Words by Blyth Brentnall
In positive news for animal rights, more people than ever before are supporting the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in their campaign to improve chickens’ welfare.
In just five weeks since the launch of the Better Chicken campaign, 19,000 people have signed up - the equivalent of an audience packing the O2 Arena in London. They are urging their local supermarkets to adopt better welfare standards for the chickens and eggs that they sell.
Great news! What does it involve?
The campaign asks members of the food industry to meet a set of important requirements to ensure all chickens are happy and healthy.
It asks that chickens be given enough room, natural light, quality food and roosting perches in order to live a quality life.
The campaigners also call for more humane methods of slaughter, an end to genetic modifications that lead to health problems, and an end to caging or tiered systems that keep chickens in cramped conditions.
The RSPCA also hopes to raise awareness of the fact that chickens have feelings that mean they suffer deeply as a result of abusive treatment.
“The science tells us that chickens are sentient animals who have the capacity to experience fear, pain and suffering, as well as emotions like joy and happiness,” explained Emily Harris, an RSPCA campaign manager.
It’s not too late to get involved! Support the Better Chicken campaign and lobby your supermarket.
Charity check-in
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
RSPCA. A charity working to prevent cruelty to all animals in the UK. Support their work.
World Animal Protection. They operate across the globe, upholding animal rights. Take action for animals.
WWF. An organisation working worldwide to conserve animal habitats and prevent extinction. Find out more.
