Book advocates humane treatment of animals

I was encouraged by a March 23 Gazette article about a movement in the pork industry to treat hogs more humanely. One of these changes being proposed by some factory farms is to phase out the use of gestation crates, which are metal containment spaces that are so small that they virtually immobilize sows. They can be as small as 2 feet by 5 feet and make it impossible for animals to turn around or move. There are painful physical and emotional side effects of living their lives in such conditions. Pigs are compared in intelligence to dogs, so imagine your beloved pet living such a life.

This change is a small positive step in moving toward a more humane way of raising the many hogs, chickens and cattle that are spending their entire lives in factory farms, but it's a start. We need to do more.

If you are interested in learning more about this issue, I encourage you to read this year's Linn Area Reads book selection: “Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms,” by Nicolette Hahn Niman. She does have hope for the future of farm animals. Copies of the book and information about related programs is available through the Cedar Rapids Public Library.

Peggy Kubczak

Mount Vernon