Farm Animal Cruelty

Posted byWill Brownsberger 117 Comments on Farm Animal Cruelty

Mary Mahony writes:

Hi Will,

I am writing to you in support of [the legislation] that bans gestation crates and veal crates. I am also very concerned about the Farm Bureau Bill. If passed they are not at all financially neutral and again, this could determine the fate of many animals in a very negative way.

It is actually quite concerning to me that many people have no idea of what goes on with the meat they are eating before it gets to their plates. If they did know, they might perhaps eat less of it and what they did eat, become very selective about where it is purchased. Mary

I share your concerns about farm animal cruelty. According to all I have been in contact with — and I have had extensive conversations with animal protection groups — we don’t have veal crates or gestation crates on any farm in Massachusetts. However, the legislation has prophylactic value and, more importantly, symbolic value in the nationwide fight to improve conditions in “factory farms.” I feel that Massachusetts should stand up on this issue and that doing so would be of benefit to local farmers — with this legislation in place they can more effectively certify that they are humane farmers.

For these reasons, I have been a strong and consistent supporter of the humane confinement legislation. I worked hard to get the support together to move it out of my committee, the Judiciary Committee, to the full Senate. I am now working to get support together for moving it to active floor consideration.

Update on August 2, 2014: To my chagrin, this is one of the bills that did not get through the final gate this session. Opposition from farm interests was impossible to overcome. Farm interests in Massachusetts said that they felt the bill, by prohibiting practices that they did not engage in anyway, was an unfair “black-eye” for them. My view was that they should embrace it as a certificate of quality which would justify the higher prices for meat from small local farms. My view did not prevail.

Please see this thread for more on my work in this area.

Published by Will Brownsberger

Will Brownsberger is State Senator from the Second Suffolk and Middlesex District.

117 replies on “Farm Animal Cruelty”

  1. Hi Will,

    Thanks for being a champion of animal welfare issues!

    I am 100% in support of Bill S.2232 188th (Current)
    “An Act act to ensure continued humane animal care in Massachusetts”

    When polled, over 90% of the general public support the ban of extreme confinement systems. This issue will certainly go to a ballot measure if not acted on prior to July 31.

    Let’s make this happen. I hope our elected officials address this Bill and to do the right thing now.

    1. Thanks for being a champion of animal welfare issues!

      I am 100% in support of Bill S.2232 188th (Current)
      “An Act act to ensure continued humane animal care in Massachusetts”
      Hi Will,

      I am a registered voter from Newton, Ma, and fully agree with Dr. Bolanis’s views as copied below.

      When polled, over 90% of the general public support the ban of extreme confinement systems. This issue will certainly go to a ballot measure if not acted on prior to July 31.

      Let’s make this happen. I hope our elected officials address this Bill and to do the right thing now.

  2. Dear Will,

    The bill is aptly named. It will ensure the “continued” humane care of animals in Massachusetts rather than backtrack on the quality of care these animals now receive. We are the stewards of these animals and we have moral and ethical responsibilities to assure they receive a decent quality of life before they are slaughtered for food. I commend you for your support of this bill; it’s the right thing to do for the animals and for ourselves.

    Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
    Joann Lindenmayer DVM, MPH

  3. Dear Senator Browsberger,

    Thank you for your leadership and efforts addressing the issue of farm animal cruelty in Senate Bill 2232.

    https://malegislature.gov/Bills/188/Senate/S2232

    As the guardian of over 200 precious animals, I wholeheartedly support your efforts to ban gestation crates
    and veal crates. There is no place for this type of farming in Massachusetts. What are we teaching our children when they ask, “why do people think it is ok to make animals suffer in torture chambers.” This may seem extreme to hear but often a question asked of volunteers at my sanctuary. What does this say about us as a nation? Thank you so much for caring.

    Thanks again.

    Sincerely,
    Debra White
    Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary

    1. Debra, I live in Mass. How can I be involved. Can you email me a list of organizations? I so get concerned about all animals! They need our help.
      Are there any farms on Cape Cod Ma that help animals? Email me info.
      Thanks for your work and devotion. Have a blessed week.Debra Ponte
      I support BILL#2232 TO BAN GESTATIONAL AND VEAL CRATES.
      i would like to stay informed..

  4. Hi Will –

    Thank you for supporting animal rights. I still can’t believe that we have to discuss this in 2014. All animals should be treated with respect and any company or employee who abuses an animal should be fined, fired and serve jail time depending on their actions.
    Wild animals belong in the wild and farm animals should be treated with respect.

