City passes resolution to protect egg-laying hens some call inhumane

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006

by Agnes Jasinski

Staff Writer

Takoma Park City Council members hope a resolution passed Monday night will serve as an example to other jurisdictions across the state that have yet to denounce what they call a ‘‘revolting" practice.

A resolution to oppose the use of battery cages among egg-laying hens and urge consumers to purchase cage-free eggs was introduced by Councilman Bruce Williams (Ward 3), who said a constituent of his brought the issue forward after hearing of the abuses on chicken farms.

Battery cages, which measure about 67 square inches, or about the size of a regular sheet of paper, restrict the movement of the birds so that they are ‘‘unable even to spread their wings," said Paul Shapiro, a Takoma Park resident who works with the Humane Society of the United States. Shapiro is also the founder of Compassion over Killing, a nonprofit animal advocacy group, which recently sent a petition to the Food and Drug Administration asking for regulations on misleading claims on egg cartons.

In Maryland, there are three major egg-producing factory farms — in Westminster, Millington and Cecilton — but none in Montgomery County. Shapiro said about 95 percent of the nearly 300 million egg-laying hens nationwide live on battery-cage farms.

‘‘It was a real education for me," Mayor Kathy Porter said of reading up on battery cage use. Porter said her mother once owned a chicken coop where the hens were able to ‘‘scratch about" the chicken yard.

Takoma Park officials hope the resolution will urge local grocers to offer cage-free eggs voluntarily, and post signs giving consumers information on battery-cage farming.

‘‘In the same way cities and city councils pass resolutions on social issues, the confinement of egg-laying hens is becoming one of the most important animal welfare policy decisions we see today," Shapiro said. ‘‘This is the latest piece in a campaign that’s been going on ... to help get the word out."

Across the border, Washington, D.C., Councilman Jim Graham (Ward 1) introduced a bill last month that would require grocers in the city to disclose which eggs came from hens in battery cages. Whole Foods and Wild Oats Markets have already banned the sale of eggs coming from battery-cage farming, along with several colleges, including American and Georgetown universities in D.C. Several countries, including Germany, Austria and Sweden, have banned battery cages altogether.

‘‘No one is saying that we shouldn’t eat eggs," said Pennye Jones-Napier, a co-owner of two Takoma, D.C. businesses, including the Big Bad Woof. ‘‘But there’s a compassionate way to treat these animals that give us these wonderful gifts."

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