The Florida Department of State certified the
sufficiency of the signatures collected for The Florida Animal Cruelty Act,
which seeks to halt the intensive confinement of pigs in "gestation
crates." The Secretary of State's finding clears the way for placement of
the measure, sponsored by Floridians for Humane Farms, on the
November 2002 ballot. Floridians for Humane Farms, thanks largely to
thousands of volunteers throughout the state, submitted 690,000
signatures of voters in support of the petition. The group launched the
campaign only after the state legislature failed to give consideration to
a similarly crafted measure introduced in the 2000 legislative session.
The Florida Animal Cruelty Amendment seeks to phase out and prevent
the use of gestation crates, two-foot by seven-foot metal cages in which
pregant sows are confined during pregnancy. During her lifetime, a
breeding sow may spend three years confined in the cage, preventing
her from even turning around. The initiative does not prevent
confinement when necessary for veterinary purposes or during the
period just prior to birthing. It allows for current gestation crate
operators to phase the use of the crates out over six years, providing a
grace period for them to shift to more humane systems of pig rearing.
"We have the solid support of concerned Floridians who believe that the
use of gestation crates is cruel and unnecessary. They look forward to
voting in November to prevent industrial hog factories from taking root
here," said Nanci Alexander, founder of the Animal Rights Foundation of
Florida, one of the sponsoring organizations.
"Pigs in gestation crates suffer from a range of physical and
psychological problems," states Wayne Pacelle, a senior vice president
of The Humane Society of the United States. "It's so surpise that
packing animals in small metal cages for months at a time leads to
enormous suffering and emotional frustration. Even animals used in an
agricultural setting deserve basic humane treatment."
"There is an emerging national consensus that animals raised for food
should be provided with basic humane housing," added Gene Bauston,
president of Farm Sanctuary, "and viable alternatives to inhumane and
unnecessary gestation crates do exist, such as housing systems
commonly referred to as hoop barns."
Intensive confinement techniques like gestation crates have already
been banned in the United Kingdom and are being phased out in the
European Union and New Zealand. Additionally, many American-owned
restaurants such as McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy's have begun to
alter their meat purchasing decisions by requiring their suppliers to raise
the animals in more spacious conditions.
"Keeping highly intelligent, social animals confined in such intense and
deprived conditions for the bulk of their lives leads to joint and hip
disorders, muscle atrophy, repetitive biting of the metal bars, head
waving, floor pawing and thrashing around," said Michael Markarian,
executive vice president of The Fund for Animals. "This measure sends
a signal to corporate factory farms that they are not welcome in Florida."
For more information, please visit Floridians for Humane Farms.
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