PROGRESS BUT MORE TO DO

Congratulations horse advocates, Bill C-355 (a bill to ban the live export of horses by air for slaughter or to be fattened for slaughter) passed an important vote on January 31, 2024 BUT we have a long way to go yet.

We think it is important to note that we were NOT surprised when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau supported this bill to ban this inhumane practice.

We are also pleased to report that every Liberal, NDP and Green MP who voted – also voted in favour of this bill moving forward to the next step.

However, every Conservative MP and Bloc Québécois MP who voted – voted against this bill – yes they are turning a blind eye to the inhumane treatment of horses.

Canadian?  Contact your Member of Parliament and tell them you are opposed to the slaughter of horses within Canada. Tell them you oppose the live inhumane transport of horses from Canada to any other market for slaughter.

American?  Learn more about 30,000 horses shipped from the United States to Canada and Mexico each year to be slaughtered for human consumption.  

Contact your legislator and demand they put a stop to this inhumane practice.

We’re often asked for petitions that we think have value so we do our best to keep a list of current petitions that we think our fellow equine lovers will appreciate.

Have one that you’d like to see added?

Please feel free to contact us.

Boycott restaurants that serve horse (or donkey) meat and boycott grocery and other stores that sell horsemeat.  In Canada that includes IGA.

Tell your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers about the dangers of eating horsemeat.  Ask them to join you in boycotting businesses that sell horsemeat.

Do you have friends in the European Union or Japan?  Make sure they know why horse meat produced in Canada is not safe.  AND how inhumane it is to slaughter horses.

P.S. Canadian?  You may be eating horse meat without knowing it.

Support equine charity, rescue, and sanctuary operations, including those lobbying to ban the slaughter of any equine for any purpose.

Please do your own due diligence before supporting any organization financially, or when surrendering an equine.

In addition to financial support, organizations are always looking for volunteer help – both in-person help and help with online tasks as well.

Please don’t be shy about reaching out to your favourite group and asking them about what help they may need. 

Thousands of young, fit, healthy, amazing equines are slaughtered in Canada every year.  Horses (and other equines) who through no fault of their own are snapped up by kill and meat buyers and sent to an inhumane death.

Reputable rescue organizations in Canada, the United States (and beyond) can help you with a match to a horse, pony, donkey, or mule to suit your needs.

Rescue doesn’t mean a horse is old or “damaged”.  Perfectly healthy horses are available from rescues and include horses of every age, color, and breed, both young and old.

Don’t use Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) drugs like Premarin®, now manufactured by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.  

Educate your friends, as well as doctors who may prescribe HRT products for women.

Many consumers are unaware of the cruel and inhumane treatment horses endure by the PMU industry to create these drugs.  (PMU stands for Pregnant Mare Urine.)

Horses are routinely impregnated and confined to stalls for the sole purpose of facilitating the collection of their urine.

The hormones in the urine are used to manufacture Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products for women.

Real Sports with Bryant Gumble May 21st, 2019:  “Enjoy the Kentucky Derby and Preakness?  Correspondent Bernard Goldberg’s report on horse racing reveals that more than two thousand horses died racing in the United States each year.  TWO THOUSAND.  And thousands more are slaughtered after their racing days are over.”

USA TODAY reports:  “an estimated 7,500 thoroughbreds a year are slaughtered for human consumption, according to Alex Waldrop, president of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA).”

NBC reports:  “It is well-documented that many racehorses end up at slaughter auctions within a week of their last race, despite the fact that many tracks across the country have policies opposing this practice.” – Nancy Perry, senior vice president of ASPCA governmental relations.

When you support racing you support the slaughter of a little-known “by-product” of the racing industry, “nurse mare foals“.  Many nurse mare foals are slaughtered immediately after their birth, not necessarily using humane methods.

Consider adopting an off the track AKA retired Standardbred or Thoroughbred.  Or a horse that never made it to the track.

Even though racehorses have been specifically bred to race, they can be taught to cut cows, barrel race, trail ride, jump and so much more.

Racehorses generally have been handled frequently and usually  have impeccable ground manners and a great work ethic.  

Shipping your equine to a slaughter plant is not a humane form of euthansia.  Nor is selling your horse at an auction or directly to a kill/meat buyer.

No one likes to think about having to say goodbye to our beloved equines, but if we do have to euthanize, the right thing to do is to not stress our horse, pony, donkey or mule by transporting them away from their home before euthanizing.

Research the costs of euthanasia and body disposal in your area and set aside some money now.  Be financially prepared to do the right thing for your equine when the time comes.

Have you made arrangements for your horses to be cared for in the event that something should happen to you?

Selling your equine at an auction puts it at high risk because “kill buyers” AKA “meat buyers” frequent auctions.  Don’t risk your horse going to slaughter.

A private sale where you can carefully screen the adoptive home, making sure that they are not kill/meat buyers masquerading as a good home, is a far better option.

When you sell privately you can stay in touch with new owners and ask to be notified if for some reason they have to resell your horse.

Warn your friends about the dangers of selling at auctions.

If you must re-home your horse consider a rescue or sanctuary situation.