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Will Pig Gestation Crates Be Banned in NJ?

October 28, 2014 by Leave a Comment


The News

NJ Governor Chris Christie has until early December to sign a bill banning gestation crates, the small cages that house sows (female breeding pigs) for most of their adult lives. According to the National Pork Producers Council, nine out of 10 sows in America are held in gestation crates.

gestation crates factory farm

Governor Christie vetoed a similar bill in 2013, claiming that pig farmers made a more persuasive argument than the activists. HSUS’ Matt Dominguez said his decision could have been based on political expedience: “The governor’s veto last year had more to do with presidential politics given that Iowa, the nation’s biggest pork production state, hosts the Republican caucuses come 2016.” The landscape, however, has changed. According to Dominguez, polls in Iowa show that voters “would think more highly, not less, of Christie if he signs this bill.”

Mercy For Animals Protest at Walmart

Mercy For Animals Protest at Walmart

Jane Velez-Mitchell reports on the status of the gestation crate bill in NJ:

Several public figures have spoken out in support of a ban. In 2013, lifestyle maven Martha Stewart sent a letter to NJ lawmakers asking them to override Christie’s veto: “These animals have committed no crime, yet they’re treated worse than even the most violent criminals would be treated.” In a recent NY Times op-ed, political commentator Bill Maher makes a public appeal to Christie to pass the new bill: “Would you cram a dog into a crate for her entire life, never letting her out, until you took her to the pound to kill her?”

gestation crates

What agribusiness doesn’t want consumers to see

In a NY Times op-ed in February, writer Nicholas Kristof said, “These are tiny stalls that are barely bigger than the pigs, who don’t even have enough room to turn around. They live out their adult lives without exercise or meaningful social interaction; it’s like a life sentence of solitary confinement in a coffin, punctuated by artificial insemination and birth.”

In August, a bill to ban the crates failed to pass in Massachusetts. In an industry journal, local hog farmer Lisa Colby declared a victory for “the rights of local farmers” and for “farmers’ choices in taking care of their animals.” Agribusiness justifies the use of crates by claiming that they “allow for individualized care and eliminate aggression from other sows.”

Your Turn

Gestation crates are being phased out in several states, and major pork customers like McDonalds are requiring their suppliers to phase them out. However, far more work needs to be done to eliminate these crates in the U.S. and worldwide. To help ensure a victory in New Jersey, please take the following steps:
1. Sign the Change.org petition
2. Tweet  Governor Christie (@GovChristie) in support of the bill and use the hashtag #signS998
3. Call the Governor’s office 609-292-6000


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TheirTurn.net Comments

  1. l butler says:

    So cruel

  2. V says:

    I can sympathize with the pigs having flown in coach on several airlines.

  3. Grete Kongshaug says:

    This practice has to end. It is unethical to threat animals like this, but the industry refuse to listen. Politicians; knowledge commits It is time to do the right thing, to show some decency and moral standard. Gov. Chris Christie, Sign the bill now!

    1. peter k says:

      Here’s an idea. STOP EATING THEM! Problem solved.

  4. Tammie Shawley says:

    End The suffering of the pigs let them at least have room to move no animal should be stuck in a crate this is why we need to ban just crates for everything shut down puppy mills also no animal deserves to be nothing but a breeder

  5. Adriana gonzalez says:

    We must to stop aniaml cruelty !!! its HORROBLE and UNACCEPTABLE.

  6. Kelly kane says:

    Who gave humans the right to treat any living creature in this way?? How would you feel?? They don’t do this to humans just leave them alone, we are all trying to live so treat them with the dignity and respect and peace they so deserve, they deserve it more than many humans

  7. Amanda says:

    It’s unbelievable what goes on, and I doubt Christie could care less.

  8. MARY says:

    DONNY, IT’S AMAZING HOW YOU HAVE SHOWED US HOW CRUEL ANIMALS ARE TREATED AROUND THE WORLD. IT IS BEYOND BELIEVE WHAT GOES ON. WITH PEOPLE LIKE YOU ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM, WE CAN ONLY HOPE THE SITUATION GETS BETTER IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

  9. Sarah macias says:

    No more Of these cruel ways Of treating animal… Banning is the solution. What s sad, misérable Life Behind that crate. And having her babies there sufferingvas well make me sick watching. Careless People with cruel treatments To animals are evil, money should Not be an excuse

  10. hortensebermudez says:

    Cruelty needs to be stopped. .everyone knows of the horror pain and suffering. .Humanity cannot allow this practice to continue. .

  11. hortensebermudez says:

    Cruelty needs to be stopped. .everyone knows of the horror pain and suffering. .Humanity cannot allow this practice to continue. .

Comments are closed.