Target: Supreme Court
Goal: Review your recent ruling against a progressive law in California assuring the humane killing of animals that arrive sick and injured to the slaughterhouse
In 2009, the Humane Society in California released a video that exposed the brutal treatment of animals that arrive injured or sick to slaughterhouses. California responded by creating a law that guaranteed the humane killing of downed animals. In January, the Supreme Court overturned that rule, allowing ruthless agricultural industry leaders to continue to put profit over suffering and treat animals inhumanely. Tell the Supreme Court that they need to review their decision and affirm that animal suffering is not in the interest of anyone.
The video released by the Humane Society shows video of cows that could not stand that were beaten and dragged with chains, pushed with forklifts, and eventually slaughtered. California’s law mandating the humane killing of animals that arrived sick or injured particularly helped pigs, who are the least protected under federal law. Federal law says that a “downed pig can be slaughtered if it is deemed free of disease.” As many as 44,000 of the 100 million pigs killed every year are unable to walk upon arriving at the slaughterhouse. The merciless slaughter of animals that are sick or injured (and may have dangerous diseases) is not in the interest of consumers or producers. The Supreme Court has once again showed its preference for agribusiness giants by allowing the slaughter of animals that cannot even walk. Tell the Supreme Court that the issue will be challenged in court and they should reconsider their decision.
Justices of the Supreme Court,
Your recent decision to overturn a California law mandating the humane treatment of animals that arrive at slaughterhouses weak, sick or injured hurts more than just the animals involved. Consumers have overwhelmingly showed their preference for meat that has been slaughtered humanely; forcing animals that can barely walk into slaughter pens is unsafe and just cruel. Federal laws concerning the welfare of animals in slaughterhouses, particularly pigs, is already far too weak. Californians have shown that they want cows, pigs and other animals treated humanely, don’t rule in the favor of the profits of agribusiness CEOs. Please reconsider your decision concerning California’s animal welfare law.
[Your Name Will Go Here]