WASHINGTON — The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation’s largest animal protection organization with nine million members and constituents, claimed another victory today in the effort to combat the inhumane treatment of animals on farms. In cooperation with Sodexho, food service provider for Marist College of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., the College has agreed to eliminate the use of eggs from caged birds effective at the beginning of the fall 2005 school term. The college currently uses approximately 125,000 eggs each year.

In the United States, approximately 95 percent of eggs sold come from hens confined in barren “battery cages,” wire enclosures so small the birds can’t even spread their wings or engage in many other natural behaviors, such as nesting, foraging, perching, and dust bathing.

According to The HSUS Factory Farming Campaign Manager Paul Shapiro, “Birds in battery cages suffer immensely. Marist College and Sodexho have taken a bold step by phasing out the sale of eggs from caged birds, and we applaud their efforts to help reduce animal suffering and encourage other schools to follow suit.”

The move by the college came after discussions with concerned Marist students and The Humane Society of the United States.

“I'm so excited that Marist and Sodexho has listened to its students’ concerns for farm animal welfare and is no longer purchasing eggs from caged birds,” said junior Robin Henderson, president of Fox P.A.W., Marist’s animal protection group on campus. “Caged hens are one of the most abused animals in agribusiness and it’s exciting that our college will no longer support their suffering.”

The HSUS advised the Marist students and provided information on egg producers who do not use cruel battery cages, which are stacked one on top of the other inside huge warehouses on factory farms. The cages provide each bird with less space than a single sheet of paper on which to live, leading to extremely high levels of stress and frustration.

Most states’ anti-cruelty statutes either explicitly exempt common farming practices, no matter how abusive, or are never applied to farm animals.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization with over 9 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The non-profit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.