Ocean State Acts to Protect Farm Animals

Rhode Island is the latest state to ban the use of intensive confinement crates to house calves raised for veal and breeding (or “gestating”) sows, bringing the total number of states banning farm animal confinement crates to nine. Rhode Island has also become the third state to ban tail docking of cattle as a routine practice, and its ban applies to cattle raised for both beef and dairy production. AWI staff, along with AWI supporters in the Ocean State, successfully lobbied Rhode Island legislators this spring to pass bills prohibiting these cruel and unnecessary practices. The ban on tail docking becomes effective immediately, while the new law prohibiting veal and gestation crates goes into effect in one year.