California farm animal victory!

by winecountrydog

You've never seen more smilin' people in Sonoma County than there were on Election Night 2008 at the Flamingo ballroom after California polls closed.


People ordered drinks while they were waitin' fur ballots to be counted. Some folks checked the numbers on cell phones.


Then the big screen flashed the news that Barack Obama had won. Cheers went up. Tears fell. People hugged. Dogs howled woo woo woo.

Anxious Proposition 2 campaign volunteers continued to keep their eyes glued to the big screen, waiting fur confirmation of a YES vote.


Finally the Prop 2 results flashed on-screen. YES! A victory fur farm animal welfare! Cheers went up. Tears fell. People hugged. Dogs howled woo woo woo.

Woof, we won! 6.1 million voters said YES! The Farm Sanctuary folks said

"The YES! on Prop 2 campaign has been the greatest undertaking on behalf of farm animals in U.S. history, raising enough public awareness and support to end three of the cruelest confinement systems with one ballot measure. . . ."

People danced and drank and smiled. The Thugz Cosmic Americana band played on into the night. Dog-ma went around through the crowd passin' out Prop 2 stickers.

People kept smiling as they ate Obama cake.


But, oh howl, there wasn't any Prop 2 cake.

That's okay. My Ani Siamese, always creative, will whip up some vegan cookies and a sign: Hurray fur California farm animals!

Paw-note: Farm Sanctuary has a statement about the passage of California Proposition 2 at MarketWatch. "Monumental Victory for Farm Animals: Nation's Leading Farm Animal Protection Organization Celebrates Precedent-setting Phase-out of Factory Farming Confinement Systems in Largest Agricultural State."

Today's the day U.S. humans vote fur humane change!

by winecountrydog and pawlitico

Today's the day that U.S. humans elect a new president. California humans also vote on State Proposition 2 today.

A YES vote will create some humane farming standards that alleviate the suffering of pigs, calves, and laying hens.

A YES vote will also create the opportunity fur humane consumers like us to support strong growth of a humane farm economy.

The following video shows what some Bel Air celebrities had to say about farm animal welfare at a big gala benefits fur YES on Prop 2. Be fur-warned: Watch this video only if you can handle some disturbing images of animals on factory farms.



Did you know that our pro-Prop 2 pawsition isn't 'cuz we want to make everyone vegan or vegetarian? What we hope to see is California farmers becoming leaders of the HUMANE Future Farmers of America (FFA).

Woof thanks to all humane farmers! You're the humane change we need in the world.

And woof thanks to orgs like HSUS and Farm Sanctuary, and to consumers everywhere who vote YES every day with their forks for the humane treatment of farm animals.

Wolfgang Puck on Prop 2 & humane farming

by pawlitico

You pawbably know celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck as the Los Angeles-based restaureteur, businessman, and owner of Spago Beverly Hills -- where Puck put Cal-Pan-Asian fusion on the world food map.

Back in 2007, when I was a young, carefree corgi, I wasn't following the news the day Chef Puck said he was rejecting the use of crated veal and foie gras. He then announced he was going to use eggs, meat, and poultry only from animals raised under strict humane care standards.

The other day, I pawed across a Humane California video in which Chef Puck told the world about this humane commitment. He also urged Californians to vote for Prop 2 -- the State ballot initiative to set humane standards for confining farm animals.



When a successful businessperson with a company the size of Wolfgang Puck Companies -- which includes 15 fine-dining places for humans, fancy catering services, express-food operations, canned foods, and much more -- announces he's limiting meat, poultry, and egg buying to only humanely-farmed sources, you've got to sit-stay and listen!

Chef Puck's humane pawsition negates doomsdayers' fears that implementing State Proposition 2 standards will put California farmers out of business. What his decision tells us is that huge consumer demand for humane food products is in the wings.

A word to the paw-wise: Farmers and food purveyors had better get ready now to supply humanely-farmed foods!

Cage-free eggs: cheap & eat 'em too?

by pawlitico

Dog-ma came home in a wee tizzy from last night's Great Egg debate about California Proposition 2, which was held on the campus of Santa Rosa Junior College. She said that the wonderful Paul Shapiro of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) debated the wonderful cage-free egg farmer, Steve Mahrt, of Petaluma.


