Berkeley, CA Endorsing Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act

Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted on 1/29/08

Source File: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/uploadedFiles/Clerk/2008-01-29_Item_04_Prevention_of_Farm_Animal_Cruelty_Act.pdf

Text:

ENDORSING THE PREVENTION OF FARM ANIMAL CRUELTY ACT, A STATEWIDE BALLOT INITIATIVE REQUIRING THAT CALVES USED FOR VEAL, EGG-LAYING HENS AND BREEDING PIGS ON INDUSTRIALIZED FACTORY FARMS HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO TURN AROUND AND EXTEND THEIR LIMBS.

WHEREAS, Animal welfare charities, veterinarians, family farmers, conservation organizations, health professionals and concerned citizens have formed a coalition called Californians for Humane Farms to start gathering the 650,000 signatures needed to place this initiative on the November 2008 ballot through an all –volunteer effort; and

WHEREAS, if passed, this initiative will ban the use of veal crates for calves, battery cages for egg laying hens, and gestation crates for breeding pigs in the State of California; and

WHEREAS, the extreme overcrowded conditions that have become the norm in some sectors of animal agribusiness cause immense suffering for the animals while polluting the air, contaminating groundwater and threatening human health; and

WHEREAS, young calves are kept in tiny enclosures, purposely confined so intensively that they are not even able to turn around; and

WHEREAS, the vast majority of egg-laying hens are confined in barren battery cages that are so small they can barely move; and

WHEREAS, during their pregnancies, the female breeding pigs are severely restricted in individual “gestation crates” measuring just two feet wide where they are unable to exercise or even turn around.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Berkeley endorses the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, a statewide ballot initiative requiring that calves used for veal, egg-laying hens and breeding pigs on industrialized factory farms have enough room to turn around and extend their limbs.