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Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Agricultural News and Information
Greg Gibson, Coordinator
Public Relations / Multimedia
1-800-227-8244 ext. 4154
or 601-977-4154
email: ggibson@msfb.com
Animal Cruelty issue still needs work
David Waide, President
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Mississippi Farm Bureau has taken quite a bit of criticism for opposing legislation which would make cruelty to dogs and cats a first offense felony. Farm Bureau is adamantly opposed to the cruelty, abuse, or mistreatment of any animals.
We are working diligently toward a solution to this problem. We did offer a compromise bill in both the House and Senate and supported that bill, but the bill did not make it through the legislative process. We did have the support of several other influential animal welfare groups. We will continue to work toward a solution to this problem as we move through the next session of the Legislature.
Animal activist spokespeople declare that the legislation that Farm Bureau was concerned about this year dealt only with cruelty to dogs and cats. Farm Bureau’s concern is that this type legislation will be used as a vehicle to open avenues for activists to extend their reach and push other, more extreme agendas.
The risk of their causing the discontinuation of practices that have proven to be humane and efficient methods for raising livestock on our farms is quite real. It has happened in at least four states across the country where this type legislation has already been enacted. In those states, livestock farmers are being driven out of business because of misconceptions by the public due to allegations levied by animal activist groups.
It is critical to our membership that our nation’s consumers continue
to have an affordable, abundant supply of safe, domestically-produced
food. Not all of us are agricultural producers, but everyone consumes
agricultural products.
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