Farmed animals in Idaho desperately need your help!

In 2012, Mercy For Animals exposed horrific cruelty to animals at Bettencourt Dairies, Idaho’s largest dairy factory farm. During the investigation, MFA documented workers sexually abusing animals, and viciously beating, kicking, and jumping on cows in order to deliberately inflict pain. The investigation led to criminal cruelty charges against workers and a manager at the facility.

In direct response to this investigation, pro-factory farm legislators in Idaho have introduced an “ag-gag” bill designed to keep this kind of blatant animal abuse hidden from public view.

Introduced as Senate Bill 1337, this ag-gag bill has already passed through the Idaho Senate, and is now pending in the House of Representatives. From there, it will go to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. If enacted, SB 1337 would make it a crime to take photos or video at a factory farm without the owner’s permission.

We must put a stop to this dangerous legislation.

SB 1337 is a pathetic attempt by pro-factory farm legislators to stifle undercover investigations and allow criminal animal abuse to continue, undetected, at factory farms and slaughterhouses across the state. And instead of fostering greater transparency in food production, Idaho’s ag-gag bill would allow factory farmers to ignore important food safety, environmental, and worker safety laws.

Idaho’s lawmakers should be working to prevent and prosecute cruelty to animals, not making it harder to expose. Americans have the right to know where their food comes from and how animals on factory farms are treated. SB 1337 directly interferes with these rights.

Please contact Idaho Governor Butch Otter and urge him to veto this dangerous bill.

Thank you for taking action to help animals in Idaho.