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Action Alerts & Updates

Join us for New York State Humane Lobby Day
(February 2, 2010)
On March 24, join animal advocates from all over New York to lobby for crucial legislation that would ban cruel confinement systems and the tail docking of dairy cows. Learn more and register to attend.

New Ballot Initiative to Protect Farm Animals Launches in Ohio
(February 1, 2010)
In 2008, California residents overwhelmingly voted in favor of Proposition 2, a ballot initiative to ban veal crates for calves, gestation crates for breeding sows and battery cages for egg-laying hens. Now, we have a chance to make an even bigger impact in Ohio. In the months ahead, we’ll be collecting 600,000 signatures in the Buckeye State for a ballot initiative that will end the use of cruel factory farm confinement systems, stop the slaughter of downed cattle, and ban the use of grossly inhumane euthanasia practices. Never before has one ballot initiative proposed to do so much for farm animals. Learn more.

Isn’t it time for New York dairy farmers to stop cutting off cows’ tails?
(January 28, 2010)
Tail docking is a routine practice on many large dairy farms where producers cut off a portion of a cow’s tail, usually without anesthesia. A bill has been introduced to ban this cruel and unnecessary practice in New York, but the industry is telling your state legislators to oppose the measure. New York cows need you to push back today and tell your elected representatives to support this modest but important reform. Learn more.

Introduce a Green Foods Resolution in Your Community
(Updated January 19, 2010)
Animal agriculture is a major contributor to climate change and other environmental hazards. You can raise awareness about this connection and urge your city council to address the issue by lobbying for a Green Foods Resolution.
Get started on introducing a Green Foods Resolution in your community today.

New York: It's time to give farm animals room to stretch their limbs
(Updated January 8, 2010)
In modern animal agriculture, most egg laying hens are stuffed in cages so small they have less space than a sheet of notebook paper to stand on. Meanwhile, most breeding sows and veal calves spend nearly their entire lives in crates barely larger than their own bodies. Their suffering is hard to imagine, but with your help, we can bring it to an end. Let your state legislators know that you support A08163, an act to ban these horrible practices.

New York: Act Now to Relieve the Suffering of Downed Animals!
(December 15, 2009)
Every year, countless farm animals become too ill or injured to stand and walk unassisted. These downed animals are frequently subjected to terrible abuse at stockyards and slaughterhouses, where they may be kicked, dragged, prodded with shock prods, brutally pushed across the ground with tractors, and more. New York has a chance to protect downed animals within its borders; please help us pass this vital legislation.

Prevent “Backyard Chicken” Mania
(December 9, 2009)
Many urban and suburban residents are eager to jump on the “backyard chicken” bandwagon and secure their own local source of fresh eggs. Unfortunately, this fad isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and the consequences can be very serious, especially when it comes to animal welfare. Shelters and sanctuaries have seen a dramatic increase in the number of unwanted chickens dumped on their doorsteps, and the situation is only getting worse. Find out how you can prevent an outbreak of “backyard chicken” mania in your town or city.

Michigan farmers agree to ban cruel confinement practices
(Updated 10/13/09)
Governor Jennifer Granholm has signed legislation to ban the inhumane use of battery cages, gestation crates and veal crates in Michigan. Recognizing that such cruel confinement practices are no longer acceptable to the vast majority of consumers, Michigan farmers cooperated with animal advocates to support this important reform. Michigan is now the second state to ban battery cages, following the example set by California last year with the passage of Proposition 2. It is also the fifth state to ban veal crates and the seventh to ban gestation crates.

Victory! Farm Sanctuary’s Celebrity Supporters Successfully Speak up for California Cows
(Updated 10/12/09)
Thanks to the help of Farm Sanctuary members and celebrity supporters, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made history when he signed a tail docking bill, ending the painful and unnecessary amputation of dairy cows’ tails. Bill Maher, Bob Barker, Kim Basinger, and a host of other celebrity supporters recently joined Farm Sanctuary in reaching out to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, urging him to do the right thing by signing a bill to ban the cruel practice of docking dairy cows’ tails. Read more.

Don’t Schoolchildren Deserve the Option of Healthy Alternatives to Cows’ Milk?
(Updated July 29, 2009)
Now more than ever, with knowledge and awareness of nutritional issues on the rise, we need to make sure that free and low-cost meals provided to schoolchildren include readily-available alternatives to cows’ milk, such as soy or rice milk. The reauthorization of the federal Child Nutrition Act gives us that opportunity. Learn how you can help.

Help Pass FoodprintNYC!
(July 20, 2009)
We have a chance to pass a City Council resolution calling on New Yorkers to eat lower on the food chain. When passed, this resolution will create a citywide initiative that would establish climate-friendly food policies and programs; a public awareness campaign regarding the city’s food consumption and production patterns; and greater access to local, fresh, healthy plant-based food. Now that the resolution has been introduced, we need your help to get it passed! Please take a moment to help us so that New Yorkers can lower their Foodprint and the Big Apple can serve as a model for Foodprint resolutions everywhere.

