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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 proanimalfuture.org for more info)
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Play around with these ideas, and do what works for you.
Petitioner: "Hi there... just a quick signature to help animals?!"
Pedestrian: "Sure; what is it about?"
Petitioner: "We're collecting signatures for a ballot measure to ban the sale of fur products in the City of Denver. Are you a Denver resident/registered to vote in Denver?"
Pedestrian: "Yes, I'm registered to vote in Denver. I'm curious to know more. Why should we ban the sale of fur products in Denver?"
Petitioner: "The fur industry is extremely cruel and unnecessary. Several other cities, including Boulder and the state of California, have passed similar laws, and we want to advance protections for animals by bringing this to Denver."
Pedestrian: "Sure, I'll sign that!"
Petitioner: [after they sign the first petition] "And would you be willing to sign one more petition? This one is to ban slaughterhouses in the City of Denver."
Pedestrian: "Oh hmm, interesting. Tell me more about it. Why should we ban slaughterhouses in Denver?"
Petitioner: "In general, slaughterhouses are bad for neighborhoods, bad for workers, bad for the environment, and bad for animals. A lot of people agree that our society needs to begin transitioning toward a more humane and sustainable food system, and this is one step in the right direction."
Pedestrian: "Okay, yeah, I'll sign it."
Remember to bring water and snacks, and to protect yourself from the sun. Standing outside for long periods of time can be physically demanding. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat is highly recommended to protect yourself from sun exposure.
Always verify that people who sign are registered to vote in the City of Denver and that they write the address under which they are registered to vote. If we have too many signatures from people who are not registered to vote in the city, we may think we have more valid signatures than we actually have, and we may come up short in the end.
If someone makes a mistake, ask them to put a line through all the entry boxes, and use the next line down to enter the correct information
Please be very careful with petition packets, not to lose them or damage them. Pay close attention to the staples and fold the pages carefully as you move through the packet. If the staples come undone, the entire petition packet will be invalid. Officials will examine petition packets for signs of tampering with staples or in any other way.
Do not fill out any portion of the last page of the petition packet until you are instructed to do so by a notary. Petitions must be notarized to be accepted, and this page must be filled out in the presence of a notary public.
Do not answer questions from reporters or media representatives. Only designated campaign representatives will communicate with the media. If you are approached by a reporter or media representative, please direct them to our website, where they can contact us to set up a meeting.
If someone asks you a question you don’t know how to answer, you can say you don’t know and direct them to our website, where they can contact us.
You can do this!
You are encouraged to try various ways of asking people to sign and find out what works best for you. That said, you can start with these recommendations.
When asking people to sign the petition, previous experiences have shown that keeping the request as short and straightforward as possible is best. “Hi there, could you sign our petition to help animals?” or “Hi there… just a quick signature to help animals?”
It is best to keep it short because when someone sees you, they don’t know what you are doing or what you are asking for. They might think you are asking for money or asking them to talk about something that will take a significant amount of time. By letting them know you're just asking for a quick signature, they will understand that you are not asking for much.
Some people will sign without further discussion, and others will want to know more about the legislation, providing an opportunity to explain the proposed legislation in greater detail. It is best to keep the explanation brief.
As petitioners will be carrying two petitions, it might be advantageous to begin the interaction by asking people to sign one petition. After they sign the first petition, ask them if they would be willing to sign one more. It is recommended to:
Start with the fur petition. After that, one is signed…
Then ask if they would sign one more (the slaughterhouse petition).
It is recommended to begin with the fur petition because it is simpler, easier to explain, and more likely to be accepted by people.
Read the next two sections for more tips about communicating with the public. Also, read the "About the Campaigns" section for some good talking points.
Common questions you might face while petitioning.
95 percent of fur products come from animals raised in fur farms, where they are kept in small cages and endure extreme suffering. The small number that are trapped endure tremendous suffering as well. In today’s world we have access to a wide range of clothing options, and killing animals just for a fashion statement is completely unnecessary and cruel.
There are at least 5 stores in Denver that sell a significant amount of fur products. We encourage them to transition their businesses to other clothing options.
This policy would not apply to wool, sheepskin, cowhides, leather, or any fur product from an animal defined as “Livestock” under the Colorado Revised Statutes. This policy is designed to target fur products from animals typically used for their fur, such as Minks, Chinchillas, Foxes, Coyotes, Rabbits, etc.
No, this legislation would not apply to the sale of used fur products at second-hand clothing stores.
