Supreme Court May Strike Down Calif. Animal Welfare Law
FRESNO (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court seems poised to strike down California's 2009 ban on slaughtering sick animals for food, but 30 more new laws will still be on the state's books protecting animals.
The Humane Society of the United States has been working with the state's legislators to change policy governing the treatment of everything from dairy cattle to sharks. Policy changes in recent years have made the Golden State a U.S. leader in animal welfare legislation.
The HSUS says the landslide victory for Proposition 2, which gave laying chickens more room in cages, awakened lawmakers to citizens' passion for animals.
Critics say the animal welfare group uses scare tactics and videos to trick consumers into thinking that deplorable practices are widespread.
(Copyright 2011 The Associated Press)
