Letter: Support for farm animal protection bill

Posted 6/23/17

To the editor:

I’ve been a veterinarian for 10 years, and I take my duty to protect animals from cruelty very seriously. That’s why I’m proud to support House Bill 6023, …

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Letter: Support for farm animal protection bill

Posted

To the editor:

I’ve been a veterinarian for 10 years, and I take my duty to protect animals from cruelty very seriously. That’s why I’m proud to support House Bill 6023, Representative Patricia Serpa’s farm animal protection bill. 

This bill addresses one of the most pressing animal cruelty issues of our generation. Sadly, it’s common for corporate egg and meat producers to confine farm animals in ways that greatly restrict their movement. Most hens used for eggs — including 40,000 right here in Rhode Island — are crammed into cages so small they are unable even to spread their wings. Each bird has less space than an iPad on which to live her whole life. It’s cruel, plain and simple.

Science has confirmed what we already sense: animals must be able to move. Extreme confinement causes severe physical issues and psychological distress. Responsible farmers throughout Rhode Island continue to show this cruelty is completely unnecessary for the production of affordable food. 

House Bill 6023 is modest, but would have a significant positive impact on animal welfare: if passed, it will ensure that egg-laying hens have enough room to stand up, lie down, turn around and extend their limbs. Thankfully, legislators already mandated enough space for those behaviors for sows and veal calves in 2012. 

The public doesn’t want their food produced in a cruel manner, and more than 200 major food companies have responded. Walmart, Stop & Shop, McDonald’s, and Dunkin’ Donuts have all pledged to remove cruel cages from their supply chains. Eleven states have passed legislation prohibiting extreme confinement. The entire European Union has passed legislation to end intensive confinement in cages, at the urging of the EU Scientific Veterinary Committee. Rhode Island has the opportunity to enact similar, much-needed reforms. 

What’s good for animals is also good for food safety. Decades of research demonstrate higher rates of the dangerous bacteria Salmonella in cage operations than cage-free operations. When hens are crammed so tightly together, pathogens can spread like wildfire. In addition, the constant stress and inability to exercise likely weakens the hens’ immune systems. These bacteria can end up in the food we eat. House Bill 6023 would improve food safety in our state and protect Rhode Island families.

I’m joined by nearly 50 other Rhode Island veterinarians in my support of this bill. Throughout the country, veterinarians have long advocated for passage of sound farm animal protection legislation. More than 700 California veterinarians and the California Veterinary Medical Association supported the passage of Proposition 2, which made similar improvements to animal welfare, in 2008. Just last year, more than 500 Massachusetts veterinarians supported the farm animal protection ballot measure Question 3.

Rhode Islanders have a strong history of supporting efforts to improve animal welfare. In fact, a recent poll showed 68 percent of our state’s voters support this legislation. As a Rhode Island veterinarian, I urge our representatives and senators: please help prevent cruelty and pass House Bill 6023.

Shelly Kamath Pancoast

Barrington

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