SIGNS OF CHANGE BUT THE FIGHT IS NOT OVERThere are signs that Canada’s horse slaughter industry is shifting—and not a moment too soon. But while one door may be closing, others remain wide open. Here's what we know right now: 1. Bouvry’s (Horse) Slaughter Plant in...
CHARGED WITH NEGLECT YET REDLICK CAN STILL OWN HORSES?
SEIZURE DOES NOT MEAN A BAN ON HORSE OWNERSHIP
Temporary, court-reviewable restrictions on animal ownership until charges are resolved would align animal welfare with protections already accepted in other areas of law.
SERIOUS LOOPHOLE
Sixteen horses were seized from Stephanie Redlick. (AKA Stephanie Alessia.)
One was so badly neglected he had to be euthanized.
The surviving 15 horses will NOT be returned to her, and taxpayers are left with a bill exceeding $116,000.
Redlick is facing 13 charges under the Animal Welfare Services Act for the alleged mistreatment and abuse of animals.
And yet, under Ontario’s current system, she remains legally able to have horses. AND she is accumulating horses again.
This shocking reality is why this letter-writing campaign exists — to demand changes that actually prevent repeat neglect, not just respond after the damage is done.
In many areas of law, temporary safeguards are routinely put in place once serious charges are laid, not as punishment, but as a precaution.
These measures exist to prevent further harm while the courts determine guilt or innocence. They recognize a simple reality: waiting until after a trial can mean irreversible damage.
For example, individuals charged with violent offences may be prohibited from contacting alleged victims, firearm owners can have weapons seized, professionals may be suspended from practice, drivers can lose licences, and parents may face supervised access — all before a trial concludes.
These are not declarations of guilt; they are risk-management tools designed to protect the public or vulnerable parties during legal proceedings.
Animal welfare should be no different.
When someone faces serious animal neglect charges — especially following large-scale seizures or fatalities — allowing unrestricted ownership or custody of animals during that period creates a foreseeable risk.
Again, temporary, court-reviewable restrictions on animal ownership until charges are resolved would align animal welfare with protections already accepted in other areas of law.
Ontario’s Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act does not currently provide this kind of interim protection.
While inspectors can seize animals already in distress and courts may impose prohibitions after a conviction, there is no mechanism that automatically restricts animal ownership or acquisition once serious charges are laid. As a result, enforcement remains reactive rather than preventative — stepping in only after harm has occurred again.
WE’VE REMOVED EVERY BARRIER TO SPEAKING UP
If you live in Ontario, this push-button tool sends a pre-written letter directly to your MPP and senior elected officials demanding urgent changes to a broken animal welfare system.
ON THE FORM BELOW…
Step 1: Enter your postal code, click Find My MPP
Step 2: Click ‘Send to Premier + Solicitor General + Chief Inspector (CC My MPP)
AFTER you hit send on the form below YOU CAN EDIT the email BEFORE it goes out – or leave it as is.
It takes LESS than 2 minutes.
Take Action Today: Close Ontario's Animal Welfare Loophole
Enter your Ontario postal code to automatically find your local MPP. Then send the letter in one click.
Recipients: Premier's Office, Solicitor General, Chief Animal Welfare Inspector, and your local MPP (auto).
What law needs to change?
- Automatic "no-own / no-custody" restrictions for repeat or severe neglect cases, especially after a large seizure.
- Real restrictions while charges are before the court so animals cannot be quietly moved to avoid oversight.
- Mandatory veterinary orders when an animal is reported injured or in distress.
- Cost-recovery accountability: if someone owes the province major care costs after seizure, that must trigger restrictions on future ownership/custody.
Bottom line: seizure without enforceable ownership restrictions is not prevention - it's a revolving door.
THE LETTER IN THE FORM READS…
Subject: Close Ontario’s Animal Welfare Loophole: Prevent Repeat Harm
Dear Premier Ford and Minister Kerzner,
I am writing to urge immediate reform to close a dangerous loophole in Ontario’s animal welfare system.
When an individual has had 16 horses seized, one was euthanized due to condition, the animals are not being returned, and taxpayers are owed over $116,000 for care, there must be enforceable restrictions preventing future ownership or custody of horses.
Seizure without ownership restrictions is not prevention. It allows repeat harm and repeats taxpayer expense. Similar temporary safeguards already exist in other areas of law to prevent further harm while charges are before the courts.
I am asking your government to implement reforms so that repeat or severe cases trigger meaningful bans or restrictions on animal ownership, along with timely veterinary orders when animals are reported injured or in distress.
Full details and documentation are available here:
https://banhorseslaughter.com/stephanie-redlick
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[City]
AND IT GOES TO…
Premier of Ontario
Doug Ford
Premier of Ontario
📧 Email: premier@ontario.ca
📞 Telephone: 416-325-1941
Solicitor General of Ontario
Michael Kerzner
📧 Email: minister.solgen@ontario.ca
📞 Telephone: 416-426-5000
Chief Animal Welfare Inspector (Ontario)
Melanie Milczynski
Animal Welfare Services, Ontario
📧 Email: Melanie.Milczynski@ontario.ca
📞 Telephone: 416-433-3540
BOUVRY HORSE SLAUGHTER PLANT CLOSED
read more
TO BUY OR NOT BUY HORSES FROM KILL BUYERS
WHY IS THERE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING BUYING HORSES DESTINED FOR SLAUGHTER?Okay, so we are fully aware that purchasing horses from kill buyers or directly from First Nations bands is controversial. Some rescues, organizations and individuals are NOT in favour of doing...
CHARGED WITH NEGLECT YET REDLICK CAN STILL OWN HORSES?
SEIZURE DOES NOT MEAN A BAN ON HORSE OWNERSHIP Temporary, court-reviewable restrictions on animal ownership until charges are resolved would align animal welfare with protections already accepted in other areas of law. SERIOUS LOOPHOLESixteen horses were seized from...
HORSES SLAUGHTERED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
Every year thousands of horses are routinely slaughtered in Canada, for human consumption, but you can help us ban horse slaughter in Canada and beyond.
Some of the meat is consumed in Canada, and much of it is shipped to the European Union, and other markets, including Japan.
This barbaric practice is currently not legal in the United States, so horses from the United States are shipped to Canada, and to Mexico, to be slaughtered.
In addition Canada allows for the transportation of live horses to Japan to be slaughtered for human consumption, and unfortunately the transportation of horses destined for slaughter within Canada, and by air to Japan for slaughter, is far from humane.
LEARN MORE HERE <==
We are 100% volunteer & crowdfunded.
0% goes towards salaries. Yes, ZERO.
JOIN ACTOR KATE DRUMMOND &
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