Pennsylvania: Support Bill to Stop Cruel Pigeon Shoots
(June 2009)
It's hard to believe, but some people in Pennsylvania find it acceptable to use live animals as target practice. In parts of Pennsylvania, birds are used as target practice and cruel trap shoots. Help enact a ban on live pigeon shoots by contacting your legislator today.

Sign the Petition: That's NOT Natural
(June 4, 2009)
The USDA recently allowed companies to slap a "naturally raised" label on meat and meat products that come from animals whose upbringing was far from natural. Let the USDA know you won't stand for such deceptive claims. Sign the petition to tell the agency its "naturally raised" label is not natural!

Help Farm Sanctuary Save Sheep from Cruel and Unnecessary Training Exercises
(May 21, 2009)
This week Massachusetts General Hospital killed live sheep in a trauma training course, despite the fact that more than 90 percent of such courses in the nation rely exclusively on human-based simulators rather than live animals.  Please help Farm Sanctuary put an end to this cruel and unnecessary practice. Send a quick and easy letter to the Hospital’s course director urging her to commit to using only non-animal methods in future trauma training courses. 

Massachusetts: It's time to give farm animals room to move!
(May 12, 2009)
In modern animal agriculture, most egg laying hens are stuffed in cages that are so small they have less space than a sheet of notebook paper to stand on. Meanwhile, most breeding sows and veal calves spend nearly their entire lives in crates barely larger than their own bodies. The suffering of these animals is hard to imagine, but with your help, we could bring it to an end. Let your state legislators know that you support House Bill 815, an act to ban these horrible practices.

Prescription for Disaster: Sub-therapeutic Antibiotic Use on Farm Animals
As factory farms have crammed more and more animals into tighter and tighter spaces, modern pharmaceuticals have become regular tools of the trade. But this mad science has hatched unintended consequences: more germs that are resistant to antibiotics. Now legislation has been introduced in Congress to stop this reckless behavior. Take action!

National Defense: an exercise in cruelty?
(March 26, 2009)
The military is conducting a self-review of combat trauma training — which includes stabbing shooting, and breaking the legs of pigs and goats. Tell your Congressperson to urge the Department of Defense to end this exercise in cruelty. Take Action.

A Ban on Downed Cattle – are Pigs Next?
The USDA closed a loophole and banned downed cattle from being slaughtered and entering the human food supply. While this step is a milestone in efforts to protect those animals too sick and injured to walk, or even stand, protections need to be expanded to all species. Help continue this momentum.

This Bill Really Stinks!
Emissions from factory farms could be exempt from the Clean Air Act under a new bill introduced in Congress. Greenhouse gasses generated from animal agriculture are a top cause of climate change and Big Agribusiness doesn’t want to take responsibility for their part in global warming. Let your legislators know that this bill stinks!

Is that a clone in the food supply?
With a green-light from the FDA, meat from cloned animals may be on its way to market. But without labels, shoppers won’t be able to recognize and take a stand against these products. In reaction to these developments, numerous states have introduced bills during the 2009 session to mandate labeling of cloned animal products. These initiatives are critical for protecting animals and the right of consumers to say NO to these products of cruelty. Take action.

Meat Industry Attacks California's Downed Animal Protection Law
A year after video of downed dairy cows at a California slaughterhouse shocked the public, the meat industry is trying to overturn the law that strengthened downed animal protections as a result. Learn what Farm Sanctuary and others are doing to protect the law and what you can do to help downed animals everywhere.

Ask McDonald’s to take a Stand Against Cloning Cruelty
(November 2008)
Fast food giant McDonald’s has stated that it wants to take the lead in advancing animal welfare practices—but has not as of yet taken a stand against cloning. In addition to the potential risks to human health posed by products from animal clones, there are serious animal welfare concerns. A shockingly high percentage of cloned animals suffer from heart, kidney, and liver disorders, as well as other deformities and even early death. Please ask McDonald’s to sign a public pledge to not sell products from cloned animals.

Historic Victory for Farm Animals! Prop 2 Passes in California
(November 5, 2008)
In the most monumental political victory for farm animals in U.S. history, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 2, which bans three cruel confinement systems – battery cages, veal crates and gestation crates in the state. By a By a vote of more than 60 percent Californians sent a message to big agribusiness loud and clear: animal cruelty is unacceptable, and profits do not precede compassion.

A Continuing Battle to Stop the Slaughter of American Horses
If passed, the federal bill H. R. 503 will effectively stop the slaughter of all American horses by banning their shipment to foreign slaughterhouses. Get the details.