Thursday, December 17, 2009

Representative Ben Cannon Writes Back

Hi Jadene,
Thank you for your email about farm animal welfare. I support sustainable agriculture, which includes the humane treatment of farm animals.

While Oregon has not enacted all of the policies that you suggest, we have adopted at least one. In 2007, the state banned the use of gestation crates for pregnant pigs. Here is a link that bill as passed: http://www.leg.state.or.us/07reg/measures/sb0600.dir/sb0694.en.html. That bill was introduced with a ban on veal crates also included, but because there is no veal industry in Oregon, that piece was removed.

In 2009, we also passed legislation on behalf of horses. Horses were treated like livestock and not eligible for protections under anti-animal abandonment laws. The economic downturn had led to an increase in horse abandonment and neglect, so we changed the law to make it illegal to abandon or fail to provide minimum care for horses. Here is a link to that bill, if you are interested: http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measures/sb0300.dir/sb0398.en.html.

On my commute on I-5 to and from Salem, I oftentimes see the trucks filled with chickens packed together like sardines. Every time, it reminds me why I try my best to only eat free range poultry, and rarely. While I am not the best person to the take the lead on a bill banning battery cages because of my committee assignments, I would most likely support such a concept.

I appreciate your email and hope that you will continue to be in touch on this and other issues.
-ben

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Ben Cannon
State Representative - District 46
900 Court Street NE, Room H-487
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 236-3351
rep.bencannon@state.or.us
www.repbencannon.com




-----Original Message-----
From: Site Administrator [mailto:webmaster@farmsanctuary.org] On Behalf Of Jadene Fourman
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 9:17 PM
To: Rep Cannon
Subject: Farm Animal Welfare


Dec 7, 2009

Representative Ben Cannon
State Capitol, Room H-484
900 Court Street, NE
Salem, OR 97301

Dear Representative Cannon,

Farm animal welfare is of increasing concern to members of the public, including myself, and my friends, family and neighbors. We have been happy to see laws passed in several states to eliminate the cruel confinement of farm animals, and to allow them at least enough room to stand up, lie down, turn around, and extend their limbs.
I'm writing to encourage you to please consider introducing similar legislation this session to ban battery cages for egg-laying hens, gestation crates for pregnant pigs, and veal crates for young calves.
Such legislation would help prevent needless animal suffering, and please the majority of your constituents.
For further information, I encourage you to read Farm Sanctuary's Legislator Brief and their Resource Guide for drafting such legislation. You can find both at www.farmsanctuary.org/get_involved/alert_cruel_confinement

Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Ms. Jadene Fourman StumbleUpon

1 comment:

  1. Very interesting post... You would like my Reiki ranch free range chickens! It is good to eat eggs from happy hens who can roam and enjoy life! Caged animals are very unhappy and we don't like that. We like freedom with responsibility!

    Reiki, free thinking and alternative health news

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