An unfortunate, untruthful and misleading article titled "Choice, omnivores with a conscience" calls for an immediate response. While trying to play on the emotions of people, this article presents a picture that is simply not true. It could also discourage a few people, who don't know the facts, from eating safe, healthy, food that is produced in Ohio. Also, Ohioans are capable of establishing standards for their own livestock with out interference from Washington or the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

Last fall Ohio citizens voted overwhelmingly to establish a Livestock Care Standards Board. It would be appropriate and fair to allow this Board time to set livestock standards.

The amendment that is being proposed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), through its mouth piece Ohio Humane, comes directly from the vegetarian group, HSUS. Where ever they have been successful in getting their legislation passed, after spending millions of dollars, food prices have gone up. In California for example, when cage layers are put out of business, research shows egg prices will go up from 50 cents to $1.00 a dozen.

Their amendment is not "citizen driven" but comes directly from HSUS to further their agenda.

Chickens in free-range facilities are no healthier and the eggs no better than cage operations. There is more cannibalism among chickens in free-range, conditions are dustier and eggs not as clean.

Large scale farming in this country is where our food is produced and under humane, healthy conditions. The term "factory farming" is used in a negative way to portray larger farms as something bad or evil. Animal products marketed from farms of all sizes is sold under close inspection and is safe and healthy.

Small farms are a great asset, but are not capable of providing the amount of food required in this country. Do we want to rely on foreign imports to make up shortages? Are these sources as reliable and safe as those in place in this country today? With population increasing and farms dropping in number, we will need every bit of our efficient farm productivity to feed us.

Saying Ohio livestock experiences unnecessary suffering is a myth. Animals that are suffering are not productive and Ohio livestock is among the most productive in the nation.

Cows and pigs are not euthanized by strangulation and with rare exceptions. That is more of the misinformation from HSUS and other animal rights groups, pointing to just one unfortunate example. Once again saying "large factory farms will be forced to stop killing animals inhumanely" is untrue because they value their animals and know what suffering is like and do not destroy them "inhumanely".

Human food from cows too sick to stand or walk is not allowed in our food chain now so that amendment is unnecessary and just another play on emotions. So much of what the article says the amendment calls for is not needed because these practices have been used on our Ohio farms for some time.

HSUS does want to interfere with the Ohio Livestock Care Standards board, other wise they would not be spending millions of dollars to get their amendment and their unnecessary regulations on the fall ballot. They don't think Ohio people are smart enough to set their own standards so want to dictate to them the HSUS unproven and unnecessary practices.

HSUS needs to be recognized for what it is, a well-funded group that wants eventually to make all of us vegetarians. From their web page you will find that they want to refine, reduce and replace animal products in our diets.

According to the Center for Consumer Freedom, in 2008, HSUS collected $86 million in contributions. Of this $24 million went to raising more money and another $30.9 went for salaries. Only one half of one percent of its total budget went to hands-on organizations that provide care to dogs and cats. It is evident that a lot of HSUS employees are lining their pockets with donations from people who think they are helping at the local level.

For more factual, documented information about HSUS visit HumaneWatch.org. It will open your eyes.