The Pros And Cons Of Ag-Gag Laws

Every year worldwide, over seventy billion animals are killed for food in factories without the inclusion aquatic animals (“Factory Farms Overview¨). The animal rights movement began in Europe during the nineteenth century to protect horses, dogs and cats (Recarte 1). However, now modern animal rights groups have switched their focus to factory farms, test animals and the removal of ag-gag laws. The fight to create less painful and stressful environments in factories and the altogether removal of animal testing and ag-gag laws has been taken on by animal rights groups like ASPCA (“Factory Farms”). The biggest issue currently facing animals is factory farming.
Over 98% of all animals raised for food in the United States comes from factory farms which use inhumane methods to ensure a steady food production. Animals raised in

factories are confined to spaces many times barely the size of their bodies, almost never seeing the outdoors (“Factory Farming”). While conditions are different for every animal in factories, all animals are consistently being impregnated to produce milk and new livestock. Cow offspring are taken away from their mothers directly after birth and either sent into milk production themselves or raised for veal or beef. (¨Factory Farms¨). Not only are factories harmful for the animals, but for humans too. Diseases like e.coli and salmonella are spread much easier because of the dirty conditions (¨Factory Farms¨). Test animals are another major focus for modern animal rights groups.
Test animals are used for various dangerous and cruel experiments. Government does not regulate what can be done to animals under these conditions (¨Harm and Suffering¨). Animals are restricted to little or no movement, under bright, unnatural lighting. This causes major stress in animals. While 90% of all lab animals are birds, rats or mice, these animals are known to ¨show empathy and become more distressed while seeing others in stress.¨ (¨Harm and Suffering¨). Even without experimentation animals are known to experience trauma. The most common tests include isolation and restraining devices. Some animals are forced to have their ¨whole body immobilized.¨ Their feet are shocked and researchers claim this links to human anxiety and depression (¨Harm and Suffering¨). There are federal laws protecting animals, however there are several loopholes.
There are two federal laws protecting farm animals, however they include only transport and the slaughter of the animals.

Both of these laws exclude poultry and are filled with loopholes. The first says animals must be let out every twenty-eight hours during transportation. The other requires animals to not be able feel pain while being slaughtered. This once again excludes poultry and if slaughter is for religious purposes such as kosher, it is legal. In legislature ag-gag laws are set in place to hide cruelty to animals in factory farms. (¨Factory Farms¨). Laws set in place to protect animals in laboratories are very minimal. It excludes the 90% of animals and only requires specific living conditions and veterinary care. The law does not exclude any experiments or testing (¨Harm and Suffering¨).
The modern fight for animal rights has been geared toward factory farms and the removal of animal testing and ag-gag laws. Protection for test animals and farm animals has become an important focus for many animal rights groups including ASPCA. The end of uncomfortable and inhumane treatment of animals is still a fight thousands are fighting

for.