History, Issues, Strategies

1
Current Animal Welfare Trends Tactics Kay
Johnson SmithExecutive Vice President NASDA
Animal Plant Industries Committee Washington,
DC February 21, 2009
2
The Animal Agriculture Alliances Role

• A national umbrella organization that
• Connects stakeholders nationally
  internationally - providing the greatest network
  across the animal food chain
• Educates the public by bringing truthful,
  science-based information to consumers to better
  their understanding of animal agricultures
  importance to their quality of life and our
  nations security
• Protects consumers right to choose their foods,
  along with farmers and ranchers right ability
  to raise animals in the most humane way.

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• 2008
• Activists Made Significant Gains
• Undercover Employment Investigations
• Passage of California Prop 2

2009 Challenges will be Greater than Ever
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Animal Agriculture Under Siege
Animal Ag Food
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300 Million/Year
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3.4 Million Study Funded by Pew Charitable
Trusts
Johns Hopkins Universitys Bloomberg School of
Public Health Center for a Livable Future
Ad in The Politico, Feb 11, 2009 http//saveantib
iotics.org/resources/Pigs-Peanuts-ad.pdf
Feeding human antibiotics to hogs makes
salmonella harder to cure. The Problem Beyond
the Peanuts. For the hundreds of Americans who
have been sickened by salmonella-tainted peanut
products, life-saving antibiotics are helping to
prevent a catastrophe. But if we dont change our
livestock feeding practices, soon the salmonella
may win. Learn more at SaveAntibiotics.org.
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Wayne Pacelle A Humane Nation January 19,
2009 We Need Your Vote on Components of Change
Agenda for Animals With the changing of the
guard at the White House comes the prospect of
new possibilities for moving our goals forward,
and to mark this latest transfer of power, The
HSUS and the Humane Society Legislative Fund
(HSLF) are advancing a 100-point Change Agenda
for Animals. Never before has the animal
protection movement so carefully articulated a
vast array of critical animal protection reforms
in the domains of so many federal
agenciesAgriculture, Interior, Commerce,
Defense, Health and Human Services, State, and
others. It is a road map for reform
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• Activists National Legislative Goals
• Amend AW Act to include Farm Animals
• Establish Federal Animal Welfare Guidelines
• Farm Animal Anti-Cruelty Act Federal Penalties
• Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing Act
• Banning of Antibiotics for Farm Animals
• Criminalizing Transportation Selling of Horses
  Intended for Slaughter HR 503
• Pushing for Transportation Regulations for Farm
  Animals
• Repeal of AETA

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• Activists State Legislative Goals
• Pressure state legislatures to pass AW
  legislation
• Ballot Initiative Campaigns in more states OH,
  MI, MA, ME?
• Ban production systems or practices (gestation
  stalls, veal stalls, layer hen cages, etc.)
• Ban/Limit New Farms or Expansion (Pew Report used
  as one basis)
• Animal Guardian Initiatives gaining rights for
  animals
• Banning Sales Consumption of Food Products
  (foie gras, trans fats, next?)

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Ballot Initiative States
O
X
O
O
X
X
X- Animal rights initiatives passed-FL, AZ, CA,
MA O- Legislative Action taken to set farm
production standards - some to avoid animal
rights ballot initiatives NJ, CO, OR
X
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• HSUS at work in Midwestern state legislatures
• Monday, February 9, 2009, 325 PMby Dave
  Russell and Ken Anderson
• Pacelle tells Brownfield that their Humane Lobby
  Days are nothing new and each state has its own
  legislative agenda.Last year we helped pass 93
  news laws to advance animal welfare in the
  states, and we have worked in Congress for a long
  time to address these issues, Pacelle said. The
  issues are evolving and I think political leaders
  recognize that the public is ready for reform,
  then the concern ripens and action may be
  taken.And while no ballot initiatives, like
  Proposition 2, which passed this past November in
  California, are planned, it is certainly
  something HSUS will be evaluating.Well see
  how things go in the states and we hope to reach
  common agreements, said the HSUS President. But
  if we do reach an impasse, then certainly the
  ballot initiative is an option in states where
  the constitution allows for that decision making
  process.

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HSUS Humane Lobby Days

• February 26, 2009
• Arizona
• March 10, 2009
• Tennessee
• March 26, 2009
• Delaware
• March 30, 2009
• New York
• March 31, 2009
• Maine
• Vermont
• Pennsylvania
• Michigan
• Vermont
• Wisconsin
• Alabama
• Oklahoma
• Rhode Island

• April 2, 2009
• West Virginia
• Florida
• Texas
• April 14, 2009
• Massachusetts

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Current State Legislative Proposals

• GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
• HOUSE BILL 27
• AN ACT TO REGULATE THE EUTHANASIA OF ANIMALS AND
  TO PROHIBIT
• SPECIFIED METHODS OF EUTHANASIA OF ANIMALS
• " 19A-24. Powers of Board of Agriculture.
• The Board of Agriculture shall
• Adopt rules on the euthanasia of animals in the
  possession or custody
• possession, custody, or control of any person
  required to obtain a certificate
• of registration under this Article. G.S. 19A-26.
  The rules shall, effective
• until January 1, 2011, be consistent with the
  method and delivery of method approved by the
  American Veterinary Medical Association, the
  Humane Society of the United States, or the
  American Humane Association
• Sponsors Representatives Tarleton, Allen
  (Primary Sponsors) Cole, Dickson, Earle,
  Faison, Goforth, Haire, McElraft, Moore, and
  Underhill.
• Referred to Rules, Calendar, and Operations of
  the House
• February 3, 2009

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Current State Legislative Proposals

