Humane News

Hen Abusing Farmer Keith Amberson Pleads Guilty

Snohomish County, WA – Based on videotapes, photos, and necropsies of starved hens supplied by Pasado’s Safe Haven of Monroe, Washington, Amberson Farm owner Keith Amberson pled guilty to one count of cruelty to animals for abandoning thousands of caged hens to starve to death rather than comply with Washington’s environmental laws. On Dec. 8, 2000, Everett District Court Judge Tom Kelly ruled that Amberson must pay a $500 fine, perform 200 hours of community service, and not keep animals for 2 years. While true justice would have sentenced the miserable Amberson to life in prison without parole, his conviction is a victory for prosecutors of the first egg farmer in Washington State history ever to be charged with cruelty to chickens. “This is a really crucial victory for the millions of hens in Washington who are forced to live their lives caged up in little, tiny, cramped cages where they are never allowed to smell fresh air and stretch their wings,” Mark Steinway, cofounder with Susan Michaels of Pasado’s Safe Haven, told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

In January, representatives from Pasado’s Safe Haven met with Rep. Sandra Romero to write legislation demanding more humane (less inhumane) treatment of hens used for egg production. For information about contacting your legislators to support this legislation, visit Pasado’s website at www.pasadosafehaven.org/egg_hen_legislation.htm. Phone: 360-793-9393.