Current Press Releases

Farm Sanctuary Thanks Governor Baldacci for Passing Law to Ban Cruel Factory Farming Confinement Systems in Maine

Nation’s Leading Farm Animal Protection Organization Declares Maine’s Passage of LD 1021 – prohibiting veal crates for calves and gestation crates for breeding pigs – another Precedent-setting Phase-out of Factory Farming Confinement Systems

Watkins Glen, N.Y. – May 14, 2009 – Today, Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, thanked Maine Governor John Baldacci for signing into law a bill that will provide calves raised for veal and breeding pigs confined on factory farms across the state with enough room to lie down, stand up, turn around and fully extend their limbs.

Maine’s passage of this bill, LD 1021, prohibiting veal crates and gestation crates, individual cages that immobilize breeding pigs and veal calves for the majority of their lives, makes the state sixth in the nation to prohibit certain types of extreme confinement of farm animals.

“We are very pleased that Governor Baldacci and the Maine legislature have taken a stand against the cruel treatment of farm animals,” said Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary. “No animal should have to spend his or her entire life in a cage so small that they can’t walk, turn around, or stretch their limbs. We applaud the passage of this common sense legislation to ban the inhumane confinement of animals in veal crates and gestation crates on factory farms, and we encourage other states follow suit.”

Maine’s announcement comes on the heels of last Tuesday’s introduction of groundbreaking anti-confinement legislation for New York State, as well as similar pending legislation pending in Illinois, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Californian voters overwhelmingly passed a citizens ballot initiative, Proposition 2, last fall. It eliminates veal crates, gestation crates and battery cages for egg laying hens in the state. Farm Sanctuary was a main backer of this measure as well as similar initiatives in Florida and Arizona. Oregon and Colorado have also passed laws prohibiting the cruel confinement of farm animals.

More information on Farm Sanctuary’s Anti-Confinement Campaign and current efforts can be found at farmsanctuary.org.

Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.