There is a wide range of natural, plant-based clothing options available. The use of any fur, whether it came from an animal, or it is faux fur, is not necessary.
This policy exempts fur products purchased for traditional tribal, cultural, or spiritual purposes by a member of a federally recognized or state-recognized Native American tribe.
There are several reasons why. Slaughterhouses are bad for neighborhoods, bad for workers, bad for the environment, and bad for animals. It is time for our society to transition to a more humane and sustainable food system, and banning slaughterhouses in our city is one step in the right direction. Note: read the "About the Campaigns" section for more details about this response.
There is only one slaughterhouse in Denver, Superior Farms, which slaughters around 2,000 lambs daily. This slaughterhouse is located in a highly polluted neighborhood, 80216, one of the most polluted zip codes in the United States.
There is a provision in the proposed legislation directing the City to prioritize any slaughterhouse employees affected by the legislation in considering any employment assistance programs operated by the City, including those provisioned by the Climate Action Fund.
Suppose land currently occupied by the slaughterhouse becomes vacant. In that case, any developer who seeks to re-develop the land will likely be required to develop the land in accordance with the City’s long-term plan, known as Blueprint Denver.
The land where the current slaughterhouse is located is designated to become a “Community Center”, typically involving a balance of residential, employment, and dining/shopping uses. They are accessible to a larger area of surrounding neighborhood users by various transportation options. They are often connected through dedicated bike facilities, transit priority streets, or rail service. They incorporate open spaces to promote social interaction and respond to the distinct uses within the center. Trees, plants, and green infrastructure provide moments of relief from the more intense activity.
This transition from industrial uses to a mixed-use community center is anticipated to be extremely beneficial to the surrounding neighborhood. We advocate for the inclusion of the local community in the redevelopment of this area, and we want to draw particular attention to the need for more affordable housing in this neighborhood.
We want affordable houses, not slaughterhouses.
Banning slaughterhouses in our city is one step in the right direction toward a more humane and sustainable food system.
Many people who eat animals also recognize the need for our society to transition away from factory farming and slaughterhouses. This legislation isn't about anyone's personal eating habits. Instead, it addresses our society as a whole and serves as a step toward a collective evolution away from such industries.
We plan to begin petitioning in early May, 2023 and complete petitioning in late October, 2023. If we are successful, our initiatives will be placed on the ballot for the 2024 election. That will leave us with a year between Nov. 2023 and Nov. 2024 to conduct campaign activities to persuade voters to support our initiatives.
You will receive your petitions and any other necessary materials when you come to your first shift. See the section titled "Signing up for Canvassing Shifts" to learn how to sign up for a shift.
Every volunteer will be provided a clipboard with a poster attached to the backside. The poster can be used as a visual aid when explaining our petition.
Each clipboard and sign will have a QR code attached to it. The QR code will link to a general interest form. Please encourage anyone who expresses strong interest in the campaign to scan the code and get involved. The code can also be used for anyone who wants to contact us for any reason.
There will also be large sign boards available for canvassers to use as an additional visual aid to attract people to sign the petition. You can request a sign from a Canvas Captain or organizer, which you can pick or have it brought to your location.
There will also be tables for people who prefer to use a table while petitioning. You can request a table from a Canvas Captain or organizer and arrange to pick it up or have it brought to your location.
We will also provide you with some cards or leaflets to hand out to people who are interested in learning more about our campaign, or if they want to contact us.
We have created a system for organizing canvassing shifts. The system will be updated weekly with new shifts. Please check it regularly to sign up for the shifts you want. After adding new shifts each week, we will post it in the Slack channel #canvass-shifts.
Please use the following link to sign up for open canvassing shifts:
-You will receive your petition packet, clipboard, and other materials when you come to your first shift.
-On your first shift, you will receive a brief orientation and the opportunity to shadow another petitioner before beginning. Just so you know – an organizer will also be there to answer questions and help you with anything you need.
-After your first shift, we encourage canvassers to continue using the shift signup system throughout the campaign, but you are free to collect signatures on your own anytime.
Stay in the loop!
We will be using Slack to provide announcements, updates, share ideas, and generally stay in communication with each other throughout the campaign.
You can join our Slack Group using this link
Also, feel free to reach out to any of the organizers at any time. Here are a few:
Aidan - (720) 313-4249 aidan@paxfauna.org
Brent - (720) 347-3033 brent@paxfauna.org