Animals as Commodities: Kentucky Redefines “Animals,” “Pain,” and “Welfare”

I’m headed for the state capital tomorrow to hear what the Kentucky Livestock Care Standards Commission is recommending for legislation. If you live in Kentucky, I urge you to join me.

Members of the Commission were appointed by the governor and include a pork farmer, a bovine farmer, a judge, a citizen concerned about food safety, an associate dean from UK’s Ag College, a grocer, an autoworker who represents sheep and wool producers, a private investor, several veterinarians, and the pièce de résistance—a farm manager from Cal-Maine Foods, the “largest shell egg producer” in the U.S.

This Commission garnered a little publicity last year when the Humane Society of the U.S. accused it of meeting privately instead of publicly (as it’s supposed to). Since then, the Commission has been known to tweak its recommendations via e-mail rather than in public meetings.

Why so much secrecy? Because a few contentious issues are at stake—such as tail-docking and beak-cutting sans anaesthesia or painkillers and confining animals in crates that are too small for the animals to move in. Apparently, the Commission talked at length during the last meeting about whether to include the words pain and welfare in the standards.

According to Kentucky’s State Veterinarian, Robert Stout, the animals at the center of this hubbub are “commodities,” not “companions,” and he hasn’t seen the science yet that proves commodities feel pain. With “advocates” like Stout, Kentucky animals don’t need any more enemies.

However, I believe the Commission needs a language expert on board to help them suss out obfuscations and stick to clear definitions of terms. I also believe some of the Commission members need to retrieve their consciences and try not to view everything through the lens of profitability (read: greed).

For those of you who live in Kentucky, I want to share a conversation I had recently with a Bluegrass veterinarian. She lamented how many out-of-staters regard Kentuckians as ignorant and backward—even out-of-state vets characterize their Kentucky counterparts this way. I had to bite my tongue. You see, it’s people like Robert Stout who aren’t helping your image. So do Kentucky a favor and prove to the rest of the nation that you’re thoughtful and compassionate. Attend the meeting tomorrow to remind the Commission members that they’re accountable for their decisions. Remind them to see beyond the Almighty Dollar.

The 1:00 meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, July 17, at:
Office of the State Veterinarian
100 Fair Oaks Lane, Suite 252
Frankfort, KY 40601

[Photographer unknown.]

My Day with Rambo

Many moons ago, my yet-to-be husband and I stepped into a movie theatre to see what was supposed to be a Katharine Hepburn flick. Instead, we were treated to mayhem and bloodshed, compelling me to make a hasty exit.

My partner, of course, reluctantly followed but would have preferred to see what turned out to be the first of the Rambo franchise. Alas, we saw neither a Hepburn nor a Stallone movie that day.

Fast-forward to this weekend, when I became a huge Rambo fan.

If you’re a Lull regular, you’ve probably guessed that my favorite pastime next to being with animals is reading about them, which is how I met a quite different and endearing Rambo yesterday. He’s a Jacob ram—aptly named for his charging finesse—and just one of the many unique personalities cherished at Catskill Animal Sanctuary (CAS), a New York refuge for farm creatures.

In Where the Blind Horse Sings, CAS founder Kathy Stevens profiles some of her wards and her mission to educate people about the atrocities of agribusiness. It’s a charming, breezy read laced with humor and bursting with love.

If you’re craving soul-lifting news, stick your nose in Where the Blind Horse Sings. It’s sure to warm your heart—maybe even give you a new perspective on animals some folks know only as entrées and shoes.

Loka samasta sukhino bhavantu.
May all beings, everywhere, be happy and free.