Could Denver become the first city in the nation to ban slaughterhouses? That’s what a ballot measure will decide in November as citizens hit the polls. Here’s everything you need to know about Denver Ordinance 309.
What is Ordinance 309?
Voters in Denver will have the opportunity to vote on a ballot measure that would “prohibit the construction, maintenance, or use of slaughterhouses in Denver, Colorado.” The initiative was started by Pro-Animal Future and is supported by organizations like Animal Equality.
Currently, there is one slaughterhouse—Superior Farms—located in Globeville. This facility is the largest lamb slaughterhouse in the nation. If passed, Ordinance 309 would cease the operation of Superior Farms and stop the construction of future facilities.
Why vote ‘yes’?
Roughly 99% of cows, pigs, chickens and other farmed animals are raised on factory farms. Undercover investigations, like the ones performed by Animal Equality, reveal how animals are treated in these facilities. In over 815 investigations across 13 countries, Animal Equality has found systemic cruelty in the meat, dairy and egg industries, where animals are mutilated, abused, caged and ultimately slaughtered.
A recent investigation into Superior Farms by Direct Action Everywhere hopes to show why slaughterhouse bans, like the one in Denver, are crucial to ending animal cruelty.
As reported by The Intercept, images from the investigation show:
- Still-conscious lambs thrashing on the slaughter line after having their throats cut
- Injured animals being taken to slaughter
- Workers spanking and laughing at animals. Some “simulated sex acts with nearby machinery as lambs are having their throats slit.”
A former worker at the facility stated in an opinion piece published by The Denver Post, “The systematic cruelty I witnessed all those years ago should shock the conscience of every voter.”
In addition to animal cruelty concerns, slaughterhouses raise environmental concerns. Superior Farms, for example, has been cited for violations of the Clean Air Act and was fined “nearly $120,000 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” as reported by Westworld.
What will you see on the ballot in November?
“Shall the voters of the City and County of Denver adopt an ordinance prohibiting slaughterhouses, and, in connection, beginning January 1, 2026, prohibiting the construction, maintenance, or use of slaughterhouses within the City; and requiring the City to prioritize residents whose employment is affected by the ordinance in workforce training or employment assistance programs?”
When can I vote on Ordinance 309?
Registered voters in Denver will see the initiative on their November ballot. Remember to vote ‘yes’ on Ordinance 309.
When would the ordinance go into effect?
If passed, the ballot measure will go into effect on January 1, 2026 to allow current facilities the time to cease operation.
What else can I do? What if I don’t live in Denver?
The most effective way to protect animals from suffering is to replace meat, dairy and eggs with plant-based products. Doing so tells the industry at every meal that you disagree with how it treats animals. Every time you choose plant-based foods, you choose compassion over cruelty.
LIVE KINDLY
With rich emotional lives and unbreakable family bonds, farmed animals deserve to be protected.
You can build a kinder world by replacing animal food products with plant‑based ones.
