Serpa, Ruggerio Receive 2012 Humane State Legislator Awards

STATE HOUSE –The Humane Society of the United States recently awarded Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27,Coventry, West Warwick, Warwick) and Rhode Island Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) as Rhode Island’s Humane State Legislators for 2012. Each year, The HSUS recognizes select state lawmakers across the country who pursue path-breaking animal protection legislation and demonstrably advance reform in the policy-making arena.

Sen. Ruggerio and Rep. Serpa are recognized for their sponsorship of two farm animal welfare measures. The first (2012-S 2191Aaa, 2012-H 7180A) bans veal crates for veal calves and gestation crates for breeding sows – cages that permanently confine the animals and prevent them from even turning around – and the second (2012-S 2192Aaa) prohibits cattle tail docking, an inhumane and unnecessary mutilation. The bills were enacted in 2012, and the legislators’ sponsorships were instrumental in passing both.

“Senator Ruggerio and Representative Serpa have worked steadfastly to end the extreme confinement of breeding sows and veal calves and the tail docking of dairy cows. We are enormously grateful for their tremendous work,” said Matt Dominguez, public policy manager for farm animal protection for the HSUS. “Farm animals and residents of Rhode Island are fortunate to have these hard-working, compassionate legislators representing them in the legislature.”

Majority Leader Ruggerio said, “I am honored by this recognition from the Humane Society. It is particularly meaningful to me because of the tremendous work of the Humane Society here in Rhode Island and across the country. I want to thank them for their important advocacy on behalf of stronger laws to prevent animal cruelty, as well as all of their work to provide rescue and rehabilitation services.”

Said Representative Serpa, “This recognition means so much to me. The Humane Society does such noble work speaking up for defenseless animals who need and deserve protection. I’m proud to work alongside them and I appreciate their valuable contributions to our world.”

Renowned animal welfare scientist and advisor to the pork industry, Temple Grandin, is clear on the issue of gestation crates: “Confining an animal for most of its life in a box in which it is not able to turn around does not provide a decent life.” Grandin further states, “We’ve got to treat animals right, and the gestation stalls have got to go.”

Leading North American pork producers Smithfield, Hormel, Olymel and Maple Leaf Foods are ending the use of gestation crates at their company-owned facilities. Meanwhile, many family farmers have been raising pigs without the use of gestation crates for generations.

Nine U.S. states and the European Union have passed laws to ban the gestation crate confinement of breeding pigs.

The American Veterinary Medical Association, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and many industry representatives oppose the routine tail docking of dairy cows. The AVMA explains: “Current scientific literature indicates that routine tail docking provides no benefit to the animal, and that tail docking can lead to distress during fly seasons.” The CVMA states that “it has been shown that cows are unable to effectively keep flies away once the tail is docked.”