How We End Animal Cruelty
A better world is possible.
What is IP13?
Initiative Petition 13 is a ballot initiative filed for the 2022 Oregon general election. For those hearing about IP13 for the first time, this ballot initiative would remove many of the current exemptions from Oregon’s animal cruelty laws against animal abuse, animal neglect, and animal sexual assault. These statutes prohibit the intentional injury or killing of an animal (abuse), the withholding of care from an animal or the injurious tethering of an animal (neglect), and the sexual contact of an animal’s mouth, anus, or genitals (sexual assault), but many animals are not currently protected under these laws due to the numerous exemptions included.
By removing exemptions from these laws, animals that were not previously protected from abuse, neglect, and sexual assault would finally receive legal protections. As one might realize, this would impact many industries that currently involve animals. Animals on farms, research labs, exhibitions, and in the wild, would no longer be allowed to be intentionally injured or killed (abused), nor would they be allowed to be forcibly impregnated (sexually assaulted). Animals in transport trucks, or in the industries already mentioned, could no longer be deprived of adequate food, water, and shelter (neglected) either. Importantly, all veterinary practices and the use of self-defense would remain exempt from these statutes.
Although IP13 does not ban any particular industry, it does criminalize many of the common practices that currently exist in these industries. The reason for this is not to be punitive towards anyone in these industries, but to be protective of the needs of the animals. There are many ways we can meet our needs without abusing, neglecting, and sexually assaulting animals, and we hope that this campaign helps push us towards a more peaceful future.
We here at the Yes On IP13 campaign want to help everybody meet their needs. We are fortunate to exist in a time when there are ample resources to make sure everyone’s needs are being met without compromise. This includes the needs of the animals to be free from unnecessary human-caused suffering, as well as the needs of Oregon citizens to thrive.
The road to 2022 may be an uphill battle, but the animals need us now more than ever. Join our campaign as a volunteer or support us by giving a donation, and help put a stop to systemic animal cruelty.
How it Works
Answering Your Questions
Given the wide-ranging impact IP13 would have, we have received many questions since the launch of this campaign about how, exactly, everyone’s needs can be met. We hear the understandable concern, frustration, worry, and fear about how this initiative will impact Oregonians. In addition to addressing these questions as best we can, we also want to welcome anyone to email the campaign with additional questions they may have. We have a team of volunteers who want to help connect you with the answers and resources you need.
If you would like help meeting a specific need that you are concerned about, please email us at [email protected]
How would we go about feeding the people of Oregon if IP13 were to pass?
Many of the people who have written into the campaign are understandably concerned about meeting their need for food. This is a vital need that we all share, and it is an important need to address. We want to assure you that there are ample resources to feed all Oregonians if IP13 were to pass. We are already producing far more food than needed to feed everyone. Oregon is a top-ranking producer of many field and seed crops, fruits, nuts, and vegetables, and IP13 could end up increasing our net agricultural production, depending on how the industry adapts. Because IP13 does not ban any specific industry, and does not dictate how industries or the government respond to the proposed changes in statute, it is ultimately up to them to do what they feel best meets their needs as long as it also protects the animals’ needs to be free from suffering.
Would IP13 make hunting, fishing, and trapping illegal?
If passed, IP13 would remove the exemption for hunting, fishing, and trapping from our cruelty laws, meaning that any practice that involves the intentional injury of an animal would be criminalized. Although the practice of seeking, pursuing, and in some cases even capturing an animal would still be legally protected, the practice of killing animals would no longer be protected. Many of those who are following the campaign are concerned about meeting the needs that they currently try to meet by hunting, fishing, and trapping. Those needs have included a need for food, a need for conservation, a need for recreation, and many others. We want to help show how all of those needs can still be met while also meeting the needs of animals to be free from unnecessary human-caused suffering. Within the state of Oregon we have ample food, as well as the resources needed to distribute that food to every citizen. There are also a multitude of humane and creative methods for conserving our environment and, in a state as wonderful as Oregon, there are countless activities we can engage in for recreation that do not involve taking the life of an animal; it is possible that everyone can get their needs met.
Could a rancher still raise cattle?
Yes, IP13 does not ban any industry outright and the proposed changes in statute would not prohibit a rancher from raising and caring for bovines. It would only require that the rancher did not abuse, neglect, or sexually assault the animals under their care. This means that animals being raised for their meat would have to be processed after they died of natural causes, such as old age. This would certainly increase the cost to raise animals, since many are currently killed at a small fraction of their natural lifespan. Nevertheless, ranchers can still raise animals if they feel it best meets their needs. If, however, they feel it would better meet their needs for economic security to transition to an alternative agricultural practice, there are programs that can provide financial support to making a transition from farming animals to raising crops.
