Animal Suffering within the Odenton Community

This week I was shocked to see signs posted throughout our community of Odenton calling out a local resident for animal abuse. Curious, I visited the website mentioned, TonyaDouglasSVP.com, and was surprised to learn this isn’t about a neighbor mistreating pets, but rather a serious issue involving the grocery store we all know: Giant.

According to the site, Giant and its parent company Ahold Delhaize pledged years ago to go 100% cage-free by 2025. Yet now, they’ve quietly walked back that promise. It’s very disappointing and feels deceptive.

For those unfamiliar, “cage-free” doesn’t mean perfect conditions, but it does mean hens aren’t crammed into tiny wire cages so small they can’t spread their wings. It’s a basic improvement in animal welfare, one that Giant publicly committed to and that many of us have supported through our purchases. The practice of caging these animals is banned in several states and countries, and many companies like McDonald’s, Costco, Burger King and more have gone cage-free.

Odenton is a small, close-knit town. We care about doing what’s right. And when a company makes a public promise to us, especially about something as important as humane treatment of animals, we should hold them to it.

This isn’t just about chickens. It’s about integrity, transparency, and whether big corporations think they can make commitments and quietly back out when no one’s looking. It’s about whether our dollars support cruelty or compassion.

I urge my fellow community members to visit the website, learn the facts, and speak up. Ask Giant to keep its word. Because a promise, especially one that impacts millions of animals, shouldn’t be optional.