Farm Animals
Good news to start 2022: These new laws are now in place to protect animals
We begin our work in 2022 encouraged by the knowledge that a handful of significant animal protection laws at the state level have now taken effect across the country. That makes for a great start to a year in which we hope to extend the . . .
Breaking: Massachusetts passes law to end cruel, immobilizing cages for egg-laying hens
Today, we celebrate great progress for egg-laying hens, which caps off a year of wins for farm animals across the country. Here’s some background about what just happened for hens in Massachusetts: In 2016, the Humane Society of the United States and a coalition of . . .
Bred for unnaturally fast growth, broiler chickens suffer greatly—but change is on the way
For decades, the welfare of most chickens raised and slaughtered for meat has been deeply concerning: These “broiler chickens” have been selectively bred for rapid weight gain and muscle mass to such an extreme that they are inherently prone to painful, debilitating leg problems and . . .
Inside our campaign for Proposition 12, the strongest law for farm animals
Three years ago this month, something truly extraordinary happened for animals. California’s Proposition 12, the groundbreaking ballot initiative considered the strongest law in the world for farm animals, was voted into law by a wide margin, with more than 7.5 million voters supporting it. We . . .
Video: Moby adds his voice to climate conference—and his message is clear
There’s a chorus of voices calling for changing the conversation around climate change, and now Moby joins Humane Society International in stressing that reforming global food systems simply must be part of these discussions. But at COP26, the United Nations’ international climate change conference happening . . .
We’re suing the world’s largest pork producer for misleading the public about animal abuse
Today the Humane Society of the United States filed a lawsuit against Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork producer, for misleading consumers about animal abuse in its supply chain. A little background: It is common practice in big animal agriculture to use “gestation crates.” These . . .
Here’s why animal agriculture must be central at UN climate change summit
The facts are clear: More than 88 billion land animals are bred, raised and slaughtered for food every year. The animal agriculture industry is responsible for at least 14.5% to 16.5% of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions globally, on par with emissions from all the planes, . . .
More victories leading to the end of the cage age for farm animals
For years, we at the Humane Society family of organizations have waged campaigns—through the boardroom to the ballot box—to eliminate the abusive practices of locking egg-laying hens in cages and mother pigs in gestation crates, practices that cause immense suffering for a staggering number of . . .
Why some veterinarians keep fighting to end one of the worst factory farm practices
It’s a gruesome topic that no one really likes to talk about but last week the methods for “depopulating”—killing—hundreds of thousands of pigs and chickens during a natural or manmade disaster, such as a pandemic like COVID-19, were front and center at a meeting of . . .
Breaking: Judges unanimously reject pork industry challenge to landmark farm animal law
Today, a three-judge panel in the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit unanimously denied an attempt by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation to strike down California’s Proposition 12, considered the strongest farm animal protection law in . . .
Why food system reform must include animals
The newly released Rockefeller Foundation report, “True Cost of Food: Measuring What Matters to Transform the U.S. Food System,” strengthens the case for substantial reform of animal agriculture in the U.S. and elsewhere. The primary purpose of the report is to demonstrate that the $1.1 . . .
Victory! These US states just made great progress for animals
One of the ways we make a difference for animals is by working on the state and local levels to secure the passage of laws that prevent cruel and inhumane practices that threaten animals—from puppies born in massive puppy mills to coyotes and foxes at . . .