Dog-ma sez it just isn't fair to have to argue about egg price over egg quality and nutrition. Besides, we wouldn't eat the eggs of cruelly-caged chickens even if they were givin' 'em away!

Our concern that laying hens be treated compassionately isn't compromised by caring about egg farmers like Steve Mahrt. After all, he and his family have been in the cage-free egg biz fur years, and he's now afraid that changes in regulations are gonna put him out of business.

Okay, so, what are we gonna do in order to see to it that laying hens are treated well and that the 'Steve Mahrts' of the Pacific region stay strong? . . . How are we dogs, who need animal protein in our diets, gonna help get rid of all inhumane farming of eggs, poultry, meat, and dairy!?

The answer from us Humane California Dogs: We're followin' the rule of fair prey! We companion animals have got to be humane consumers!

Look, my dog-ma had previously sat down and bellyached to me and Tilin Corgi and our Ani Siamese about declining terms of trade and other political-economic realities. Then she got into that thing about how either you're a leader, a change agent, or you're not.

So, all you doggehs, kittehs, and animal lovers: Is you is on the lead team or is you ain't? Either you're gonna lead the way in this period of economic change toward humane food production, or else you ain't! In other words, either you're gonna study up fast on the benefits of eatin' humanely-farmed animal protein, and then take that studyin' to the streets, or you're just not in the game.

And, in a sense, it is a game. It's the game of how humans whine about food prices while blowin' dollars on lotsa other stuff. C'mon, folks! You can't have your eggs cheap and have 'em tasty and cage-free, too.

But this is of course not a game to the "food animals" whose lives end when they become someone's prey.

Paw-leeze, humans everywhere, join us in investing in the humane food ethic and in a humane farming future. Be a humane food consumer!

And Californians, we'd better put paws up in favor of YES! on Prop 2. Otherwise the California farm economy and the regional farm economy ain't gonna stay ahead and be strong in the future.


We support a YES! on Prop 2 vote for ethical and economic reasons. The economic reason is to promote California's humane farmers as leaders in the New Egg economy. The ethical reason is self-explanatory. . . . Oh howl, I don't have to explain compassion, do I?

'Humane Dog' not waiting fur the world to change!

by winecountrydog

I was out this past weekend puttin' paws up for the humane treatment of farm animals. I, Tilin Corgi, was hangin' out with Jack Corgi and one of our dog buddies, in Petaluma — northern California's once-upon-a-time egg capital, still strong in egg and dairy farming.

Here are some of my other cool buddies at PET Out the Vote for YES! on Prop 2 in Petaluma.

On Sunday, I went to Sebastopol. Dog-ma and I walked around outside the wonderful farmers' market in the heart of town.


Walking back past Brown St., I spotted the message "PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK THIS DOOR." I took this as a metaphor for my humane campaign.


Pawleeze don't block the door to the humane future 'cuz we need to change!

Here's my open paw-letter explaining my humane pawsition.

I'm an 11-year-old Corgi who had a history of spinal disc pawblems. Last year, my holistic veterinarian got me to change my diet. I and my pet buddies started eating fresh organic animal, egg, and dairy protein from ONLY humanely-treated farm animals. Geez, good riddance to kibble and horrible factory-farmed food.

Long story short: The tremendous increase in my strength and vitality literally saved my life when I later needed emergency surgery!

How did this amazing experience change my family? Not hard fur you to guess! It raised our food-consumer consciousness to the max.

Out of gratitude for my life being saved, I started paw-writing about different stuff. Then I got involved in helping to pass California Proposition 2, the ballot initiative for setting standards for confining farm animals.

Can you imagine my going back to eating the flesh of animals or the eggs of hens who've suffered unnatural lives in tiny indoor cages? Oh howl, how ungrateful would I have to be to continue to stay on the old petfood animal-torture trail?

But this dialog about humane eating habits doesn't end at the polls in November 2008. As a dog, a companion animal, I'm not vegetarian or vegan. I've got to continue to have humanely-farmed animal-protein sources for myself and my furry friends.

