West Hollywood City Council Passes Resolution Opposing One of Factory Farming's Worst Abuses

WASHINGTON—Last night, the West Hollywood City Council unanimously passed a resolution—introduced by Councilmember Jeffrey Prang—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 bill is the first of its kind in California condemning the confinement of egg-laying hens in battery cages as cruel and inhumane.

"Local governments have an opportunity and a responsibility to provide leadership on matters relating to social responsibility," stated West Hollywood Councilmember Jeffrey Prang. "I'm proud that the City of West Hollywood has been a leader in advocating for the humane treatment of animals, opposing the cruelty and abuses of factory farming such as the movement away from eggs from caged hens."

The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization with nearly 10 million supporters, praised Councilmember Prang and the rest of the West Hollywood City Council for speaking out on such an important animal cruelty issue.

"Little is more cruel and inhumane than the confinement of egg-laying hens in battery cages," stated Paul Shapiro, director of the factory farming campaign for The HSUS. "The Humane Society of the United States commends the West Hollywood City Council for sending a message to the egg industry with this resolution 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 they are unable 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.

Numerous Southern California retailers, including Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats Natural Marketplace and Jimbo's … Naturally, already refuse to carry battery cage eggs. Monrovia-based Trader Joe's has switched its private-line eggs to cage-free. California-based food service provider Bon Appétit is phasing out the use of eggs from caged hens in all of its 400 cafés. And California schools such as Claremont McKenna, Concordia, Berkeley, Stanford, University of San Francisco and Woodbury have eliminated or greatly reduced their use of cage eggs, joining more than 100 other schools 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.