Does this ban the sale of meat, leather, or fur?
To provide some clarity, IP13 would not ban the sale of meat, leather, or fur, nor would it ban the import of meat, leather, or fur. The changes in statute proposed by IP13 are exclusively focused on protecting animals in Oregon from intentional injury, withholding of care, and sexual contact. After an animal dies of natural causes, such as old age, IP13 would not prohibit someone in Oregon from processing their body into meat, leather, or fur for use or consumption.
Would IP13 affect 4-H, FFA organizations?
Our need to nurture our kids and help them develop skills to empower themselves and their community is a noble and compassionate desire. We are assured that we can meet that need while also meeting our children’s needs to be compassionate towards animals and the animals’ needs to be safe from avoidable harm. Just as with other industries, IP13 does not ban participation in 4-H programs, provided the program areas are adapted to ensure they are in line with the changes in statute.
How does IP13 affect Rodeos?
As with other industries involving animals, IP13 does not ban Rodeos, only the intentional injury, withholding of care, and sexual contact of animals that are being used in Rodeos. This means that Rodeos can continue, provided that they adjust their practices in accordance with the proposed changes in statute so that the needs of the animals are being met. We are confident that our need for entertainment can be fully met while also meeting the animals’ needs for protection from harm.
Would IP13 ban spaying, neutering, or castration?
Everyone has a need to protect others we care about. This includes a desire to protect animals from the suffering caused by overpopulation, particularly when it comes to our domesticated companion animals. Spaying and neutering have become common strategies to meet that need. Such practices, if administered as part of veterinary medicine, would still be legally protected under the law. IP13 does not limit veterinary practices.
Does this prevent assisting an animal in distress when in labor?
We all have a need to help others in distress. If a mother is in distress when in labor, the changes in statute proposed by IP13 would not prohibit you from helping in her delivery. Sexual contact with an animal would be defined specifically as acts that involve the contact of an animal’s mouth, anus, or sex organs for the purpose of either sexual gratification (of either the perpetrator or the animal) or for the purpose of forced impregnation. Since assisting in the delivery of a child is not done for sexual gratification or impregnation, it would not constitute a criminal activity.
How will IP13 affect Oregon’s economy?
Economic security is a critically important need for all of us, and we are confident that that need can be met while also meeting the needs of the animals’ to be free from human-caused suffering. The proposed changes to state statute in IP13 are focused exclusively on removing exemptions to animal cruelty laws. As such, IP13 does not mandate how industries or the government respond to the proposed changes so long as the changes are being followed. This means that the effect on the economy will largely depend on our response. According to the Office of Economic Analysis, the outlook for near-term economic growth is the strongest in decades. We have strong manufacturing, technology, apparel, and natural resource industries. Oregon can continue to be strong economically without relying on the intentional injury, withholding of care, and sexual contact of animals. A determined soul will always manage, and if we are determined to meet everyone’s needs (the animals’ needs included), we will be able to do so without sacrificing our economic security.
How will IP13 impact Indigenous populations?
The proposed changes to statute in IP13 do not impact tribal sovereignty, and laws on land managed by a federally recognized Native American tribe may vary from those of the surrounding area. IP13 does not, however, create new exemptions from our animal cruelty laws for individuals depending on their racial or ethnic background. Our campaign is concerned with meeting the needs of everyone in Oregon, and are confident that the needs for sustenance and economic security held by Oregonians can be met while also meeting the needs of the animals for safety from human-caused harm.
Are you receiving funding from out-of-state billionaires?
A few people have been concerned about transparency and worry that their need for trust isn’t being met. We want to assure you that we report all of our financial records to the secretary of state, as required by state and federal law. We have not currently received any donations from any billionaires.
What does the italicized and bolded text in IP13 mean?
We appreciate the need for clarity when it comes to understanding our initiative. Any text that is italicized is text that would be removed from state statute if IP13 were to pass. Any text that is bolded is text that would be added to state statute if IP13 were to pass.
Who is considered an “animal” under the law?
It’s important to understand who would be protected by the changes proposed in IP13. Under Oregon Revised Statute, an animal is specifically defined as any nonhuman mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian or fish. IP13 would not change this legal definition.