Mutts Ado About Farm Animals

October 20, 2008


	©Patrick McDonnell

The cartoon strip Mutts has earned fame around the world for its charming dog and cat characters, Earl and Mooch.

Last week, Mutts celebrated farm animals as well as those familiar companions. Sunday kicked things off with a chicken who introduced herself to passersby with a brief plea for better living conditions on her egg factory farm.

In Monday's strip, a cow rang a doorbell in hopes of telling the residents about cruel and inhumane treatment of her species and others on factory farms.

She hoped that somebody would be home to answer the door and listen to her.


©Patrick McDonnell

The touching cartoons have a serious message.

In California alone, roughly 20 million farm animals suffer in intensive confinement inside battery cages, gestation crates and veal crates.

A modest measure on the California ballot this fall would allow those animals the room to stretch their limbs, turn around and spread their wings if they have them—not much to ask on behalf of animals who give us so much.

But Big Agribusiness, comparable in its wisdom and compassion to the Big Mortgage companies you've seen on the news lately, wants Californians to keep the convenient (for factory farms) status quo.

YES! on Prop 2

Animal advocates and farmers around the country are watching this ballot initiative, Proposition 2, with interest.

While the measure will technically affect only California, a "yes" verdict on Prop 2 will have a helpful ripple effect. Farm animals in other states will benefit when the industry realizes that nowhere do Americans want to make animals suffer to provide them with food.

But with fat wallets paying the opposition to run misleading ads, a vote in favor of Prop 2 is not a sure thing, even though every major newspaper in California to editorialize on Prop 2 has endorsed it.

So how can you help? Of course, if you live in California, be sure to vote yes on Prop 2. Whether you live in the golden state or not, check out the site YESonProp2.com for other ways to help.

And listen to those small animals' voices in the Mutts strip as they speak about their plight. Enjoy the cartoons, pass them along to your friends and family, and tell them about the importance of California's Proposition 2.

Those 20 million animals suffer right now in dismal confinement. Is anybody home?

Tuesday, October 14, 2008