welfare groups, workers groups and consumer organizations . . . 

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HSUS sues USDA over policies that risk future pandemics

Animal Rights & Environment, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States

Influenza spreads within factory farms directly from animal to animal or by way of workers, flies, manure, and rodents. When thousands of animals are tightly confined it creates a recipe for disaster, in which potential pathogens can recombine and generate viral forms with the ability to infect people.

Today the Humane Society of the United States filed a federal lawsuit challenging the response plan for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (or “bird flu”) of the United States Department of Agriculture. The response plan, produced by the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, is shortsighted and . . . 

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More than 86 million egg-laying hens in the U.S. are now cage-free

Animal Rights & Environment, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States

While a cage-free setting is by no means an ideal environment, it is a much better alternative to a battery cage. Photo by David Paul Morris

New federal data released this month shows the enormous progress we have made toward the goal of ending the cruel cage confinement of farm animals in the United States. More than a quarter (26.2%) of eggs produced in our nation are now cage-free, according to . . . 

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Michigan passes law ending cages for hens; first Midwestern state to do so

Animal Rights & Environment, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States

Michigan is the fourth state in just the past year where we’ve secured a law that prohibits the caging of hens. Photo by David Paul Morris/For the HSUS

Moments ago, Michigan passed into law a ban on the production and sale of eggs from chickens locked in cruel cages. This is a remarkable and historic moment in our work to end the cage confinement of farm animals. Michigan is a major Midwestern agriculture . . . 

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Charging ahead with reforms for chickens

Animal Rights & Environment, Humane Economy, Humane Society International, The Humane Society of the United States

In the United States, chickens make up a whopping nine billion of the roughly 10 billion land animals slaughtered each year. Photo by Burroblando/iStock.com

Only a few years ago, it may have appeared unfathomable for McDonald’s to make a commitment to use 100% cage-free eggs in its restaurants, or for poultry giant Perdue to announce game-changing reforms for chickens raised for meat. One might have never imagined entire states, . . . 

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States, localities forge ahead on banning puppy mills, cage confinement, killing contests and more

Animal Rights & Environment, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States, Wildlife/Marine Mammals

Nevada became the second state in the country, after California, to pass a law banning cosmetics testing on animals. Photo by Bliznetsov/iStock.com

In May this year, Washington’s governor signed into law the strongest legislative protections for egg-laying hens anywhere in the world. Nevada became the second state in the country, after California, to pass a law banning cosmetics testing on animals. And New Mexico passed a law . . . 

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EPA gives factory farms a free pass on toxic air emissions

Animal Rights & Environment, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States

Factory farms confine many hundreds or thousands of animals such as dairy cows or pigs, or millions of smaller animals such as chickens, on each of their properties, causing not only an incredible amount of suffering, but also a staggering amount of urine and feces. Photo by Jim West/Alamy Stock Photo

By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson In an unlawful move, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has decided to exempt massive factory farms from reporting their toxic air emissions — released from animal waste created by these facilities — to state and local authorities. The rule, . . . 

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Fast food chains are putting plant-based options on the menu

Animal Rights & Environment, Humane Economy, The Humane Society of the United States

Clearly, plant-based foods have a bright future and one that couldn’t have come sooner, for the welfare of animals, the earth and humanity. Photo by nata_vkusidey/iStock.com

At the Super Bowl this year, we caught a glimpse of the future of food from an unlikely source: Carl’s Jr. During the big game, the fast food chain advertised its new Beyond Burger — a patty that tastes just like meat, but is entirely . . . 

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