Big news: The Obama administration has proposed new rules that would dramatically strengthen the animal welfare requirements in the organic program. You can take action by letting the US Department of Ag know that it’s time to finalize these important improvements.

Assuredly you read Meat & Poultry magazine, right? But just in case you missed the new issue, it has a major feature on our battle to ban chicken cages. The article goes back to the beginning, noting that “Growing public concern accelerated in 2005 with an HSUS campaign to raise consumer awareness about the plight of caged hens.” And in a testament to the campaign’s success, the story asserts, “It’s no longer a discussion about whether to convert egg production from cage to cage-free operations, but rather when it will happen.”

There’s so much movement against cage confinement of hens in the US that for the first time, the UK animal protection movement is now calling on British companies to make the same progress for chickens that US companies are making.

Finally, if you’ve been living under a rock and missed the amazing story of Inky the Octopus’ great escape, enjoy.

Paul Shapiro
Vice President, Farm Animal Protection
The Humane Society of the United States
Follow at twitter.com/pshapiro

P.S. Video of the week: You can’t go wrong with a piglet and a kitten.

On Sunday, April 3 Animal Place, one of our favorite farm animal sanctuaries, rescued 1,310 chickens from a battery egg farm in Southern California. 1,310!!!! I can’t even count that high!!! Now instead of being killed and thrown in the trash, these dears will be nursed back to health and eventually adopted into new forever homes!

In the meantime, Animal Place needs your help! They are asking people in the greater Bay Area to volunteer at their Vacaville Rescue Ranch. I’m sure even one afternoon would help so much! And you would feel so good helping these sweet, abused girls. 

More details:

To sign up, message volunteer manager Jonathan Hussain at jonathan@animalplace.org. Training will be provided, and first time volunteers 18 and older are welcome. All volunteering for this rescue is happening at Animal Place’s Rescue Ranch located at 3448 Laguna Creek Trail, Vacaville, CA 95688. Here are the current volunteer opportunities:

HEALTH CHECKS  (30 volunteers per day): APRIL 23 & 24 @ 9AM – 2PM:

Laying hens often suffer from lice, reproductive problems, and all sorts of acute injuries in a production setting. Performing health checks and giving proper care is one of the most important aspects of any rescue.

BARN CLEANING (2 volunteers per day): EVERY DAY @ 8AM – 12PM:

Come scoop some poop! We clean barns every morning to keep them sanitary and free of disease.

Those interested in adopting rescued hens can learn more and apply at http://animalplace.org/adoptable-chickens/.

Yay you guys we can do this!!! Come on Bay Area!

Hello, my pals! Time to look inside last month’s Vegan Cuts Beauty Box!

There was LOTS of exciting stuff this month. In fact I usually share it all with my coworkers and save one thing for myself but this time I saved four things for me haaaaaa. I kept the Pacifica roll-on perfume in jasmine lime, cause I heart jasmine! I also kept the votive from October Fields, has a strong scent but smells v nice. Like fresh and clean. I’m also super excited about the black soap body wash from Shea Radiance. And lastly I kept the 8-way Thermal Spray from DermOrganic. I get my hair colored and I’m hoping this will keep it from fading!

This month’s box also came with a nice vegan eyeliner from Earth Lab Cosmetics and an eye cream from Everclēn. I have an eyeliner and eye cream I’m dedicated to so I shared these. 

Ok that’s all for now! See you next month!

I got this for free but if you want to try it, the box subscription is $19.95 a month, shipping included (for US addresses. International is more).

Did you hear that? It was a major nail being hammered into the battery cage’s coffin this week.

In an egg industry earthquake, Walmart—which sells a quarter of all U.S. groceries—announced it’s ending its sales of eggs from caged hens.

As well, I have somewhat of a family connection to one of the recent cage-free announcements, as I describe in a Virginian-Pilot op-ed this week.

These corporate announcements certainly put us much closer to the end zone in our battle against cages than we’ve ever been, but it’s game on in Massachusetts, where HSUS has begun reserving ad space for this November’s electoral battle over extreme confinement.

Finally, HSUS’s work helping hospitals slash the amount of meat they’re serving moved to Washington, as you can read about in theYakima Herald. We’re also working to help plant-based food companies, as described in this great Guardian story about how venture capital could help end factory farming.

Paul Shapiro
Vice President, Farm Animal Protection
The Humane Society of the United States
Follow at twitter.com/pshapiro

P.S. Video of the week: What happens when pit bulls meet ducklings?

Hello hello! Have you been following Shelter Me? It’s a new TV series that shares shelter success stories to bring positive attention to the many wonderful animals waiting in shelters. 

Ok, now that you’re caught up! This Thursday, April 7th, Shelter Me is hosting a screening of their latest episode, “Shelter Me: Hearts & Paws”! This new episode features Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) with “a candid look at New York City’s only open admissions shelter, through the perspective of award-winning artist and animal advocate Patrick McDonnell, creator of the MUTTS comic strip.” And Patrick McDonnell will be at the screening!

Deets:

Thursday, April 7, 2016
7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
School of Visual Arts, Silas Theater
333 West 23rd Street

Get your tix here!

For you west coasters, there are also theatrical premieres in Los Angeles on April 25th and in Oakland on April 27th. If you are interested in attending those, email: info@ShelterMe.tv

BONUS!: McDonnell’s experience with animals at ACC inspired him to do a comic series about some of their stories! Here’s my fave, about Wysteria:

Hight fives all around!