My dog-ma and I hold a vision of the future. It's a future in which pets join humans as humane consumers. And it's a future in which consumers support humane farmers in their region. Everywhere in the world, we all need our regional humane farm economies to be strong.

Change starts with consumers refusing to buy or eat inhumanely-farmed poultry, meat, eggs, and dairy products!

I'm not waitin' fur the world to change. I'm going forth as Humane Dog.

Pawnote: Woof thanks to everybuddy who came out to PETaluma to put paws up fur YES on Prop 2! And woof thanks to Katie at KRSH.com fur being a super-compassionate purrson.

MUTTS farm animals ask for compassion

by winecountrydog

Our friend and neighbor, Ms. Mutts Hen, has an impawtant question fur humans, and she's taking it to the streets.


Patrick McDonnell, the artist who draws the MUTTS comic strip, created this and other cartoons to raise awareness for farm animal protection. The cartoons carrying the anti-cruelty message are running this week in 700 newspapers where the strip appears.

If you live in California, you pawbably already know why Mr. McDonnell's on the farm: He suppawts State ballot initiative Proposition 2 to create humane standards for housing farm animals.

I hope you get to see the cartoons in this eight-day series that shows laying hens, calves, and pigs campaigning on the streets and going door-to-door.

To read about Patrick McDonnell's pawsition on the issues, see the interview by Michael Markarian, prez of the Humane Society Legislative Fund.

Hey, MUTTS is givin' new meaning to the term "chicken strip"!

The first 'YES on Prop 2' TV ad

by pawlitico

I watched the first TV advertisement for California Proposition 2, which is about the treatment of farm animals. This TV ad launched just today.

As a humane dog, I cringed as I watched. I think humans might have a similar reaction. This ad contains graphic images of inhumanely treated animals.

I heard that the results of a recent poll show Californians favor the passage of Proposition 2. The poll sez voters are 72 to 10 percent in favor of Prop 2. The article about the poll is at California Progress Report.

I sure hope humans are making progress.

Pawnote: I'm worrying that the TV ad is too graphic and shocking. I mean, it's gruesome! But dog-ma and Tilin Corgi said maybe we better show it so humans know what's going on. Oh howl, I hope this was the right decision.

'Uncaged' YouTube hit comedy fur 'Yes on Prop 2'

by pawlitico

It's hard to keep a sense of humor during a pawlitical campaign.

But yesterday somebuddy called us "libturds," and we're still giggling. You see, we're supporters of California Proposition 2 — the ballot initiative for Standards for Confining Farm Animals. The libturd name-caller mistakenly assumed that all humane-farming supporters are liberals. Oops! Not true.

But now we like to refer to each other as "libturd dogs"!

We got an even bigger laugh from viewing the howlingly funny YouTube called "Uncaged."


This comedy vlog was made for the 'YES! on Prop 2' campaign by Free Range Studios, whose vision is this.

We envision a world where transformative social messages rise to the top of the media marketplace. In this world, organizations and inspired individuals who seek to create lasting positive change and expose essential truths will massively influence culture. We believe this vision will lead, inevitably, to a more sustainable, just and tolerant society.

PAWS UP fur Free Range Studios!

California 'Prop 2' egg battle

by pawlitico

Here in California we're having an egg battle. We're not throwing eggs: We're throwing comments back and forth between factory farmers and humane-farming advocates.

In the middle is the future of millions of hens and the California egg industry.


When humane Californians vote YES! on Proposition 2 in November, they'll be ensuring that California eggs will be cage-free eggs.

In other words, 'Yes on Prop 2' voters will be casting a vote in favor of enforcing the cage-free ethic for all egg farming.

Opponents of Prop 2 say this'll kill the California egg industry. No way! We believe those who say this'll convert it to a more profitable industry. We say this knowing that many of us in California — both we pets and our humans — already consume only regionally-produced cage-free eggs.

Here's an egg-cerpt about the egg battle from a piece by The CA Majority Report's Donald Lathbury. It's entitled "No on Prop 2 Campaign Funded by the Same Out-of-State Egg Producers that the Campaign Claims would Benefit if Prop 2 Passes?"

