skaltezon

.

Even non-vegetarians should be concerned about cruelty committed by some factory farms to satisfy their appetites for meat. Then it becomes not a matter of giving up meat-eating but rather of taking an interest in the humane treatment of the animals who are raised for slaughter.



Treating the animals better has consequent health benefits for humans too.

.. .. .. ..

Welcome. Here it is again:


Mercy For Animals Dairy Investigation


Mercy for Animals presented a detailed complaint to the Cayuga County District Attorney,
documenting Willet's violation of New York animal cruelty laws.

But the DA declined to prosecute documented violations that were 'commonly-accepted industry practices'.
And with regard to the rampant neglect that presumably wouldn't be 'commonly-accepted industry practices',
the DA's office apparently agreed to prosecute only if the ASPCA recommended it following a separate investigation.
I don't know if the ASPCA investigation was ever done, but the requirement seems unnecessary, and it improperly
attempts to shift the DA's responsibility onto a private organization, wasting time in the process.
Cow Torture Video: Willet Dairy Caught Burning Off Cows' Horns, Chopping Calf's Tail In Mercy For Animals Expose


Tail docking is found in about half of American dairy farms, according to a 2002 U.S. Department of Agriculture report.
The practice was banned in California in 2009 and a bill to prohibit it is now before the New York state legislature.
Nightline Wins Genesis Award for 'Got Milk?' From Humane Society
Text of NY Tail-Docking Bill

.. .. .. ..

That is interesting. Responsible people will want to know whether animals raised for slaughter are treated humanely,
especially if they eat the meat that comes from it. And others will be concerned about attempts to make information-gathering a felony:


Factory Farm bills of Florida, Iowa, and Minnesota seek to
criminalize undercover documentation of factory farm operations.

.. .. .. ..

The Florida bill was passed in the Senate as SB 1246 but died in the House in May. It was originally intended to prohibit "a person from entering onto a farm and making any audio record, photograph, or video record at the farm without the owner's written consent" and provided exceptions, definitions and penalties. Senate Bill 1246 (2011) - The Florida Senate

But apparently it was later amended to prohibit photographs from roadside as well, and made the offenses a felony.
Jaclyn Glenn gives a good overview of both the animal welfare and freedom of information issues.



March amendments by the Senate removed the roadside and felony provisions before the bill died in the House.

.. .. .. ..

The Iowa House and Senate have already passed differing versions of a bill called ""A BILL FOR An Act relating to offenses involving agricultural operations, and providing penalties and remedies". The next legislative step is for a joint reconciliation committee to determine the bill's final form, and it'll be voted on again by the full House and Senate.

A good commentary and unofficial source for the text of the House and Senate bills is at Senate & House Bills SF431 & HF589 | Sustainable Food

.. .. .. ..

In Minnesota, Senate File 1118 and House File 1369 (also called Minnesota’s ‘ag-gag’ bills) would criminalize blowing the whistle on animal cruelty, food safety problems, or labor or environmental abuses inside puppy and kitten mills or factory farms by making it a crime to take video inside such facilities, or even for the news media to possess or distribute these images. Incredibly, images of animal suffering would be given the same status as kiddie porn.
Minnesota Bill Targets Investigators Who Expose Animal Suffering at Factory Farms, Labs, Puppy Mills

Both bills failed to get a hearing and the 2011 legislative session ended without passage. As Minnesota functions on a two-year legislative cycle, the ag-gag bill could still be heard and voted on in the 2012 session.

Update on Minnesota ag-gag bill | Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection

Here's the text of the Senate bill: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbi...l&session=ls87

.. .. .. ..

__________________