Humane Advocate (Volume 10 (1914 - 1915))

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ...an outbreak of an epidemic. Fowl should have plenty of water while in transit. Such a law would compel the common carriers and express companies to see that poultry was properly crated and secured for 'transportation', and the burden of complying with this law would naturally come upon the shipper, as the express companies would refuse to handle the poultry unless the shipper provided the regulation crates. The method of loading so as to allow more space for air and ventilation would probably make the carrying rate higher. The shipper would also have to pay the additional cost, whatever it might be, for feeding, watering and care en route. The shipper would pay more for getting his produce to the market, but it would arrive there in better condition, the loss and shrinkage would be less, so much so as to more than make up the additional cost of transportation. The carrying companies, however, are not altogether responsible for the present condition of traffic in farm produce. Commercialism causes live animals to be treated and handled as dead freight. Start a fowl from the shipping point, properly crated, and under the protection of a law which will enable it to have the ordinary inalienable rights necessary for existence, namely space in which to breathe, fresh air, water and feed, sufficient to prevent its suffering from actual hunger or thirst while on its last journey, and secure for it a humane death at the end. ' If the American Humane Association can, throiigh federal legislation, regulate the interstate shipment and transportation of poultry, the state or local societies can, through state legislation, regulate the treatment of poultry within their respective boundaries. The constant crv from the different states is that...