{"id":16067,"date":"2013-10-21T15:14:18","date_gmt":"2013-10-21T19:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kb.webitgarage.ca\/the-montreal-spca-asks-the-public-to-take-a-stand-against-cruelty-in-the-egg-industry\/"},"modified":"2018-06-22T10:00:33","modified_gmt":"2018-06-22T14:00:33","slug":"the-montreal-spca-asks-the-public-to-take-a-stand-against-cruelty-in-the-egg-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spca.com\/en\/the-montreal-spca-asks-the-public-to-take-a-stand-against-cruelty-in-the-egg-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"The Montreal SPCA asks the public to take a stand against cruelty in the egg industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Montreal, October 21, 2013 \u2013 Last Saturday, CTV\u2019s news magazine W5 <\/em>aired \u201cBehind the Barn Door\u201d, a report which revealed shocking images from a hidden-camera investigation inside one of Alberta\u2019s largest egg farms. This facility supplies eggs to Burnbrae Farms, which is McDonald\u2019s Canada\u2019s exclusive egg provider. The investigation was undertaken by Mercy for Animals Canada<\/a> and documents the cruel reality of how egg-laying hens are raised in factory farms across Canada. The footage shows practices that, despite being inhumane, are currently legal and standard in Canada, including the confinement of thousands of hens in battery cages that deprive them of basic freedom of movement for their entire lives. To view the W5<\/em> report, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs difficult as the images filmed during the undercover investigation are to watch, consumers need to understand how their choices in purchasing can directly affect the lives of animals\u201d said Sophie Gaillard, Lawyer and Campaigns Manager for the Montreal SPCA\u2019s Animal Advocacy Department. \u201cWe fully support the efforts of Mercy for Animals Canada in exposing the inherent cruelty behind factory farmed eggs and the use of battery cages\u201d.<\/p>\n

Over 95% of Canada\u2019s 26 million egg-producing hens are housed in wire cages stacked one on top of the other, known as battery cages. An extensive body of scientific research documents the serious welfare concerns that arise from the use of battery cages. These cages cause a number of health problems, including osteoporosis and associated bone frailty due to lack of exercise, as well as injury to feet and legs from the wire flooring. Space restrictions \u2013 each hen is crammed into a space about the size of a filing cabinet drawer \u2013 prevent hens from adopting certain natural postures and engaging in comfort behaviours such as stretching, wing flapping, and preening. Experts agree, however, that the cruelest aspect of battery cages is the severe psychological and behavioral distress that they cause by preventing birds from engaging in natural behaviours, such as nesting, perching, foraging, exploring their environment, and dustbathing.<\/p>\n

In addition to restricting natural behaviour, the lack of space in battery cages increases the risk of aggressive behaviour and even cannibalism. The industry\u2019s solution to this problem is to amputate \u2013 without any anesthesia or pain control \u2013 the highly innervated tip of the birds\u2019 beaks with a hot blade. In addition to causing chronic pain and depriving hens of the ability to preen, this procedure, known as \u201cdebeaking\u201d, disrupts social behaviour. Thus hens are in a chronic state of social stress, perpetually trying to get away from their cagemates, and unable to express dominance relations or to resolve social conflict. For more details about the horrors of battery cages and the investigation undertaken by Mercy for Animals Canada,\u00a0<\/em>click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Critics of the battery cage system are numerous and prominent poultry scientists consider it to be one of the most inhumane practices in factory farming. In fact, battery cages are considered so cruel that they have been banned by Switzerland, New Zealand, the entire European Union, and the states of California and Michigan.<\/p>\n

Please stand with the Montreal SPCA, Mercy for Animals Canada, Humane Society International Canada, and other animal protection organizations across the country to stop the use of battery cages and other cruel practices egg-laying hens are forced to endure.\u00a0Here are ways you can make a difference now<\/strong>:<\/p>\n