California’s Prop 2 for Farm Animals Handed Landslide Victory

In a historic victory for 20 million animals on California’s farms, Proposition 2 has passed by a landslide in last night’s election. Over 63 percent of California voters favored the “Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act,” which will eventually end the practice of confining certain animals raised for food in crates and cages so small they can barely move.

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Prop 2 requires farms to provide enough space for breeding pigs, egg laying hens, and veal calves to stand up, turn around and extend their limbs. Backed by the Humane Society of the United States, Farm Sanctuary, and supported by California Veterinary Medical Association, the Center for Food Safety, and countless media outlets, including the New York Times, this measure is the largest of its kind for farm animals ever enacted in the United States.

“California voters have taken a stand for decency and compassion and said that the systemic mistreatment of animals on factory farms cannot continue,” said Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “All animals deserve humane treatment, including animals raised for food.”

The law goes into effect in January of 2015, giving factory farms six years to shift to more humane housing.

As a volunteer for the campaign myself, the passage of this proposition was important to me. Along with an army of activists, I spent over a year on the ground, from the signature gathering phase, all the way to last night’s victory. We can only hope this is just the beginning of better lives for farm animals around the world.

Photo Credit: Laurel Fan on Flickr under Creative Commons license.

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