About the Campaigns

It's going to be a big challenge, but with enough people, we can make this happen.

We are initiating petitions for two ballot measures to be placed on the ballot for the 2024 election in the City and County of Denver, for the voters of Denver to decide upon. In order to reach our goal of having these initiatives placed on the ballot, we need to obtain around 10,000 valid signatures (for each petition) from people who are registered to vote at an address within the City of Denver. Given that a certain number of signatures will not be valid (for a number of possible reasons) we need to obtain at least 16,000 signatures (for each petition) for a margin of error. We will have six months to collect signatures.

If we are able to find 15 people who are willing to volunteer 5 hours per week (or 30 people who volunteer 2.5 hours per week) we will be able to achieve our petitioning goals! (Visit our website proanimal.org for more info)

A Ban on the Sale of Fur Products in Denver

“Every year, around 100 million animals are raised and killed for their fur. Over 95% of fur sold globally comes from farmed animals, such as mink, foxes, raccoon dogs, rabbits and chinchillas. On fur factory farms, animals spend their entire lives in cramped battery cages, deprived of the ability to engage in natural behaviors.” - Fur Free Alliance

In recent years, the animal freedom movement has made significant progress toward eliminating the fur industry. The sale of fur products was first banned in several California cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, and West Hollywood) followed by a statewide ban. Ann Arbor, Michigan, and several cities in Massachusetts have also banned the sale of fur products. Boulder, Colorado became the first city in the State of Colorado to ban the sale of fur products in 2021. Our campaign to enact a similar law in Denver hopes to build upon this national momentum. Passing a ban on the sale of fur products in Denver could add significant momentum toward the ultimate demise of the fur industry.

Several retail stores currently sell fur in Denver, such as Overland Sheepskin, ML Furs and Luxury Ski Wear, A Tsagas Furs and Leathers, Jonval Leathers and Furs, and Dan Sharp Luxury Outerwear. Banning the sale of fur products in Denver will have a direct impact on the fur industry, will send a signal to the industry that it is time to shift away from using animals for fur, will send a signal to society at large that buying or wearing fur is socially unacceptable, and will set a precedent, making the passing of similar laws more feasible in the future.

A City-wide Slaughterhouse Ban in Denver

There is only one slaughterhouse currently operating within the City of Denver: Superior Farms. While this slaughterhouse is not a large slaughterhouse (such as the one in Greeley) the slaughterhouse in Denver kills around 2,000 lambs per day, making it one of the biggest lamb slaughterhouses in the nation.

Why should we ban slaughterhouses in Denver? To put it simply: slaughterhouses are bad for neighborhoods, bad for the environment, bad for workers, and bad for animals. It is time for our society to begin transitioning away from factory farms and slaughterhouses, toward a more sustainable and humane food system. A slaughterhouse ban in Denver is one small step in the right direction toward a better future for all.

Environmental Issues

There are many large trucks entering and exiting the facility daily spewing toxic fumes throughout the neighborhood. Many neighbors in the area have also complained about the odors emitted by the slaughterhouse. Waste particles from the animals inevitably make their way into the air. In addition, the slaughterhouse in Denver has also been found to be in violation of various regulations related to water pollution.

Labor Issues

Working in a slaughterhouse is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. According to reports from OSHA, there have been multiple serious injuries, including amputations, at the Denver slaughterhouse in recent years. In addition to physical injuries, research has shown that slaughterhouse workers have higher than average rates of depression and PTSD due to the mental harms they are exposed to in their work.

Animal Well-being

Animals suffer immensely in slaughterhouses. An undercover investigation of another slaughterhouse operated by the same company revealed significant instances of animal abuse, with animals being kicked and thrown, and others struggling in pain long before they died. If our society claims to care about animals, and if we seek to become a more humane and compassionate society, we must collectively evolve away from allowing such places to exist.