Ohioans give 'thumbs down' to HSUS
By Dairy Herd staff
| Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Ohio voters have passed a constitutional amendment that would allow a state livestock care board to handle animal-welfare issues rather than letting out-of-state animal-rights groups come in and set the agenda.
Latest voter counts had the measure passing by a 64 percent majority, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
Although it appears to be a resounding defeat for groups such as the Humane Society of the United States, HSUS President Wayne Pacelle says the group may be back in Ohio.
However, it will be more difficult for HSUS to force a ballot initiative on animal-care reforms now that a constitutional amendment is in place.
A future ballot proposal that conflicts with the constitutional amendment could be challenged legally, according to Peggy Kirk Hall, director of agricultural law for the Ohio State University extension agricultural and resource law program.
Ohio, the 11th leading milk-producing state, has now established the model for countering radical animal-rights initiatives. Voters in Tuesday’s election overwhelmingly said they would rather have knowledgeable people in their own state making animal-care decisions than having radical out-of-state groups come in and set the agenda. They agreed to the establishment of a state Livestock Care Standards Board that will include the state veterinarian, two members of the public representing Ohio consumers, one member representing a county humane society, a veterinarian licensed in Ohio, two members representing statewide farmer organizations, three family farm representatives, the dean of an Ohio college or university ag department, and two others. It makes perfect sense to have informed people making the decisions rather than making it an emotional issue, as has been the case in recent ballot initiatives instigated by the Humane Society of the United States in other states. – Tom Quaife, editor