Surely out-of-state egg producers are chomping at the bits to see Prop 2 passed then, since they anticipate a flood of new business as California's egg producers are put out of business, right? Curiously, no:

"Thirteen Iowa companies have made nearly a quarter of a million dollars in donations to 'Californians for SAFE Food - No on Prop 2,' a coalition organized to fight a ballot measure amending the state's health and safety code in relation to the confinement of livestock."

Ok, I'm confused. Riddle me this, factory farmers: why would 13 Iowa egg producers dump a quarter million dollars into an opposition campaign to a California proposition that would increase Iowa egg producers' market share? If the No campaign's talking points were true, Iowa egg producers (along with donors from factory farms in Nebraska, Maine, Colorado, Utah, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, and well, every state in the country with battery cage egg production), if anything, would be giving money to the Yes side. That's business, right? Make your profits where you can by digging into the markets of your competitors.

Something doesn't fit here. Maybe, just maybe, the outside egg producers that have dominated the finances of the No campaign are afraid that the old adage, 'as California goes, so goes the nation,' applies in this situation.

And if that's the case, then far from exporting our egg production to other states, Prop 2 actually exports our more humane farming practices to other states, hence the fervent opposition from folks who love to squeeze as much profit as they can from stuffing six-to-eight hens in cages so small that they cannot turn around or expand their wings. . . .

Howl, we want California to export humane business ethics, thereby promoting humane farming practices everywhere.

Under the Prevention of Farm Cruelty Act, pigs and veal calves will be humanely treated too.

Now's the time for conversion to cage-free production.


California humans, paw-leeze end the inhumane-ity and the egg battle: Cast your YES vote on PROP 2!

Vegetarian motorist's pig nightmare

by winecountrydog

When humans' food preferences don't mix with automobile driving, accidents can occur.


Spiegel Online International ran a story entitled "Road Hog: Vegetarian Driver Suffers Pig Nightmare on Motorway."

A vegetarian woman driving down a motorway in Germany was so traumatized at the sight of a truck loaded with pigs that she lost control of her vehicle and careened into another truck, which was also filled with pigs, police said.

"The woman found herself driving next to a large pig transport truck and the sight of the pitiful animals made her feel so sick that she jerked her steering wheel and started swerving," police in the western town of Gütersloh said in a statement released on Thursday.

"The result of her swerving was that the woman's van struck the side of another truck … which was also loaded with live pigs. The woman suffered little more than a fright but we were unable to ascertain anything about the state of the pig's health," police said.

Vegetarian motorists, beware of large open trucks.

Photo credits: Farm Sanctuary and Californians for Humane Farms: YES! on Prop 2

You want to do the funky chicken?

By pawlitico

I want to do the funky chicken. Look, I can do it without moving my legs or turning around!

I don't want to be free — I don't want to have to cross the road and then put up with humans asking me why I did it. I want to party like a battery-caged factory-farm chicken.

Doggoneit, I was looking furward to shackin' up with some cute local chickens in a claustrophobic yet cozy cage. But in November 2008, Californians will vote on Prop 2, the ballot initiative for the Prevention of Farm Cruelty Act (see PDF).

The Act requires that "an enclosure or tether confining specified farm animals allow the animals for the majority of every day to fully extend their limbs or wings, lie down, stand up, and turn around."

When the Act becomes law, it will, among other things, require CA egg farmers to move their 19 million caged chickens into cage-free facilities by 2015.

Egg and poultry farmer Arnie Riebli is a smart human. He saw this cage-free day coming. His family's been in the egg business in Sonoma County for 100 years. They're Sunrise Farms, the county's largest egg farm, producing one million eggs a day. Mr. Riebli's prepared whether or not the new law passes: Some of his chickens are cage free and some are not.

You can see egg farmer Riebli, and also Hope Bohanec, coordinator for 'YES! on Prop 2' for Sonoma County. The video makers labeled this a "debate" and "a look inside the egg industry." Woof? In reality, it's a look inside Sunrise Farms, with some sensible commentary from the two interviewees.

