Why do people criticize Californias Proposition 2 (originally introduced as the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act)?
The Act establishes standards for farm animal confinement. It will not improve animal well-being at all for the next 6 years and when it takes effect in 2015, it will do little to improve conditions for farm animals but will give the public the false belief that farm animals are treated humanely. The proposition, which passed, would require only that most farm animals be given enough room to turn around and fully extend their limbs. It doesn’t deal with other types of cruelty such as debeaking, tail clipping, castrations and branding, which are all done without anesthesia. It will lead to only minimal changes in the well-being of the animals, and covers only things that will increase profitability for farmers by reducing medical and other costs of cramming animals too tightly together. There are many important exceptions, such as transport, slaughter, animal testing and research, rodeos and state fairs. One of the most troubling things about it is the fact that it gets the Humane Socie
