Current Animal Welfare Trends & Tactics
Kay Johnson Smith
Executive Vice President
NASDA Animal & Plant Industries Committee
Washington, DC
February 21, 2009
The Animal Agriculture Alliance’s Role
A national umbrella
organization that:
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Connects stakeholders –
nationally & internationally providing the greatest network
across the animal food chain;
Educates the public by bringing
truthful, science-based
information to consumers to
better their understanding of
animal agriculture’s importance
to their quality of life and our
nation’s security
Protects consumers’ right to
choose their foods, along with
farmers’ and ranchers’ right &
ability to raise animals in the
most humane way.
FARM
TABLE
Suppliers Producers Tra nsporte rs Processors
Animal
Scientists
Veterina rians
Distributors/
Retailers/
Restaurants
Consumers
Researchers/
Land Grant
Universities
2008
Activists Made Significant Gains
Undercover Employment “Investigations”
Passage of California Prop 2
2009
Challenges will be Greater than Ever
Animal Agriculture Under Siege
Violence
Terrorism
Retailers
Restaurants
Food
Health
Scares
Technology
Scares
Undercover
Employment
& Video
Animal Ag
& Food
Lawsuits
Purchasing
Stock
Humane
Education
Impacts of
CAFOs
Legislation/
Ballot
Initiatives
Religious
& Thought
Leaders
Using Ag
Experts
Internet/
Youth
$300 Million/Year +
$3.4 Million Study Funded
by Pew Charitable Trusts
Johns Hopkins University’s
Bloomberg School of Public
Health Center for a Livable Future
Ad in The Politico, Feb 11, 2009
http://saveantibiotics.org/resources/Pigs-Peanuts-ad.pdf
Feeding human antibiotics to hogs makes salmonella harder to
cure.
The Problem Beyond the Peanuts.
For the hundreds of Americans who have been sickened by
salmonella-tainted peanut products, life-saving antibiotics are helping
to prevent a catastrophe. But if we don’t change our livestock feeding
practices, soon the salmonella may win.
…
Learn more at SaveAntibiotics.org.
Wayne Pacelle: A Humane Nation
January 19, 2009
We Need Your Vote on Components of “Change Agenda
for Animals”
With the changing of the guard at the White House comes the prospect of
new possibilities for moving our goals forward, and to mark this latest
transfer of power, The HSUS and the Humane Society Legislative Fund
(HSLF) are advancing a 100-point “Change Agenda for Animals.”
Never before has the animal protection movement so carefully articulated a
vast array of critical animal protection reforms in the domains of so many
federal agencies—Agriculture, Interior, Commerce, Defense, Health and
Human Services, State, and others. It is a road map for reform…
Activists’ National Legislative Goals
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Amend AW Act to include Farm Animals
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Establish Federal Animal Welfare Guidelines
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Farm Animal Anti-Cruelty Act – Federal Penalties
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Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing Act
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Banning of Antibiotics for Farm Animals
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Criminalizing Transportation & Selling of Horses
Intended for Slaughter – HR 503
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Pushing for Transportation Regulations for Farm
Animals
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Repeal of AETA
Activists State Legislative Goals
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Pressure state legislatures to pass AW legislation
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Ballot Initiative Campaigns in more states: OH, MI, MA, ME?
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Ban production systems or practices (gestation stalls, veal stalls,
layer hen cages, etc.)
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Ban/Limit New Farms or Expansion (Pew Report used as one basis)
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Animal Guardian Initiatives – gaining rights for animals
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Banning Sales & Consumption of Food Products (foie gras, trans
fats, next?)
Ballot Initiative States
O
X
O
X
O
X
X
X- Animal rights
initiatives passedFL, AZ, CA, MA
O- Legislative
Action taken to set
farm production
standards - some to
avoid animal rights
ballot initiatives –
NJ, CO, OR
HSUS at work in Midwestern state legislatures
Monday, February 9, 2009, 3:25 PM
by Dave Russell and Ken Anderson
Pacelle tells Brownfield that their Humane Lobby Days are nothing new and
each state has its own legislative agenda.
“Last year we helped pass 93 news laws to advance animal welfare in the
states, and we have worked in Congress for a long time to address these
issues,” Pacelle said. “The issues are evolving and I think political leaders
recognize that the public is ready for reform, then the concern ripens and
action may be taken.”
And while no ballot initiatives, like Proposition 2, which passed this past
November in California, are planned, it is certainly something HSUS will be
evaluating.
“We’ll see how things go in the states and we hope to
reach common agreements,” said the HSUS President.
“But if we do reach an impasse, then certainly the ballot
initiative is an option in states where the constitution
allows for that decision making process.”
HSUS Humane Lobby Days
February 26, 2009
 Arizona
March 10, 2009
 Tennessee
April 2, 2009
 West Virginia
 Florida
 Texas
March 26, 2009
 Delaware
April 14, 2009
 Massachusetts
March 30, 2009
 New York
March 31, 2009
 Maine
 Vermont
 Pennsylvania
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Michigan
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Vermont
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Wisconsin
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Alabama
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Oklahoma
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Rhode Island
Current State Legislative Proposals
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
HOUSE BILL 27*
AN ACT TO REGULATE THE EUTHANASIA OF ANIMALS AND TO PROHIBIT
SPECIFIED METHODS OF EUTHANASIA OF ANIMALS
"§ 19A-24. Powers of Board of Agriculture.