• 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLYState of Illinois2009 and
  2010SB1337 Introduced 2/10/2009, by Sen. James
  A. DeLeo Summary   510 ILCS 70/3.03-5 new 
   
• Amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. Prohibits
  a person from tethering or confining any covered
  animal, on a farm, for all or the majority of any
  day, in a manner that prevents the animal from
  (i) lying down, standing up, and fully extending
  his or her limbs or (ii) turning around freely.
• Creates exemptions from this requirement for (i)
  scientific or agricultural research (ii)
  examination, testing, individual treatment, or
  operation for veterinary purposes (iii)
  transportation and (iv) rodeo exhibitions, State
  or county fair exhibitions, 4-H programs, and
  similar exhibitions.
• Provides that any person who violates this
  requirement is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor
  and upon conviction must be punished by a fine
  not to exceed 500, or by imprisonment not to
  exceed 180 days, or both. 

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Current State Legislative Proposals

• California Bill Takes Aim at Dairy Cow Mutilation
•  
• SACRAMENTO (Feb. 13, 2009)In the nations
  number-one dairy state, animal welfare and public
  health experts and agriculture scientists have
  urged support for a new bill to prevent an
  all-too-common type of mutilation of dairy cows.
• California Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez
  introduced legislation, SB 135, to ban the
  painful and unnecessary tail docking of dairy
  cows.
•  

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States Considering Legislation to Open or Support
Horse Slaughter Facilities/Markets

• Montana - Bill Number Mt H.B. 418- provides
  ability to open a new horse slaughter facility
• North Dakota Bill Number ND H.B. 1496-
  designates money to study the possible opening of
  a horse slaughterhouse
• Wyoming Bill Number WY HJR 8- requests
  Congress not interfere with shipment and
  slaughter of unwanted horses (Canada, Mexico)

Associated Press, February 10, 2009 HELENA,
Mont.    A Montana legislator is sponsoring a
bill that would clear the way for a horse
slaughterhouse in the state, if investors want to
build one. The United States no longer has a
slaughterhouse where horses are processed, but
there are facilities in Canada and Mexico that
receive U.S. horses. Republican legislator Ed
Butcher of Lewistown says doing the work
stateside makes more sense. He says that would
help people who need to dispose of horses, and
would strengthen Montana's economy.
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Current State Legislative Proposals

• Announced on February 10, 2009
• Toledo Thinking Outside of the Crate Talk
• Tuesday, March 24, 2009
• Join Mercy For Animals for a free presentation by
  Dean Vickers, the Humane Society of the United
  States' State Director for Ohio.
• This year, legislation will be introduced in Ohio
  to phase out the cruel confinement of farmed
  pigs, chickens and cows. Learn how you can help
  pass this vital legislation. For more information
  on this event, please email MFA's Toledo Regional
  Coordinator, Heather Gillen, or call her at
  419-304-4948.
• Where Sanger Branch Library, 3030 W. Central
  Ave, Toledo, OH
• When 700 p.m. - 830 p.m.

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• Beyond Legislative Efforts

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• Campaigns Targeting Business making news
• Undercover Hires Reporting - playing on media
  publics love affair with animals
• Threatening Letters sent to Producers/Processors,
  claiming cruelty
• Lawsuits
• Continued push on retailers
• Stock Purchase - Shareholder Resolutions (Hormel,
  Pfizer, California Pizza Kitchen, McDonalds,
  many more)
• Growing Violence Directed at Food Chain

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• For Animal Ag to Succeed into the Future, We Must
  Be Proactive
• NOW

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Important Things To Know

• All species groups have developed science-based
  Animal Welfare Guidelines on farm in processing
  facilities
• Many have developed guidelines for animal care
  well-being during transport (cattle, swine)
  others are working on it
• Many programs require producers and transporters
  be certified others are developing similar
  programs
• All groups have progressive environmental
  management programs

Alliance brochure providing summary of
industry-driven Animal Welfare Programs
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Things You Can You Do

• Help Animal Agriculture Tell Its Story Ensure
  Your Residents Understand Agricultures
  Commitment and Shared Values
• Consumers, Retailers, Legislators, Community,
  Local Law Enforcement, Media

National Milk Producers Federation and
Dairy Management Inc. Announce National Dairy
FARM Program Release Date January 21,
2009  Program designed to bolster consumer trust
and confidence in the U.S. dairy industry and
demonstrate the industrys commitment to the
highest levels of animal care and quality
assurance   Washington, DC The National Milk
Producers Federation (NMPF) and Dairy Management
Inc. (DMI) have announced the introduction of
the National Dairy FARM Program Farmers Assuring
Responsible Management
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The Animal Agriculture Alliance Can be a Resource

• Broadest Network of Stakeholders Across Food
  Chain
• International Animal Welfare Issues
• OIE Alliance is industry coordinator liaison
  to USDA
• Industry Response to Pew Commission Report
• Alliance is industry coalition coordinator
• Talking Points
• Third Party Experts
• Fact Sheets on
• Animal Welfare Guidelines Program all species
• Animal Agriculture Public Health
• Animal Agriculture Environment
• Antibiotics in Farm Animals (Antimicrobial
  Resistance Issues)
• Controlled Atmosphere Stunning

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The Animal Agriculture Alliance Can be a Resource

• Security Antiterrorism Resources
• Media Resources
• Alliance Social Networking Sites FaceBook,
  YouTube
• Consumer Oriented Videos on Animal Ag
• Collegiate Blog Ambassadors Program
• Educational Materials Programs

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Kay Johnson Smith KJohnson_at_animalagalliance.org (7
03)562-5160 www.animalagalliance.org THANK YOU!!