Protect Mother Pigs from Cruel Gestation Crates
It's standard practice in the Canadian pig farming industry to lock up pregnant pigs in gestation crates—cages so small that the sensitive animals can't even turn around or interact normally with other pigs. Gestation crates condem pigs to a miserable existence, and are considered so cruel that they are banned or severely restricted in at least nine US states, the UK, and the European Union.
In 2014, the pig farming industry committed to phasing out the continuous use of cruel gestation crates by 2024, following intense public pressure by Canadians. The commitment was enshrined into the Pig Code of Practice, a voluntary set of industry-created guidelines for pig farming.
The 10-year timeline was long enough, but now pig farmers are backing down from their commitment and delaying the phase-out until 2029. This betrayal condemns mother pigs to a further five years of crated cruelty.
The Pig Code has no legal effect, and is produced via the National Farm Animal Care Council—a non-profit dominated by the meat industry. Instead of letting the industry make up its own rules through unenforceable, voluntary codes, it's time for the government to act. Join Animal Justice in calling on the federal government to regulate farming, and act swiftly to outlaw some of the worst abuses like gestation crates.
The meat industry exists to make money—not to protect animals. It's up to our governments to step in and regulate the secretive farming industry.