THE UN UNCONSCIONABLE SLAUGHTER WE NEED TO END NOW
Imagine this: Cute little dogs being bred on farms for the sole purpose of being shipped overseas to be slaughtered and fed as a delicacy to the rich.
But before they reach their final destination, before they are killed and butchered, they are stuffed into small wooden crates (up to four animals crowded in the tiny enclosure) for the often bumpy, terrifying 8,000 km journey – going without food and water for up to 25 to 30 hours.
Imagine if Canadians found out this practice was taking place.
We would collectively go ballistic and demand it be immediately shut down. And any government that hoped to get re-elected would act instantly. They wouldn’t take months or years. It would be shut down overnight.
So, what is the difference then between dogs and horses? Why does this country allow draft horses, think beautiful Clydesdales or Belgians among others, to be purpose bred on disgusting feed lots in Alberta and Manitoba, loaded into crates (as 18-month-olds) and sometimes forced to wait on tarmacs in minus 30C degree weather, before being loaded into the cargo bay of some plane and shipped off for slaughter?
P.S. Although we love this opinion piece and how much attention it gained including with at least one Canadian Senator – it’s important to note that NOT ALL THE HORSES BEING SHIPPED TO SLAUGHTER ARE “PURPOSE BRED”. KEEP READING…
NOT ALL HORSES ARE PURPOSE BRED
FOR SHIPMENT TO SLAUGHTER
BILL C-355 IN THE HANDS OF CANADIAN SENATORS
Even though not a single member of the Conservative Party was willing to vote in favour of Bill C-355 -- and every step of the way Conservatives fought to block Bill C-355 - designed to ban the export of horses for slaughter...
The Liberal Party persisted and Bill C-355 has now passed through Parliament - it is out of the hands of the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament and it is in the hands of Canadian Senators.
Canada’s 105 senators are men and women of accomplishment and experience.
They are business people and scientists, judges and teachers, athletes, community leaders and senior civil servants who use their lifetimes of expertise to ensure Parliament acts in the best interests of Canadians.
Senators come from diverse ethnic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds; they use the wisdom gleaned from their own experiences to give minorities a strong voice in Parliament.
Free to speak their minds (THEY ARE NOT ELECTED - they are appointed) and act on their consciences, senators play an essential role in Canada’s parliamentary democracy.
SOCIAL MEDIA WRONGLY BLAMING PM TRUDEAU
Recently on social media, we’ve noticed some advocates blaming Prime Minister Trudeau for the ongoing export of horses from Canada to Japan and other markets for the purpose of slaughter.
We are thankful that Prime Minister Trudeau and other Liberal MPs including MP Leah Taylor-Roy brought forward Bill C-355 – a bill to ban the export of horses by air for the purpose of slaughter. (BILL C-355 DETAILS HERE.)
Actually, that’s an understatement. We can not adequately express our thanks to all who were instrumental in bringing the bill forward and all who advocated for it. For example Jann Arden & EVERY single Liberal MP including PM Trudeau – every last one voted in favour of the bill to ban the export of horses for slaughter passing.
We are far less impressed with Conservatives who fought tooth and nail for this bill to NOT pass and who unanimously voted against it passing.
Yes, really, you can check the voting stats here.
Despite the fight Conservatives put up the Bill is now in the hands of the Senate and will be discussed further and voted on this fall.
In the meantime, what can we each do?
Reach out to Senators, if you are a Canadian citizen, every Senator represents you. SCROLL DOWN for a CALL TO ACTION.
You have the right to speak up and demand that they pay attention to what YOU want.
T-SHIRTS IN SUPPORT OF HORSE RESCUE FUND
LIMITED TIME OFFER FREE SHIPPING CANADA & USA
CANADA SLAUGHTERS HORSES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
It may be hard for some to believe that tens of thousands of horses, including pets, are routinely slaughtered in Canada, for human consumption.
Some of the meat is consumed in Canada and much of it is shipped to the European Union and other markets, including Japan.
The barbaric slaughter of horses is currently not legal in the United States, BUT horses, including pets and ex-racehorses, 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, is far from humane.
SURVEY EQUINE CODE
NATIONAL FARM ANIMAL CARE COUNCILTHANK YOU TO ALL WHO TOOK THE TIME TO FILL OUT THE SURVEY. IT IS NOW CLOSED. May 6, 2024: Thank you to BCSPCA for making us aware of this survey. They write:Are you passionate about the welfare of equines in Canada? Now is your chance...
APRIL 9, 2024 BOUVRY SLAUGHTERED HORSES
AND HERE WE GO AGAIN... April 9, 2024: We continue to hear that Bouvry in Fort MacLeod has closed. That rumour, a misinterpretation of a post by a well known and much respected by us group persists. The main FEEDLOT - which is a seperate property from where the...
BOUVRY UPDATE
THE MAIN FEED LOT AT BOUVRY UPDATED MARCH 30, 2024: The main FEEDLOT belonging to the Bouvry slaughter plant in Fort MacLeod, Alberta, Canada -- which for years has been used to fatten up horses before slaughter -- has been empty for some months now. BUT horse...