    Thank you!

  5. Please support the bill (#2232) to ban gestational and veal crates, ending this cruel treatment of juvenile farm animals. Our own humanity is at risk if we continue this horrible practice.

    Thank you-

    Heather Cole

  6. Hello Will

    Please support the Bill #2232 to ban gestational and veal crates – stopping horrible treatment of farm animals. If you see all the good that Winslow does you would advise everyone to vote for this bill!

    Thank you
    Lynn Sargent Cobb

  7. Though symbolic this should be passed to ensure that Massachusetts stays true to animal welfare.

  8. I support bill #2232 to ban gestation crates and veal crates, no animal should be treated so terribly.

  9. Senator Brownsberger,

    Even though I am not from your District, I am asking you and other Senators to support Bill 2232 (Farm Animal Cruelty). There is no need for these or any types of abuse. It does nothing to make our food taste any better. As the public (non-farmers, ranchers) become more aware of the way animals are being treated we are seeing more outrage. We don’t treat humans in this fashion and would be sued if we did. Even prisoners, who have committed the most inhumane, malicious acts are treated better than defenseless animals.

    Thank you,

    Kathleen Pomeroy

  10. Dear Senator Browsberger,

    Thank you for supporting animal rights. All animals should be treated with respect and any one person or organization who abuses an animal should be dealt with.

    Farm animals should be treated with respect.

    Thank you!

    Reply

  11. Please support the bill (#2232) to ban gestational and veal crates, ending this cruel treatment of juvenile farm animals. These animals are living, breathing beings with spirits and feelings just like us.

    Thank you!

  12. It’s hard to believe or even think about what they do to these animals. I will never understand how people can do this! I’ve been a vegetarian for 10 years now and wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks for making this bill to help helpless animals

  13. Thank you for your leadership and efforts addressing the issue of farm animal cruelty in Senate Bill 2232.

  14. Hello,
    All animals deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. Animals are intelligent beings who think, hurt and experience emotions. Please pass laws to ensure they are treated with compassion.

    Regards, Jody Pinard

  15. Senator,
    I ask you to continue your efforts for the humane treatment of farm animals in Massachusetts and I support this bill #2232 to ban veal and gestational crates and allow farm animals more humane freedom of movement. Hopefully your vote will impress upon other senators to do the same for their states, and efforts will only increase from here to improve the treatment of our farm animals across our country.
    Thank you.
    Cheryl Clover

  16. Thank you for realizing that animals deserve respect in breeding, handling & care. animals are living , breathing, feeling creatures as we r & deserve to be treated kindly.
    We are a throw away society which has lost respect for mother earth & the life that dwells here.
    We need to have compassion & understanding when we are involved w/ any animal.
    In such a technical , material world we have forgotten the basics.If we are kind to the simple natural existence around us it will be kind to us.
    I am a positive thinker .I believe we can w/ a good leader bring to the surface what is in all our hearts.I hope u will be that leader for the dignity of farm & other animals in our lives .

  17. Thanks for being a champion of animal welfare issues!

    I am 100% in support of Bill S.2232 188th (Current)
    “An Act act to ensure continued humane animal care in Massachusetts”

    When polled, over 90% of the general public support the ban of extreme confinement systems. This issue will certainly go to a ballot measure if not acted on prior to July 31.

    Let’s make this happen. I hope our elected officials address this bill and to do the right thing now.

  18. Senator Brownsberger,

    I salute you for being an advocate of animal welfare concerns

    I am 100% in support of Bill S.2232 188th (Current)
    “An Act act to ensure continued humane animal care in Massachusetts”

    It is critical to eliminate the inhumane extreme confinement systems. This issue will certainly go to a ballot measure if not acted on prior to July 31.

  19. Please support the bill to ban gestatioal crates #2232, and end cruel practices of innocent farm animals. Every being has a right to humanity and being treated with respect.

  20. Ditto for- ” I feel that Massachusetts should stand up on this issue and that doing so would be of benefit to local farmers — with this legislation in place they can more effectively certify that they are humane farmers.

  21. Will,

    Thank you for your work on behalf of humane treatment of animals. It’s clear that support for this effort is widespread and the objectives of Senate Bill 2232 are essential. Cruelty has no place in our food production and must be stopped.

    Alan Semine

  22. Senator Brownsberger,

    I am a registered voter in Wellesley, MA and write to support passage of Bill S.2232 188th “An Act act to ensure continued humane animal care in Massachusetts”.
    Thank you for all your work on this important legislation.

