@suzanagartner
By Suzana Gartner
A few days ago, I was experiencing one of the happiest moments of my life . I was on my way to pick up my older son, Andrew, from his first year at university. He had just finished his year of University and completed his term with honors. As a proud parent, there’s no greater joy than seeing your child thrive. I was bursting with pride and gratitude.
As we drove home on the highway, our car pulled up beside a transport truck filled with pigs — packed tightly in a metal cage, their eyes visible through the slats. I knew that they were on their final journey to the slaughterhouse. My heart ached. I felt a wave of sadness, anxiety, and helplessness. Andrew looked over at me, concerned that I would tear up, and although I didn’t cry, I was distressed. Instead of crying, I talked. I shared with him my ongoing heartbreak for farmed animals and reminded him and myself why this cause matters so deeply.
I remember a few years ago being inspired when Proposition 12 passed into law. It felt like a small change, but it was monumental. My passion for animals like those pigs isn’t just about them. It’s about a greater social movement; speaking up for them and against a system that treats sentient beings as if they were objects.
What Is Proposition 12?
Proposition 12 was approved by California voters to ensure that farm animals — specifically breeding pigs, egg-laying hens, and veal calves — are given at least a minimum amount of space to turn around, lie down, and stretch their limbs. For pigs, that means 24 square feet per animal; for hens, at least 1 to 1.5 square feet; and for veal calves, 43 square feet.
The law also bans the sale of animal products in California that don’t meet these minimum animal welfare standards, even if those products come from out of state. This has forced suppliers across the country, and even globally, to adopt more humane practices if they want to access California’s large consumer market.
The Backlash from Big Ag
Despite overwhelming public support, Proposition 12 has been under attack. After surviving a Supreme Court challenge in 2023 and legislative threats like the EATS Act, it’s now facing yet another attempt at dismantlement — the so-called “Food Security & Farm Protection Act,” a new bill introduced by Republican lawmakers.
This bill aims to override Proposition 12 under the pretense of protecting food security, but what it really protects is Big Ags bottom line. It could also set a dangerous precedent by threatening more than
1,000 public health and safety laws in other states — laws passed through democratic means, just like Proposition 12 was.
Why This Matters
Opponents of Prop 12 say it’s too burdensome. But let’s be honest: the standards it sets are minimal. It doesn’t stop the mass slaughter, nor does it protect all species — chickens raised for meat and cows are not covered. It doesn’t ban painful procedures like tail docking or beak trimming. And yet, even these small steps are too much for industries built on treating animals as commodities and production units, not as sentient, living, breathing individuals. We must not let these setbacks silence us.
My Hope for Farm Animals
Seeing those pigs on the highway trapped with no rights reminded me of something we often forget: farmed animals are some of the most vulnerable beings on this planet. They live and die almost entirely hidden from public view. They are born into confinement, stripped of autonomy, and killed without ceremony — all because they are seen as cheap, replaceable, and voiceless. We are their voices. We have the power and the responsibility to speak up for them. Not just when laws like Proposition 12 are under threat, but every day. Through our individual food choices, our conversations, and our advocacy, we can continue pushing for a better world where animals are treated with dignity and compassion. These helpless farm animals need our voices.
Stay committed. Stay hopeful. And most importantly, stay loud.
Together, we can continue building momentum toward a vegan, kinder future — one where no truckload of pigs passes unnoticed, and no law protecting animals is overturned in silence.
A Call to Action: How You Can Make a Difference
While Proposition 12 marked a significant victory, the battle continues as industry groups attempt to dismantle these protections.
Here’s how you can help:
* Stay Informed: Keep up with developments regarding Proposition 12 and similar laws. Understanding the issues empowers you to advocate effectively.
* Support Animal Welfare Organizations: Donate to or volunteer with groups like the Humane Society of the United States [1], Animal Legal Defense Fund [2], and Mercy For Animals [3]. They are at the forefront of legal and grassroots efforts to protect farmed animals.
* Educate and Advocate: Share information about the realities of factory farming and the importance of laws like Proposition 12 with your community. Use your voice to raise awareness and inspire change.
* Support Humane Farmers: Choose to purchase products from farms that prioritize animal welfare. Supporting ethical farming practices helps shift the industry toward more humane standards.
* Sign Petitions and Contact Legislators: Add your name to petitions supporting animal welfare laws and contact your representatives to express your support for stronger protections for farmed animals.
Organizations Defending Proposition 12
* Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF): ALDF has been instrumental in defending Proposition 12’s constitutionality, intervening in lawsuits filed by industry groups like the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation. Their efforts aim to uphold California’s right to implement humane treatment standards for farmed animals.
* The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): HSUS has been a leading force in supporting Proposition 12, both through legal intervention and public advocacy. They continue to work towards strengthening animal welfare laws and opposing efforts to dismantle existing protections.
* Animal Equality: Animal Equality is actively involved in legal efforts to defend Proposition 12 and is part of a coalition aiming to preserve and expand protections for farmed animals.
* Farm Sanctuary: As a member of the coalition defending Proposition 12, Farm Sanctuary works to protect farmed animals through legal action, education, and advocacy.
* Compassion In World Farming USA (CIWF): Campaigns against the live export of farm animals, certain methods of livestock slaughter, and all systems of factory farming.
Together, we can continue to make a difference. Although I will never forget those poor scared pigs on the transport truck and I will keep speaking up. Let’s ensure that the voiceless are heard and that progress for farmed animals moves forward, not backward.