Voters tend to be more favorable toward animal welfare than legislators, and animal welfare laws have had some of their biggest successes at the ballot box.
KELSEY PIPER: ‘Most Americans aren’t vegetarians or vegans, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t concerned with the welfare of animals… On November 6, 2018 voters will get the chance to weigh in on some transformative new animal welfare laws at the state level. While these measures go well beyond any current requirements, they’re reasonably likely to pass. Voters tend to be more favorable toward animal welfare than legislators, and animal welfare laws have had some of their biggest successes at the ballot box…
Proposition 12 in California tries to close some loopholes in the state’s existing farmed animal welfare laws Proposition 12 would establish new cage-free housing requirements for baby veal calves, mother pigs, and egg-laying hens… Millions of animals are raised and slaughtered annually on factory farms in California. Even more animals would be affected, since the new requirements apply to any farmer who wants to sell animal products within California. As a result, the new requirements would have an impact across the country and could potentially affect tens of millions of animals…
Amendment 13 in Florida phases out commercial greyhound racing. In 40 US states, commercial dog racing is prohibited. Florida is one of the six that still have active dog-racing facilities, which often involve terrible conditions for the dogs. It’s been estimated that a dog dies on Florida’s racetracks every three days. Amendment 13 would end commercial dog races by the end of 2020… The impact of campaigns like the Florida and California ballot initiatives is often larger than the immediate effects. Successful campaigns can directly advance the interests of animals. They also remind legislators that this is an issue of interest to voters’. SOURCE…
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