Marvelous Michigan! Marvelous Maryland?

There's great news for animals in the state of Michigan!  The Michigan House has voted 87-20 to phase out some of the most cruel and abusive farm animal practices including gestation crates for pigs, veal crates for calves and battery cages for laying hens.  In fact, the Associated Press has reported that some lawmakers in Michigan say the measure passed so easily in order to avert possible animal treatment initiatives similar to those recently passed in Arizona, California and Florida.

So how does this good news in Michigan help the animals of Maryland?  It helps because lawmakers across the country are becoming aware of the public's growing concern for the humane treatment of farm animals.  More and more people are aware of the hidden abusive practices that cows, pigs and chickens are subjected to every day of their short lives.  Not only that but concerned citizens are willing to vote their convictions against animal cruelty through ballot initiatives.  If our lawmakers won't act with basic compassion toward animals, then animal lovers across the country have and will take the matter to the public in a ballot initiative---and win!

The question now becomes, what will the Maryland legislature do for her millions of farm animals subjected to these same cruel confinement practices?  Personally, I'm hopeful because I spend most of my weekends signing up new members for Maryland Votes For Animals and I see first-hand the compassion and concern that Marylanders have for all animals.  I have no doubt that one day soon I'll be able to write a new blog titled Marvelous Maryland! because together we've voiced and voted our concern for all the animals with whom we share our beautiful state.