In honor of World Farm Animals Day PAWS advocates asked state legislators and their staffs to remember the plight of animals in Washington State who are raised for food.

Monday, October 2 was the 18th annual observance of World Farm Animals Day. Chosen to commemorate the birthday of Gandhi, who said "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated," World Farm Animals Day has been set aside annually to memorialize the 9 billion animals who are abused and killed each year in slaughterhouses, stockyards and factory farms.

PAWS advocates brought the message of World Farm Animals Day to Olympia to remind legislators and their staffs about the importance of remembering the plight of animals raised for food. The advocates focused on the life of the egg-laying hen and the industry that keeps millions of birds cramped in small wire cages where they are unable to stretch their wings or build nests in which to lay their eggs in privacy and comfort. Walking door to door throughout the halls of the Capitol Building, PAWS staff and volunteers handed out chocolate chip cookies baked without the use of any animal products by the Alternative Baking Company. Each cookie had a message about the reason we recognize World Farm Animals Day and each was accompanied by a PAWS brochure that described the cruelty of the egg industry. The advocates even handed a cookie and brochure to the Governor himself.

This year, PAWS plans to introduce legislation that would require egg farmers in the State of Washington to greatly improve the lives of egg-laying hens.