Floridians for Humane Farms – a ballot
committee consisting of animal protection, environmental,
and civic groups working to outlaw an intensive pig
confinement practice used on factory farms – applauded a
unanimous decision by the Supreme Court of Florida
declaring that the initiative petition now circulating
throughout Florida contains one subject and has a fair ballot
title and summary.
"We applaud the unanimous decision of the Florida Supreme
Court," states Wayne Pacelle, a senior vice president of The
Humane Society of the United States. "This decision paves
the way for the people of Florida to do what legislators have
refused to do – to protect certain animals from cruel and
inhumane treatment."
"It is always our preference to have legislators recognize the
importance of ensuring humane treatment of animals, but if
legislators fail to act, the people will exercise their right to
decide these issues at the ballot box," states Nanci
Alexander, president of the Animal Rights Foundation of
Florida.
"No animal should have to live three years of his or her life in
a two-foot-wide metal cage. Yet that's exactly what
happens to many pigs on today's modern factory farms.
They are impregnated over and over again and forced to live
in a cage so small that they cannot walk or even turn
around," states Michael Markarian, executive vice president
of the Fund for Animals. The enclosure – known as a
gestation crate – is a standard housing system in many
states and it has begun to make its way into Florida.
"We are excited that the people will have an opportunity to
set policy to assure that large-scale pig factory farms do
not colonize the state," states Gene Bauston, executive
director of Farm Sanctuary.
The initiative has been sponsored by The Humane Society of
the United States, the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida,
Farm Sanctuary, and The Fund for Animals. Thus far, about
235,000 Floridians have signed the petition, and thousands
of volunteers continue to circulate petitions. For more
information please visit www.bancruelfarms.org.
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