healthmedicinet

‘Bones’ star Emily Deschanel has joined with PETA to highlight controversial practices within the U.S. dairy industry.

The ad was released in advance of Mother’s Day and criticizes the separation of dairy cows from their young, tail docking and other controversial practices faced by the more than 9 million dairy cows in the U.S.

Large-scale factory farms are facing scrutiny as reports of animal cruelty have emerged over the past few years. Some dairy farms are particularly problematic due to the forced production of milk and unsanitary living conditions, often inside feed lots without grass, the Humane Society reported in 2008.

Animal rights organizations have received some star-studded endorsements recently, including those from Ke$ha and Ryan Gosling.

Also on HuffPost:

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• 10. Alaska

  List and captions courtesy ofa href=”http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=gokey=1fd204d8792518e336580cc72b47c06bloc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2F2012%2F12%2F27%2Fanimal-cruelty-laws-2012-aldf_n_2316950.html%23slide%3D1916276v=1libid=1361811364918out=http%3A%2F%2Faldf.org%2Ftitle=Animal%20Cruelty%20Laws%3A%20ALDF%20Ranks%20States%20By%20Abuse%20Regulationstxt=Animal%20Legal%20Defense%20Fundjsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13618115109463? Animal Legal Defense Fund/a.

• 9. Utah

• 8. Hawaii

• 7. New Jersey

• 6. Wyoming

• 5. New Mexico

  a href=”http://aldf.org/custom/rankings/ALDF2012USRankingsReport.pdf”ALDF Overview: Why These States Made the “Worst Five” List/a

  blockquoteFelony provisions available only for cruelty and fighting against select animals  
  Inadequate felony provisions for neglect; none for abandonment  
  No provisions for sexual assault
  Inadequate definitions/standards of basic care  
  No increased penalties when abuse is committed in the presence of a minor or involves
  multiple animals
  No provisions for veterinarians or other select non?animal?related agencies/professionals to
  report suspected animal abuse  
  No duty for peace officers to enforce animal protection laws  
  Humane officers lack broad law enforcement authority
  Inadequate cost mitigation recovery provisions for impounded animals  
  No restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals following a conviction  
  No statutory authority to allow protective orders to include animals  
  Inadequate animal fighting provisions  /blockquote

• 4. South Dakota

  a href=”http://aldf.org/custom/rankings/ALDF2012USRankingsReport.pdf”ALDF Overview: Why These States Made the “Worst Five” List/a

  blockquoteNo felony animal cruelty, neglect or abandonment provisions  
  Inadequate definitions/standards of basic care  
  No increased penalties for repeat animal abusers
  No increased penalties when abuse is committed in the presence of a minor or involves
  multiple animals
  No mandatory forfeiture of animals upon conviction
  No provisions for veterinarians or other select non?animal?related agencies/professionals to
  report suspected animal abuse  
  No duty for peace officers to enforce animal protection laws  
  Humane officers lack broad law enforcement authority
  Inadequate cost mitigation recovery provisions for impounded animals  
  No restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals following a conviction
  No mental health evaluations or counseling for offenders  
  No statutory authority to allow protective orders to include animals  
  Inadequate animal fighting provisions/blockquote

• 3. Iowa

  a href=”http://aldf.org/custom/rankings/ALDF2012USRankingsReport.pdf”ALDF Overview: Why These States Made the “Worst Five” List/a

  blockquoteAg gag law
  Felony provisions available only for cruelty against select animals and fighting
  Inadequate definitions/standards of basic care  
  No increased penalties for repeat animal abusers
  No increased penalties when abuse is committed in the presence of a minor or involves
  multiple animals
  No mandatory forfeiture of animals upon conviction
  No provisions for veterinarians or other select non?animal?related agencies/professionals to
  report suspected animal abuse  
  No duty for peace officers to enforce animal protection laws  
  Humane officers lack broad law enforcement authority
  Inadequate cost mitigation recovery provisions for impounded animals  
  No restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals following a conviction  
  No statutory authority to allow protective orders to include animals  
  Inadequate animal fighting provisions/blockquote  

• 2. North Dakota

  a href=”http://aldf.org/custom/rankings/ALDF2012USRankingsReport.pdf”ALDF Overview: Why These States Made the “Worst Five” List/a

  blockquoteAg gag law
  No felony animal cruelty, neglect, abandonment, or sexual assault provisions  
  Inadequate definitions/standards of basic care  
  No increased penalties for repeat animal abusers
  No increased penalties when abuse is committed in the presence of a minor or involves
  multiple animals
  No mandatory forfeiture of animals upon conviction
  No provisions for veterinarians or other select non?animal?related agencies/professionals to
  report suspected animal abuse  
  No duty for peace officers to enforce animal protection laws  
  Humane officers lack broad law enforcement authorityPage 18
  Inadequate cost mitigation recovery provisions for impounded animals  
  No restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals following a conviction  
  No mental health evaluations or counseling for offenders  
  No statutory authority to allow protective orders to include animals  
  Inadequate animal fighting provisions/blockquote  

• 1. Kentucky

  a href=”http://aldf.org/custom/rankings/ALDF2012USRankingsReport.pdf”ALDF Overview: Why These States Made the “Worst Five” List/a

  blockquoteFelony provisions available only for cruelty and fighting, both against only select animals  
  Inadequate definitions/standards of basic care  
  Principal protections apply only to select types of animals  
  No felony provisions for neglect or abandonment  
  No provisions for sexual assault
  No increased penalties when abuse is committed in the presence of a minor or involves
  multiple animals
  No court?ordered forfeiture provisions
  Veterinarians are prohibited from reporting suspected cruelty or fighting  
  No provisions for select non?animal?related agencies/professionals to report suspected animal
  abuse  
  No duty for peace officers to enforce animal protection laws  
  Humane officers lack broad law enforcement authority
  No cost mitigation recovery provisions for impounded animals  
  No restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals following a conviction  
  No mental health evaluations or counseling for offenders  
  No statutory authority to allow protective orders to include animals  
  Inadequate animal fighting provisions/blockquote  

• Also on The Huffington Post…