The Problem with HSUS's "Uncaged" Video for Prop 2

Proposition 2, an animal welfare initiative in California, aims to reduce farmed animals' suffering by reducing some of their intense confinement—such as in the case of egg-laying hens who must endure the industry's widely used, atrocious battery cages; sows who are kept in gestation crates; and calves who are confined to veal crates (see the glossary for definitions of these terms). But not all animal advocates are pleased with the proposed measure, and the disagreement over Proposition 2—over whether it will ultimately help or actually harm the animals—is part of the larger conversation about the efficacy of animal welfare laws and their place in animal advocacy.

But whatever our feelings about Proposition 2 and the debate over animal welfare reforms, all of us in the animal advocacy community should be disturbed and angered by the cutesy, deceptive animated video that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) recently put out in support of Prop 2, featuring a dancing, singing pig.

Assuming it is passed and then actually enforced when it goes into effect in 2015, the proposition will only slightly reduce cruelty and suffering. The tag line "Stop Animal Cruelty," the implications of this video, and even the original name of the proposition (the  Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act) are fabrications: even if Proposition 2 succeeds in reducing some forms of suffering, it will not prevent or stop cruelty. The majority of California's farmed animals will still be confined in unnatural conditions (factory farms aren't suddenly going to release their animals into open pastures; if they comply at all, they will do only the bare minimum required by the proposition, which isn't much). The calves of dairy cows will still be stripped from their mothers at birth and killed for veal while they're still babies. And all the animals will be transported in the same injurious, cramped, cruel ways they are currently transported to the same slaughterhouses to face the most horrifying, painful deaths imaginable. So dancing, singing pigs, veal calves, and chickens, joyful at the idea of Prop 2, are ridiculous images for organizations supposedly on the side of the animals to be promoting.

Activists and organizations with more than a superficial understanding of animal rights, animal protection laws (and enforcement of those laws), and the conditions of farmed animals know that Prop 2 is not going to "stop cruelty" or make for suddenly happy animals. Prop 2 cosponsors HSUS and Farm Sanctuary certainly know this. Yet HSUS knowingly put out a misleading, deceptive cartoon implying that now the animals will be happy. Prop 2 supporters have every right to present their case for passing the initiative, but they have a responsibility to the animals to be honest about what the provisions of Prop 2 are and are not capable of achieving. And the implication of this video campaign that the animals will be happy and free from pain if California citizens vote "yes" is absurd and irresponsible.

Links to Others' Stances:
Suicide Food's take on the video (These always witty folks support Prop 2 but are clearly as perturbed as I by the video)
Proposition 2 and Online Debates, from An Animal-Friendly Life
What To Do on Proposition 2? and A Losing Proposition from Gary Francione
Making History for Animals: YES! on Prop 2 from Paul Shapiro of HSUS