Palweeze learn more and join in supporting the initiative at the official 'YES on Prop 2' website.

Pawnote: You want to "Do The Funky Chicken"? Download this hit song by the late R&B/soul legend Rufus Thomas, who also did "Walking The Dog." Let's get funky for freeing the chickens!

Stick the bike pedals

By winecountrydog

Dog-ma loves bicycles. Dog-ma told me that her dad was a UK cycling expert back in the day. He knew about gears, panniers, and sidecars before Trek and trekkies were born.

As a dog, I could hate cyclists. But I don't even chase them. What I'm peeed off about is one human cyclist on a street by a local college — that is, one Bike Hotshot who didn't like sharing the road with our car.

Imagine what did the pedaling idiot deliberately did: He faked a left turn into a crosswalk right in front of our car.

Dog-ma had to hit the brakes. It's a good thing Jack Corgi and I were wearing doggie seatbelts.

May I interject this concept at this juncture — as Woody Allen once said so innocently, before he dropped a verbal bomb: May I suggest that the pedaling idiot stick the pedals where a pedal doesn't shine?

Howl, yes, I'm peeed off. You don't ever hear me bark like this unless somebuddy threatens my life. It's not bad enuff that I'm recovering from life-saving back surgery? Now I've got to have a pedaling idiot try to make me a vegetable?

Vegans, I'm not demeaning vegetables. You know I like tryveg.com. It's just that, as a dog, I need slightly more mobility than a veggie has.


Paw-leeze, all you cool cyclists, tell fellow humans not to fake out car drivers with sudden bicycle moves. It only leads to accidents, which cause disability or death. Such a stoopid human trick it would be for a cyclist to mame or kill 'cuz of arrogance.

Dog-ma and I still think it's great to bicycle. Especially with a doggie sidecar.


I wanna bark about nice bike tours: Tour d'Organics. It's a doggone great idea for human bicyclists to do a tour with organic venues.


Local farms host the rest stops, which are well stocked with local produce and snacks. Howlingly terrierrific!

I'm an organic dog and a big Humane California farm supporter. So, I say, what could be better than Tour d'Organics? Paw-leeze check out the 2008 tours — the 4th annual. Ride first in Sebastopol, California, on August 17, and then in Portland, Orgeon, on September 6.

I can't go 'cuz I'm healing. But I hope you dogs get to go in your sidecars. Pawmail me about what a great time you have!

Practice the rule of fair prey!

By winecountrydog and pawlitico

It's great that Humane California is building a big ark of animal-protection supporters for the 'Yes on Prop 2' initiative. We see names of new supporters all the time.

Proposition 2 is the November 2008 ballot initiative for the Prevention of Farm Cruelty Act. The Act will phase out cruel and inhumane factory farming practices in California.

Hey, not that Californians practice more inhumane-ity than anybuddy else, but this is where we live and eat — and where we must have an ethical food supply.

Can you imagine how many pigs, calves, and hens around the globe have to spend their lives in tiny cages, where they can't turn around or stretch their limbs? Even one would be one too many. As dogs, we're freaked out at the very thought of being caged up all our lives.

We and our dog and cat buddies will not eat any "food animal" who didn't live a good life of freedom. We're not only healthier: We digest a lot better knowing that we practice the rule of fair prey!

Humans who raise animals for food should stop unfair practices without being asked to by the government. But it seems that not all humans volunteer to be nice.

Many veterinarians are nice Prop 2 supporters. We're happy that one of our purrsonal vets, Jona Sun Jordan, DVM, is among them. Another pro-Prop 2 vet is Eric Barchas, DVM (who writes Dogster & Catster Vetblog). Paw-leeze ask your veterinarians about their Prop 2 support.

We're also happy when mayors endorse Prop 2. In northern California, we see these mayors who are pro-Prop 2: Sebastopol Mayor Craig Litwin, Novato Mayor Pat Eklund, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo.

Mayor Fargo (seen in photo with Sac SPCA director behind her) was spotted at a 'Yes on Prop 2' event sponsored by the Sacramento SPCA and Sacramento for Humane Farms, held July 27 at the Sacramento SPCA on Florin-Perkins Road.