    Sincerely,
    Teresa Cahill,MD

  23. Dear Senator Browsberger:
    I am in support of Bill 2232. Thank you for your commitment to support animal rights.
    Best,
    Jen Ostrosky

  25. Thanks so much for your work on bill S 2232 of rh humane treatment of farm animal. Hopefully this importatn measure will get passe.
    You have my full support.

    Barba M Helaye M.D.

  26. Senator Brownsberger,

    I admire you for being an advocate of animal welfare concerns, as I am an Animal Friendly person.

    I am 100% in support of Bill S.2232 188th (Current)
    “An Act act to ensure continued humane animal care in Massachusetts”

    It is critical to eliminate the inhumane extreme confinement systems. I support this bill wholeheartedly.

    Best
    Elaine DeGeorge

  27. Dear Senator,

    Thank you so much for supporting bill 2232. There is no room in this world for animal cruelty.

    Thank you,
    Adrianne Tedeschi

  28. Dear Senator,
    Thank you for supporting bill 2232 and for standing up for a truly just cause that also makes rational sense.
    With appreciation,
    M. Horrocks
    Cambridge, MA

  29. Dear Senator,
    Please support bill #2232 to ban gestational and veal crates. I cannot believe a human would even consider this an acceptable thing to do. I cannot understand how one earth have things come to this where anyone would consider it an ok practice. Please help end the cruel and inhumane treatment of farm animals.
    Thank you-

    Charlene Broadhurst

  30. Will,
    Thank you for caring for these animals and helping to protect them. Too often they are abused and forgotten.

    I fully support Bill S.2232 188th (Current)
    “An Act act to ensure continued humane animal care in Massachusetts”

  31. I fully support the Senate Bill 2232 to protect Farm Animals in Massachusetts. Thank you for being an advocate of animal welfare. Massachusetts should set an example for the rest of the country with this bill.

  32. Please do whatever you can to provide safe and humane conditions for our farm animals. When I learned what was required to produce veal 40 years ago I stopped eating veal. Unfortunately many of these farm factories utilize cruel conditions to save money. I support animal rights. Please do whatever is necessary to provide decent care for all of our farm animals. Massachusetts is known as a state that cares for the welfare of all. Let’s keep it that way.

  33. Please support the bill to ban gestational crates #2232 and end cruel practices of innocent farm animals. Every being has the right to humanity and being treated with respect.

  34. Please support the bill to protect animals from cruel conditions. There’s enough cruelty in the world.

    Kind Regards,
    Rebecca

  35. Please do everything that you can to insure the human treatment of animals. We must care for God’s creatures, human and animal. If we do not speak out for them, who will speak out for us

  36. Dear Senator,

    Your support of bill 2232 is much appreciated by both this human and, Im certain, representatives of many other species that rely on us for humane treatment.

    Thank you,
    Doug Sherman

  37. Please support the bill to protect these animals. They do not have a voice and we need to be there for them. Thank you for doing all you can to help.

  39. Dear Will,
    Thank you for your continued support of humane care of animals. I support Senate Bill 2232 and animal rights. We are their stewards and should not treat them with cruelty.

    Respectfully Yours,
    Kathryn

  40. Dear Will,

    I support the Senate Bill 2232. Please continue to help with this issue, the animals can’t speak for themselves and they have feelings too!

    Thanks,

    Linda Howes

  41. I fully support the Senate Bill 2232 to protect the rights of farm animals in Massachusetts. These animals are sentient beings and must be treated humanely. To do otherwise is extremely cruel.

  44. I fully support the Senate Bill 2232 and hope that you will too. As humans, it’s up to us to protect the welfare of animals.

  45. I am also in support of any bill that protects the welfare of animals. Please do whatever you can to ensure that this bill passes.

  46. I am in complete support of Bill S.2232 188th (Current)
    “An Act act to ensure continued humane animal care in Massachusetts”

    I am speaking on behalf of all the animals that have no voice and the rights they are entitle to. This is unacceptable and they deserve humane treatment.

  47. in regards to bill # s.2232. sad that we even have to propose bills like these. sad that as intelligent human beings, we would have to be told how to treat another living species. but it is reality that we do and must support this bill so that the caretakers of these animals that we will be eating for food, treat them humanely and have some respect for life. are these not Gods’s creatures too? please help this bill to pass.

  50. I support the Senate Bill 2232 one hundred percent. It is important we do what we can for the welfare of animals. Thank you, Senator!

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