Prop 2 Inspires Formation of Grassroots Animal Rights Group

One of the most exciting results of Proposition 2 — California’s successful campaign to ban battery cages for hens, gestation crates pigs and veal crates for calves — is that it energized activists across the United States, introducing a new generation of animal advocates to the horrors of factory farming. Many of these people had known little, if anything, about agribusiness practices. But they literally took up the Prop 2 banner, getting involved in the fight to end the use of intensive-confinement devices in California.

Battery-caged hens. Photo by Compassion Over Killing

Now, taking advantage of the momentum generated by the California voter initiative, a group of activists has formed the Farm Animal Protection Project (FAPP). Located in Sonoma County, FAPP is an all-volunteer group that will use the knowledge, skills and tactics learned during the year-long Prop 2 battle and apply them to a permanent campaign for animals. The group will use leafleting, tabling, food outreach, film screenings, special events and other tactics to educate companies, schools and the public on how easy it is to reduce cruelty to animals, including not buying eggs from caged hens — or, better yet, not buying eggs at all.

“Throughout the Prop 2 campaign, we heard from farmers who were concerned that people would buy cheaper eggs from out of state once the measure passed,” says FAPP Director of Campaigns Hope Bohanec, who served as the Sonoma County coordinator for the Yes on Prop 2 campaign. “So FAPP will be reaching out to restaurants, grocers and school campuses in Sonoma County, urging them to support California egg producers once Prop 2 takes effect in 2015.”

Hope suggests that every county in the state form a grassroots organization similar to Sonoma’s FAPP. “Imagine the power this would create,” she says. “We’ll be able to say, ‘See how well Prop 2 works!’”

Paul Shapiro, senior director of the Humane Society of the United States’ Factory Farming Campaign, applauds the new group. “Prop 2 was the most important victory for animals to date, but it’s only one chapter in the movement’s history, and it’s time to start writing the next chapters,” he says. “As much momentum as we have from Prop 2’s overwhelming passage, progress is not going to be self-executing. Progress requires that we remain vigilant and active. We want to make sure that the advocacy community that was cultivated throughout the Prop 2 campaign continues to wage more and more victories for farmed animals. By working with local retailers to get them to stop using eggs from caged hens, we can make sure that progress does indeed continue.”

Although FAPP will be focusing on factory farming, the group’s campaigns will benefit other animals as well. “Helping people go vegan brings attention to fur, circuses, vivisection and other animal-related issues,” explains Hope. FAPP will offer monthly potlucks, bake sales, cooking classes and more, all outlined in an e-newsletter. The group will meet one Sunday each month in Rohnert Park.

With FAPP blossoming, two smaller animal rights groups in the county are folding. Members of Sonoma People for Animal Rights, co-founded by Marianna Mayer and Paul Toussiant 25 years ago, and Vegan Voices, which Hope founded in 1994, recognized the sense in channeling their energy and limited financial resources into one larger grassroots organization, thus compounding their outreach ability. (Other animal- and vegan-advocacy groups in Sonoma County include the Animal Legal Defense Fund, headquartered in Cotati, and Organic Athlete, located in Sebastopol.)

Hope says the Farm Animal Protection Project will be reaching out to other social-justice causes, such as the environmental movement, to work together. You’ll be able to learn more about FAPP at www.FarmAnimalProtection.org (the site is still under construction).

Being Prepared for Wildlife Rescues

The opportunity to help animals sometimes appears when we least expect it, so it’s good to be ready. Yesterday I was out for a run when I came upon an injured egret on the trail. Egrets love to wade in the creeks where I live in Sonoma County, but I never get close to them: they always move away as I run past them on the trail beside the creek, or else they leap into the sky, gracefully spreading their large, snow-white wings and flying to the safety of a nearby perch.

 

But this particular bird, whom I believe was a snowy egret, didn’t move. He was lying on his side, with one wing partially cocked in the air. I’ve had enough animal-related emergencies while running that I now keep a cell phone in my fanny pack, so I called a local bird-rescue group. The sound of my voice startled the egret, who managed to right himself and hobble a few steps away.

 

I was only able to leave a message with the bird organization, so I called Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue and told them I’d be bringing in an injured egret. Somehow. I ran back to my truck and enlisted the assistance of a friend. Together we drove back to the creek and managed to catch the egret, who was very weak. Fortunately, the rescue center was only a few miles away, and within minutes, the injured and stressed egret was in the hands of professional wildlife rehabilitators. I showed them on a map exactly where I’d found the bird, so they could return him to his home once he’d healed.

 

The lesson here is to be prepared by knowing the phone numbers of your local wildlife rescue centers and where they are located. Even if you live in an urban area, there are groups that specialize in birds, squirrels, raccoons and the countless other animals with whom we share this world. It’s also a good idea to keep a few things in the trunk of your car: a cardboard box, a blanket and some gloves will come in handy when rescuing small animals.

 

A few tips:

 

Baby animals are plentiful in the spring, but if they appear to be unhurt and are not in immediate danger, they’re generally all right. Chances are their mother is nearby collecting food for the little ones.

 

If you find an uninjured bird who has fallen from a nest, and you can find the nest, it’s OK to return the bird; the mother will accept him or her.

 

If you find an injured animal, place him or her in a covered box or carrier and put the box in a dark, quiet place. Make sure the animal can breathe inside the box and doesn’t get too hot or cold (bird rescuers recommend placing the box on a heating pad, turned on LOW). If the animal cannot be moved, cover him or her with a towel or blanket so he or she will stay calm until help arrives.

 

Don’t feed the animal or offer him or her water.

 

Immediately contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or agency in your area. (It’s not a bad idea to have those numbers programmed into your phone.)

 

For more advice, click here.