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Humane Advocates, State Legislators Discuss Animal Protective Legislation over Vegan Breakfast

Albany, NY- March 9, 2004 - Over coffee with soymilk, scrambled tofu, and bagels with nondairy cream cheese, animal protection groups will discuss pending animal protection bills in the New York State Legislature with State Senate and Assembly members as part of Humane Action for Animals Lobby Day 2004 on Tuesday, March 16th, in Albany, NY, in the Sign of the Tree Restaurant in Empire State Plaza. Displays at the breakfast will address pending animal related bills in the state legislature considered to be of high priority by humane groups:

o A1821 (McEneny) and S5153 (Padavan), which will ban force feeding of ducks to produce the delicacy foie gras, a cruel practice banned in many other countries. New York's Hudson Valley Foie Gras is responsible for 80% of domestically produced foie gras.

o A480 (Grannis) and S2901 (Padavan), which will give county and town governments the power to ban wildlife trapping, a power currently reserved by the strongly pro-trapping New York State Bureau of Wildlife.

o S 5735 (L. Krueger) which will require critically ill and injured animals to be humanely euthanized or provided with needed veterinary care. It will also prohibit their slaughter for human food.

After the breakfast, humane leaders will meet with leadership in both houses in the legislature, and heads of key committees addressing animal-related issues.

At 1 PM, dozens of animal advocates from humane groups throughout New York will converge on the Sign of the Tree for a lobby training and issue briefing, commenced by Assemblymember Scott Stringer, a longtime friend of animal protection concerns. After the training, the advocates will meet with the Senators and Assemblymembers for their local districts, encouraging them to support the bills described above.

According to Jamie Roth, a local Albany resident and Humane Action for Animals Lobby Day organizer, "We are here to let our legislators know that New Yorkers oppose cruel practices like force feeding ducks, shooting confined animals for recreation, trapping wildlife, and prolonging the suffering of animal at livestock auctions who are too sick to walk, and its time our laws reflected this." According to Peter Muller of the League of Humane Voters, "Animal advocates want legislators to know that voters are paying attention to their stances on animal issues and will hold them accountable on election day."

Humane Action for Animals Lobby Day sponsored by Earthsave, Farm Sanctuary, The Fund for Animals, The Humane Society of the United States, In Defense of Animals, the League of Humane Voters, and the New York State Humane Association.

About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.