follow up on conklin dairy

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Like everybody who commented on my earlier post about the abuses at Conklin Dairy I am beyond disturbed by what passes for acceptable conditions at dairies and other farms where animals are raised for slaughter.

I recently learned that the main perpetrator of the abuse Billy Joe Gregg  pleaded guilty on Sep. 27. He was sentenced to serve 8 months in prison of which he will likely serve only four. He is also banned from contact with animals for three years.

As I mentioned in my earlier post you can sign a petition at change.org to demand that the dairy farm be completely shut down and that Conklin's crew be arrested and charged with animal abuse. The petition will be sent to local and state representatives and you can also track progress on this issue at Ohio Humane as well.
 
If you would like to boycott Conklin Dairy the surest way to do so is to avoid dairy altogether see chapter three of The Kind Diet about why dairy is bad not just for the animals but for your body as well. However if you eat dairy or feed it to your family you'll want to buy organic dairy products which Conklin Dairy does not produce. Or get to know the organic farmers at your local farmers market so you can personally understand where your dairy is coming from. But I have to emphasize again that there is no way dairy is cruelty free even when buying organic so the safest way to boycott animal abuse is to avoid dairy completely - see my blog about organic dairy to learn more.
 
I also wanted to follow up on the Conklin Dairy story in a broader way to let you know what you can do to help even if you do not live in Ohio. Congresswoman Diane Watson D-CA has introduced a bill called the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act HR 4733 that would  prohibit the  government from purchasing any animal products from animals raised in crates or cages that prevent animals from standing up lying down or turning around. If passed it would affect millions of animals who suffer inhumane treatment. This would also ensure that school children are not exposed to meat derived from "downers" or sick animals that are let into the food supply. This federal bill is similar to California's Proposition 2 which passed in 2008. Expanding California's regulations on a national level would be a step in the right direction for animal rights across the country.
 
States currently considering animal rights legislation are Hawaii Massachusetts New Jersey New York and Rhode Island. To see what you can do to get these laws passed on a state level across the country go to Farm Sanctuary.
 
It makes me sad and sick to have to ask for such things for these animals. We shouldn't have to fight for them to be in slightly bigger cages or boxes…it's very sad that we have to fight for every little centimeter of space for them. But while this abusive system persists we must fight for them to have a tad less suffering during their mostly miserable lives.
 
So to support this bill which is far from perfect but still signifies progress toward ending animal abuse you can call or email your federal representative. Please if you have the time calling and emailing is best. Farm Sanctuary provides a nice email form letter here. Remember that if you personalize your letter your representative will be more likely to read and remember it!

As of June 18 2010 the bill was referred to the House Subcommittee on Livestock Dairy and Poultry. If you like you can find out who sits on this subcommittee here and contact them too.
 
Slowly but surely we are getting there.

I pray that before I die I'll see a day where eating animals will be viewed as some strange and archaic habit of the past and that everyone will have long ago realized how damaging it was to our bodies our planet and the creatures we share it with.
 
I hope to at least see a future where if anyone does still derive food from animals it's in a world where factory farms have been replaced by small family farms; where animals are raised with compassion as living creatures that we treat with respect during the time the farmer lets them live instead of discarding like inanimate products. I'd love to see a day when no animals are killed but if they must be let it be done with humanity and reverence in a place where they feel at home by a farmer who has a personal connection and an emotional understanding of the grim duty he chooses to perform.
 
Hey a girl can dream no?

Let's all do everything we can to make this dream a reality!