The Board of Agriculture shall:…
Adopt rules on the euthanasia of animals in the possession or custody
possession, custody, or control of any person required to obtain a certificate
of registration under this Article. G.S. 19A-26. The rules shall, effective
until January 1, 2011, be consistent with the method and delivery of method
approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association,
the
Humane Society of the United States, or the American
Humane Association…
Sponsors: Representatives Tarleton, Allen (Primary Sponsors); Cole, Dickson,
Earle, Faison, Goforth, Haire, McElraft, Moore, and
Underhill.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
February 3, 2009
Current State Legislative Proposals
96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010SB1337
Introduced 2/10/2009, by Sen. James A. DeLeo
Summary:
510 ILCS 70/3.03-5 new
Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Prohibits a person
from tethering or confining any covered animal, on a farm, for
all or the majority of any day, in a manner that prevents the
animal from (i) lying down, standing up, and fully extending his
or her limbs or (ii) turning around freely.
Creates exemptions from this requirement for (i) scientific or agricultural research;
(ii) examination, testing, individual treatment, or operation for veterinary
purposes; (iii) transportation; and (iv) rodeo exhibitions, State or county fair
exhibitions, 4-H programs, and similar exhibitions.
Provides that any person who violates this requirement is guilty of a Class C
misdemeanor and upon conviction must be punished by a fine not to exceed
$500, or by imprisonment not to exceed 180 days, or both.
Current State Legislative Proposals
California Bill Takes Aim at Dairy Cow Mutilation
SACRAMENTO (Feb. 13, 2009)—In the nation’s numberone dairy state, animal welfare and public health experts
and agriculture scientists have urged support for a new
bill to prevent an all-too-common type of mutilation of
dairy cows.
California Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez introduced
legislation, SB 135, to ban the painful and unnecessary
tail docking of dairy cows.
States Considering Legislation to Open or
Support Horse Slaughter Facilities/Markets
Montana - Bill Number: Mt H.B. 418
- provides ability to open a new horse slaughter facility
North Dakota: Bill Number: ND H.B. 1496
- designates money to study the possible opening of a horse slaughterhouse
Wyoming: Bill Number: WY HJR 8
- requests Congress not interfere with shipment and slaughter of unwanted
horses (Canada, Mexico)
Associated Press, February 10, 2009
A Montana legislator is sponsoring a bill that would clear
the way for a horse slaughterhouse in the state, if investors want to
build one.
The United States no longer has a slaughterhouse where horses are
processed, but there are facilities in Canada and Mexico that receive
U.S. horses.
Republican legislator Ed Butcher of Lewistown says doing the work
stateside makes more sense. He says that would help people who need
to dispose of horses, and would strengthen Montana's economy.
HELENA, Mont. —
Current State Legislative Proposals
Announced on February 10, 2009
Toledo Thinking Outside of the Crate Talk
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Join Mercy For Animals for a free presentation by Dean Vickers, the
Humane Society of the United States' State Director for Ohio.
This year, legislation will be introduced in Ohio to phase out the cruel
confinement of farmed pigs, chickens and cows. Learn how you can
help pass this vital legislation. For more information on this event,
please email MFA's Toledo Regional Coordinator, Heather Gillen, or call
her at 419-304-4948.
Where: Sanger Branch Library, 3030 W. Central Ave, Toledo, OH
When: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Beyond Legislative Efforts
Campaigns Targeting Business – making news
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Undercover Hires “Reporting” - playing on media & public’s love
affair with animals
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Threatening Letters sent to Producers/Processors, claiming cruelty
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Lawsuits
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Continued push on retailers
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Stock Purchase - Shareholder Resolutions (Hormel, Pfizer,
California Pizza Kitchen, McDonald’s, many more)
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Growing Violence Directed at Food Chain
For Animal Ag to Succeed into the
Future, We Must Be Proactive
NOW
Important Things To Know
All species groups have developed
science-based Animal Welfare
Guidelines on farm & in processing
facilities
Many have developed guidelines for
animal care & well-being during
transport (cattle, swine); others are
working on it
Many programs require producers and
transporters be certified; others are
developing similar programs
All groups have progressive
environmental management programs
Alliance brochure providing
summary of industry-driven
Animal Welfare Programs
Things You Can You Do
Help Animal Agriculture Tell Its Story – Ensure Your
Residents Understand Agriculture’s Commitment
and Shared Values
– Consumers, Retailers, Legislators, Community, Local Law
Enforcement, Media
National Milk Producers Federation and Dairy
Management Inc. Announce National Dairy FARM
Program
Release Date: January 21, 2009
Program designed to bolster consumer trust and confidence
in the U.S. dairy industry and demonstrate the industry’s
commitment to the highest levels of animal care and quality
assurance
Washington, DC – The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and Dairy
Management Inc.™ (DMI) have announced the introduction of the National Dairy
FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management…
The Animal Agriculture Alliance Can be a
Resource
 Broadest Network of Stakeholders Across Food Chain
 International Animal Welfare Issues
 OIE – Alliance is industry coordinator & liaison to USDA
 Industry Response to Pew Commission Report
 Alliance is industry coalition coordinator
 Talking Points
 Third Party Experts
 Fact Sheets on:
 Animal Welfare Guidelines Program – all species
 Animal Agriculture & Public Health
 Animal Agriculture & Environment
 Antibiotics in Farm Animals (Antimicrobial Resistance Issues)
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Controlled Atmosphere Stunning
The Animal Agriculture Alliance Can
be a Resource
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Security & Antiterrorism Resources
Media Resources
Alliance Social Networking Sites – FaceBook,
YouTube
Consumer Oriented Videos on Animal Ag
Collegiate Blog Ambassadors Program
Educational Materials & Programs
Kay Johnson Smith
KJohnson@animalagalliance.org
(703)562-5160
www.animalagalliance.org
THANK YOU!!