HSGV Political Action Campaigns
Take action for animals! Be a grassroots advocate!
Current Campaigns Overview
- Campaign #1:Call-In Days to Support Better Lives for Egg-Laying Hens
- Campaign #2: Call-In Days to End Gas Chamber Euthanasia in Michigan
Campaign #1: Call-In Days to Support Better Lives for Egg-Laying Hens
Join the Call-In Days Facebook Event!
An easy and simple way to help egg-laying hens across the U.S! Make a 5-minute phone call to your federal representative and after introducing yourself and saying where you're from ask them to “Please cosponsor H.R. 3798, the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012. That's all---plain and simple. You can call after business hours and just leave a message, or you can speak directly with a staffer---whatever you prefer. If you want, you can add more to your message with an emphasis on some of the points detailed below, but all you really need to do is ask them to co-sponsor the bill because you believe in providing a more sustainable and healthy environment for egg-laying hens.
And guess what? It's not just animal advocates across the U.S. and prominent U.S. animal advocacy organizations that support this bill, it's the entire egg industry too! So, let your federal representative know that you want them to support this great piece of legislation!
If passed, H.R. 3798 also know as “Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012” will:
If you live on the GVSU campus or west of Walker, you’re in the 2nd district and your Congressman is Bill Huizenga, at (202) 225-4401. If you live in Grand Rapids, it’s the 3rd district, Congressman Justin Amash, at (202) 225-3831. If you're outside of the GVSU community, search here for your federal representative's name and phone number: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/.
And guess what? It's not just animal advocates across the U.S. and prominent U.S. animal advocacy organizations that support this bill, it's the entire egg industry too! So, let your federal representative know that you want them to support this great piece of legislation!
If passed, H.R. 3798 also know as “Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012” will:
- Require conventional cages to be replaced during an ample phase-in period with new, enriched colony housing systems that provide all egg-laying hens nearly double the amount of current space;
- Require that, after a phase-in period, all egg-laying hens be provided with environmental enrichments, such as perches, nesting boxes and scratching areas, that will allow hens to express natural behaviors
- Require labeling on all egg cartons nationwide to inform consumers of the method used to produce the eggs—“eggs from caged hens,” “eggs from hens in enriched cages,” “eggs from cage-free hens” and “eggs from free-range hens”
- Prohibit feed- or water-withdrawal molting to extend the laying cycle, a practice already prohibited by the United Egg Producers Certified program
- Require standards approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association for euthanasia of egg-laying hens;
- Prohibit excessive ammonia levels in henhouses
- Prohibit the transport and sale of eggs and egg products nationwide that don’t meet these requirements
If you live on the GVSU campus or west of Walker, you’re in the 2nd district and your Congressman is Bill Huizenga, at (202) 225-4401. If you live in Grand Rapids, it’s the 3rd district, Congressman Justin Amash, at (202) 225-3831. If you're outside of the GVSU community, search here for your federal representative's name and phone number: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/.
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Campaign #2: Call-In Days to End of Gas Chamber Euthanasia in Michigan
Join the Call-In Days Facebook Event!
Resources: Humane Euthanasia Fact Sheet Information on Grant's Bill
Take action for Michigan animals! Save shelter pets and strays from gas chamber euthanasia! It will take only about 5 minutes of your time!
Let your voice be heard, and call the Senator John Hune, the chair of the Michigan Senate Agriculture Committee, and ask him to hold a hearing for Grant’s Bills, SB 423 and SB 424. These bills would require that all Michigan shelters and Class B random source dealers euthanize animals via an injection of sodium pentobarbital, thereby outlawing the use of gas chambers in these situations. Senator Hune has said that he has no plans whatsoever to give these bills a hearing, so please let him know that Michigan citizens want these bills to have a fighting chance!
Senator John Hune's office number: (517)-373-2420
Instructions for calling:
- If you are hesitant or shy and do not wish to speak directly to a member of the representative's staff on the phone, just call after business hours and leave a short message.
- Keep it brief!
- If speaking to a member of the staff, please allow them to take the time to write down your message; do not simply race through it.
- If they ask if there is anything else you would like to add, you may say a few other points as to why the bills should be supported.
- Remember, it is best to make your message personal!
- End your message by repeating that you hope the Senator will give the bills a hearing, and thank whoever you are speaking to for their time and the Senator’s consideration.
Here is a sample message with some additional talking points below it to start you off:
- “Hello. My name is [insert first and last name] and I am from [insert primary city/town of residence]. I’m calling today to urge Senator Hune to give Senate Bills 423 and 424 collectively known as Grants Bills a hearing in the Senate Agricultural Committee. These bills would require that all Michigan shelters and Class B random source dealers euthanize animals via an injection of sodium pentobarbital, thereby outlawing the use of gas chambers in these situations. I think it’s horrible that gas chamber use is still allowed in Michigan, etc. etc…”
Talking points:
- 6 shelters in Michigan still use gas chambers as a form of euthanasia. These bills would put a stop to the use of gas chambers.
- Using gas chambers for euthanasia can take up to and sometimes more than 30 minutes to kill all the animals. In addition, many of the animals do not die during this first round of gassing and must be put through this horrific ordeal again. It can be extremely painful for the animals.
- Euthanasia by injection has been deemed the most humane, least stressful, safest, and most professional choice by The Humane Society of the United States, the American Veterinary Medical Association, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, American Humane Association, and the National Animal Control Association.
- According to a recent American Humane Association study, the cost to communities of using carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide poisoning is $4.98 per animal, whereas the cost of using injections is only $2.29 per animal.
- Training and funding for EBI (euthanasia by injection) is readily available for all shelters through the help of a generous private donor so there is no economic cost to the community or shelters.
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