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A cartoon drawn by Patrick McDonnell, creator of MUTTS cartoon strip, regarding pig gestation crates.

(Patrick McDonnell)

By Patrick McDonnell

Virginia may be for lovers, but New Jersey is definitely for animal lovers. Our great state has enacted important animal protection measures such as Patrick’s Law (no relation), which increases penalties for extreme neglect of animals, a ban on horse slaughter, allowance for pet protective orders in domestic violence cases, and more. As well, many Garden State citizens sport animal-friendly spay-neuter license plates on their cars — plates I was honored to design.

Time and time again, our lawmakers have demonstrated their compassion for animals, and this year is no exception. Overwhelmingly — by votes of 29-4 in the Senate and 60-5 in the Assembly — they supported a common-sense bill (S1921, authored by Sen. Raymond Lesniak) to phase out the inhumane confinement of pigs in “gestation crates,” a common but cruel practice in the pork industry.

In pork production, mother pigs are confined 24/7 in gestation crates during their entire four-month pregnancy. The cages are so small they can’t even turn around. The animals are subsequently transferred into another crate to give birth, re-impregnated and put back into a gestation crate. This happens pregnancy after pregnancy throughout their lives, adding up to years of virtual immobilization. Yet pigs, just like dogs, are social, intelligent animals who want to avoid suffering just as much as the pets we treat as members of the family.

The Star-Ledger called this bill “basic decency,” while The Times of Trenton said the Assembly “should move swiftly toward passage and put the bill on the governor’s desk.” And S1921 did end up there, but very regrettably, that’s where it died, since Gov. Christie decided to veto the bill while under pressure from out-of-state pork interests.

Now, in response, New Jersey-based and national animal welfare organizations have joined together to urge state legislators to finish the job by reaffirming their support for this anti-cruelty bill and override the veto.

The campaign includes a new television commercial from The Humane Society of the United States showing pigs in gestation crates that will run on TV stations across New Jersey. These images are admittedly difficult to watch, but they reflect the unfortunate reality for millions of pigs in our country, and our lawmakers now have a chance to do something about it.

A statewide survey conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research revealed 91 percent of New Jersey voters support the legislation. Additionally, McDonald’s, Costco, Campbell’s Soup, Safeway, Oscar Mayer and 60 other leading food companies have announced plans to eliminate gestation crates from their supply chains. In fact, the controversial confinement system has come under fire from veterinarians, farmers, animal welfare advocates, animal scientists, consumers and others.

Similar common-sense legislation to end the use of gestation crates for mother pigs has been enacted in nine other states — most recently Rhode Island. New Jersey ought to become the 10th. The entire European Union, all 28 nations, has enacted such a ban.

It may seem obvious to most people that animals, whose normal behavior includes walking, should be allowed to — at the very least — turn around. This isn’t obvious to pork industry leaders. In fact, the National Pork Producers Council’s communications director recently told National Journal, “So our animals can’t turn around for the 2.5 years that they are in the stalls producing piglets. ... I don’t know who asked the sow if she wanted to turn around.”

This callous attitude toward animals contrasts with that of experts such as renowned animal scientist and pork industry adviser Temple Grandin, who’s clear on the topic. She argues that gestation crates “have got to go.” Grandin continues: “Confining an animal for most of [her] life in a box in which [she] is not able to turn around does not provide a decent life.”

The time is long overdue for the pork industry to acknowledge the writing on the wall and end this abusive practice. New Jersey lawmakers can help lead the way by reaffirming their compassionate instincts and turning S1921 into law.

Doing so would help our state continue to lead when it comes to animal welfare and set a precedent for others to live up to.

Patrick McDonnell resides in Middlesex County. He is creator of the syndicated comic strip “MUTTS.”

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