Takoma Park City Council Passes Resolution Opposing One of Factory Farming's Worst Abuses

WASHINGTON — Last night, the Takoma Park City Council unanimously passed a resolution—introduced by Councilmember Bruce Williams (Ward 3) — opposing one of the most notorious factory farming practices: the intensive confinement of egg-laying hens in wire battery cages. The resolution states that the Council "opposes battery cage egg production, based on the inherent cruelty of confining egg-laying hens in battery cages," and further "encourages consumers of eggs not to purchase eggs produced by caged hens."

The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization with nearly 10 million members and supporters, praised Councilmember Williams and the rest of the Takoma Park City Council for speaking out on an animal cruelty issue of such importance.

Several Takoma Park residents attended the Council's hearing to testify in favor of the resolution, including The HSUS' Factory Farming Campaign director, Paul Shapiro. 

"Little is more cruel and inhumane than the confinement of egg-laying hens in battery cages," stated Shapiro. "The HSUS commends the Takoma Park City Council, whose resolution sends a message to the egg industry that it should begin improving its notoriously poor record on animal welfare, starting with a move toward cage-free production systems."

Egg-laying hens confined in battery cages have so little space that they are unable even to spread their wings or walk, let alone engage in other important natural behaviors such as nesting, foraging, perching and dust bathing. Each caged hen has less floor space than a single letter-sized sheet of paper on which to live, leading to extremely high levels of stress and frustration.

And in Washington, D.C., Councilmember Jim Graham recently introduced the Increased Consumer Information for the Sale of Eggs Act of 2006, which would require grocers in the city to disclose which eggs have come from hens confined in battery cages.

The fact that most caged laying hens can't even spread their wings inside battery cages has played a significant role in the growing trend of consumers and supermarket chains moving away from any association with eggs from caged birds. In the D.C. area alone, schools such as American University, Georgetown University, Georgetown Law School, George Washington University and Gallaudet University have eliminated or greatly reduced their use of cage eggs, joining approximately 100 other schools across the country. And retailers including Whole Foods and Trader Joe's and corporations such as AOL have ended or decreased their use of cage eggs, joining a number of other companies across the country 

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with nearly 10 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.