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Historic Win in Colorado!
May 14, 2008

On Wednesday, May 14, Colorado became the 4th state to ban cruel gestation crates and the 2nd state in the U.S. to ban cruel veal crates, as Governor Bill Ritter signed into law swiftly passed legislation. This freshly signed bill, SB 201, is historic in that it makes Colorado the first state in the nation to ban both gestation and veal crates by legislative decree, and it puts Colorado squarely at the helm of the growing trend away from some of the most intensive and cruel agribusiness practices.

This new law banning veal crates within four years and gestation crates within 10 years will have a direct effect on the state's 150,000 breeding sows and will effectively block the expansion and establishment of new factory hog farms from setting up shop in Colorado.

The vast majority of sows, who are considered the "breeding stock" of the pork industry, are each confined to a cramped 2-foot-wide metal crate, unable to turn around or take more than one step for virtually their entire lives. The enactment of SB 201 will ensure that these animals are provided with at least enough room to turn around and stretch their limbs. This modest step for the industry is a massive one for the animals currently subjected to intensive confinement which they endure daily, and the effects of this new law promise to be even greater, as it sets a positive precedent for other states around the nation to follow.

Colorado's new law promises to lend mainstream validation to the fight for more humane farm animal treatment and gives hope that the end to farm animal suffering in all its forms is on its way.

Learn more about pending efforts to help farm animals confined in spaces so small they can barely move!