Sayres Urges State Residents Not to Support Proposal for Livestock Care Standards Board

NEW YORK — Ed Sayres, President and CEO of The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) released the following statement today regarding Ohio’s proposed Issue 2 and the establishment of a Livestock Care Standards Board:

“The ASPCA opposes Issue 2 in Ohio. Full public debate in which all the stakeholders were heard on issues that directly impact the lives of the public and the well being of farm animals simply did not occur.  By placing this measure as a Constitutional amendment, the opportunity to revise Board membership or the role and function of this board would be impossible without another Constitutional amendment.

It is also unclear how this Board will impact the work of county humane societies in enforcing anti-cruelty statutes, which encompass the well being of livestock and poultry as well as companion animals.

Furthermore, the composition of this Standards Board is of grave concern. There is no one representing animal behavior to lend expertise in that important area, and the measure only provides for one Board member out of thirteen from the humane community.