Ballot initiative fights 'torture' of farm animals in 'extreme confinement'

BOSTON - Calling it "torture," animal rights advocates decried the "extreme confinement" and "lifelong immobilization" of farm animals, and officially launched a ballot initiative campaign to outlaw such practices in Massachusetts.

National, state and local animal welfare groups gathered Wednesday outside the State House to rally in support of an initiative petition that supporters say would ensure that veal calves, breeding sows and egg-laying hens "will not spend their lives in cages barely larger than their bodies."

"This isn't just confinement. This isn't just the farming system. This is torture," said Matt Bershadker, president and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "Yet, it is what animals on so many industrialized farms are forced to endure every day of their lives. These practices are simply intolerable."

Under the language submitted to the attorney general's office for review this month, it would be illegal for any farmer or business owner to "knowingly cause any covered animal to be confined in a cruel manner," except during transportation, slaughter, medical research, examination and fair exhibits.

"All we are asking is that they have enough space in their lives to stand up, lie down, turn around and extend their limbs," Carter Luke, president of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said. "It's that simple, it's that humane."

The act would also prohibit in Massachusetts the sale of eggs, veal and pork from animals "confined in a cruel manner" by in- and out-of-state farmers or businesses beginning in 2022.

"If you're going to sell veal or pork or eggs in this state...the farmers, wherever they are producing the animals, also must adhere to these production standards," Humane Society of the United States President and CEO Wayne Pacelle said.

More than 100 food retailers -- including Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's and Wal-Mart -- have already indicated they will work with their food suppliers to eliminate food from animals that were severely confined from their supply chains.

"What this ballot measure is doing is it's moving us forward when the corporate sector has already established its verdict on the issue, that animals built to move should be allowed to move and we should adhere to the most basic animal welfare sensibilities when it comes to treating farm animals in our food production system," he said.

Pacelle said his organization, the MSPCA and others decided to work to get this measure on the 2016 ballot after previous bills died in the Legislature.

"We are really making a model use of the ballot initiative process," Pacelle said. "After we've exhausted our options in the State House, we're now taking this measure to the people. That's what the initiative process was designed to do. We're hoping to have a tremendous surge of activity in the state."

Pacelle said he expects the campaign will utilize television advertising to get its message out and plans to utilize volunteers around the state to mobilize other supporters.

If the attorney general certifies the question and the Legislature declines to take it up as a bill, the coalition of animal rights groups -- calling itself Citizens for Farm Animal Protection -- will have to collect at least 90,000 signatures in order to qualify for the 2016 statewide ballot.