Floridians for Humane Farms Applauds Decision by the Supreme Court of Florida
To: State Desk Contact: Rebecca Fry, 813-933-1531

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 17 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, Floridians for Humane Farms -- ballot committee consisting of animal protection, environmental, and civic groups working to outlaw an intensive pig confinement practice used on factory farms -- applauded a unanimous decision by the Supreme Court of Florida declaring that the initiative petition now circulating throughout Florida contains one subject and has a fair ballot title and summary.

"We applaud the unanimous decision of the Florida Supreme Court," stated Wayne Pacelle, a senior vice president of The Humane Society of the United States. "This decision paves the way for the people of Florida to do what legislators have refused to do -- to protect certain animals from cruel and inhumane treatment."

"It is always our preference to have legislators recognize the importance of ensuring humane treatment of animals, but if legislators fail to act, the people will exercise their right to decide these issues at the ballot box," stated Nanci Alexander, president of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida.

"No animal should have to live three years of his or her life in a two-foot-wide metal cage. Yet that's exactly what happens to many pigs on today's modern factory farms. They are impregnated over and over again and forced to live in a cage so small that they cannot walk or even turn around," stated Michael Markarian, executive vice president of the Fund for Animals. The enclosure -- known as a gestation crate -- is a standard housing system in many states and it has begun to make its way into Florida

"We are excited that the people will have an opportunity to set policy to assure that large-scale pig factory farms do not colonize the state," stated Gene Bauston, executive director of Farm Sanctuary.

The initiative has been sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, Farm Sanctuary, and The Fund for Animals. Thus far, about 235,000 Floridians have signed the petition, and thousands of volunteers continue to circulate petitions.

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