Dale Howard, campaign manager for Mayor Fargo, attended the event with the Mayor.

Mr. Howard tells us that Mayor Fargo is a longtime supporter of animal welfare issues and also cat-ma to a handful of happy cats. He adds, "The Mayor will be very active in supporting the measure as it moves forward. Animal issues are kind of a favorite subject. . . . The Mayor and I almost left the SPCA event with a carload of animals."

Wow. Animal shelters should host more events at the shelters, then the humans who could would take the shelter animals home with them.

Atlas the Labrador is another 'Yes on Prop 2' supporter. He wonders What kind of human wouldn't vote in favor of Proposition 2?


Photo credits: Dale Howard (Atlas's 'pro-Prop 2' human)

'Vote Yes on Prop 2' House Parties

By pawlitico

You probably heard that I turned 21 in dog years on July 23? Now I can go out with the human party animals. But what I'm really into is finding all the HUMANE party animals.

Such good timing: On July 27, Humane California supporters from around the state will host or attend their local "Vote Yes on Prop 2" House Parties — a fundraising event for the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, a November 2008 ballot initiative in California.

You can sign up to attend a party near you even if you don't have big bucks. Just show your face to support the initiative and the House Party hosts and to network! It's so easy to sign up. Go to HumaneCalifornia.org and click the link Find a party near you.

If you don't get to a party, you can still help support the initiative by making a small online donation, volunteering to distribute campaign materials, and networking on MySpace and Twitter.

As the Humane California people say, "It is cruel and inhumane to confine animals in cages so small they can’t turn around or stretch their limbs. All animals deserve humane treatment, including those raised for food. Vote YES on Prop 2 to protect animals from unacceptable abuse."

I can't imagine living all my dog years confined in a tiny cage! The thought of it freaks me out. I'd rather be euthanized. . . .

Paw note (from pawlitico): Re. "dog years," some humans say that one human year is equivalent to seven dog years. Other humans say that, for every calendar year, a dog ages between five and eight years. I wonder what humans say about how many "animal years" a confined animal ages in one calendar year.

'Taking Action for Animals'

By pawlitico

Taking Action for Animals 2008 was held July 19–21 in Arlington, Virginia. There was a huge turnout for this TAFA conference.

What's driving the tremendous growth of the animal protection movement? The best answer comes from Grace Markarian in her response to a question about her HSUS role: "There is no moral justification for cruelty to animals. Knowing this will be a beacon on those dark days when you wonder if you are doing any good. Because the answer will always be yes."

TAFA 2008 included more than 75 speakers who are experts in animal issues and campaigning. Highlighted speakers from the West included U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer from Oregon (Dem), who was 2007 Humane Legislator of the Year, and Jarrod Cooper, Oakland Raiders player (safety).

Some of my favorite causes were represented. The Dogs Deserve Better team was there.


Alley Cat Allies, the national group that helps feral cats, had a very nice booth.


The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) was well represented, of course. Farm Sanctuary's founder and president, Gene Baur, was a featured speaker. So many booths with impawtant animal people and organizations! Rabbits, chimps, and prairie dogs had advocates, too.

Michael Markarian, head of the HSUS Legislative Fund (HSLF), was there. The HSLF is a separate lobbying affiliate of HSUS. HSLF publishes the Humane Scorecard, a Voter Guide, and HumaneLines, a free electronic newsletter with news and action alerts.

I'm a political dog — that's why they call me "pawlitico" — and I'm in accord with the HSLF slogan "It’s time to get political for animals." In California, I'm helping to get the word out about the November ballot initiative to Prevent Cruelty to Farm Animals. Tell all California humans to Vote Yes on Prop 2!

"On those dark days when you wonder if you are doing any good," know that you are, just by caring about little four-footed friends and other animals.


Credit for photos: Grace Markarian, HSUS

Paw note: This article is the first piece by pawlitico, our new team member. Pawlitico is the nom de paw of Jackie — a young, energetic and politically-minded canine whom we'll be hearing more from in the months and years to come.