Call for a National Ban on Sow Stalls

On June 10th 2010, Tasmania announced it would become the first Australian state to commit to a total ban on the practice of confining pregnant mother pigs in 'sow stalls' — one of the cruellest practices ever inflicted upon animals in Australia.

The decision, which will alleviate some of the worst suffering endured by animals in factory farms, has been applauded by animal welfare groups and caring people all across the country.

'Sow stalls' are recognised as cruel the world-over, and have already been banned in the UK for a decade. Australian laws, however, still openly permit this cruelty, with no national ban in sight. Tasmania's announcement clearly shows that state governments are not obliged to follow flawed national standards that permit unacceptable cruelty to animals.

All pigs deserve to be free from cruelty. Please help urge the remaining Australian states to follow Tasmania's forward-thinking lead, and recognise that mother pigs confined in tiny crates don't deserve to suffer.

Take Action!

Subject: (please enter a subject line) Dear Decision Maker, (please edit the letter below, or send as-is) Recently, the Tasmanian Primary Industries Minister Bryan Green announced that Tasmania would ban cruel pregnant sow stalls from 2017 and reduce their use to 6 weeks per pregnancy from 2014. This decision has been widely applauded throughout Australia. I write to ask that your government introduce a similar ban, and acknowledge as the Tasmanian government has, that the outcome last national pig code of practice review was flawed and unacceptable. The Tasmanian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee diligently conducted an extensive assessment of the national code review process and determined that it had failed to take into account the interests of the animals, international precedents and pre-eminent science that confirmed that sow stalls inflict unacceptable suffering. An examination of this issue by your government would inevitably reach a similar conclusion. Implementing this flawed national code would legalise obvious animal cruelty and constitute a blatant miscarriage of justice. I ask that you address this issue as a matter of urgency, and similarly implement a phase out of sow stalls with a complete ban on their use by 2017. Sincerely, Your Name

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• State Animal Welfare Ministers (VIC, NSW, QLD, SA, & WA)

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