raising the barn: a 5-point plan for better farming and happier, healthier animals
Livestock animals give their work and even their lives for human benefit - the very least that we can do is to ensure them safety, comfort, and a measure of freedom in place of misery. For decades, the principles embodied in these 'Five Freedoms' have set the standard for farm animal care.
All farm animals have the right to the clean and quality food and water they need
not only to survive, but to thrive.
You get to move freely about your day, and are not confined to a tiny space in a dimly lit room; similarly, farm animals deserve the shelter and space necessary for their health and well-being.
Farming should not be ownership of animals' bodies, but stewardship -
illness and injury should be prevented whenever possible, and treated
promptly if not.
Chickens scratch and peck; pigs wallow and play; cows graze on pasture - we all deserve the chance to inhabit and express our nature, and farm animals are no exception.
Too many livestock animals are kept in conditions that lead to near-constant stress and terror; not one of them should have to live this way.
A regular donation of 5 dollars a week, 5 dollars a month, or even a one-time gift of 5 dollars
will help the Vancouver Humane Society make the Five Freedoms a reality. Click here to
make a donation now.
A big part of the move towards brutal and more crowded farming is the insatiable global
demand for meat. Easing up - or cutting it out altogether – would be a healthy step for both
people and animals. For more information, check out our Eat Less Meat campaign.
Some folks move away from red meat, then end up eating more chicken. But factory chicken farming is marred by the same environmental and animal welfare concerns. For more information, view our Eat Less Chicken campaign.
If you do buy eggs (or dairy and meat), please consider buying only those marked Certified Organic - these farmers come far closer to implementing the ideals embodied in the Five Freedoms. Have a look at some of the available alternatives.
Get involved with the Vancouver Humane Society! Through public outreach, fundraising, and special events, you can help make the Five Freedoms a reality for livestock animals.
You can help save animals from life on a factory farm. Tell five of your friends and family to join others in the community and Raise the Barn for farm animals. Ask them:
Funding for this project received, in part, by:
