In late Septemer 2018, the horse world in Canada was captivated and hearts went out to Cindy Thomas, the owner of a stolen Clydesdale mare named Molly.
The story spread like wildfire and was instrumental in educating more Canadians than ever to the fact that horses are routinely slaughtered in Canada for human consumption.
Yes, really.
Horse meat is consumed in Canada, and much of what is “processed” in Canada is shipped to other markets including, but not limited to the Eurpoean Union, Japan, China and South Korea.
This barbaric practice is currently not allowed in the United States but American horses are routinely shipped to Canada and Mexico to be slaughtered for human conumption.
Molly’s owner Cindy Thomas was shocked to learn that when horses are sold to, and dropped off, at slaughter plants in Canada, that unless a horse has a visible brand, that same horse or horses can be slaughtered the same day they are delivered. The only proof of ownership required is for the person, or persons, dropping off the horse or horses to claim that they are the rightful owners.
City TV Edmonton was the first to pick up the story, and Cindy who was just starting to understand the horrors of horse slaughter did an amazing job of making sure those watching knew there was a chance that her stolen horse (or any other horse in Canada) could be slaughtered for human consumption. You can watch the news clip by clicking here.
City TV Edmonton also did a follow up story and once again Cindy Thomas managed to make sure that those watching realized that horse slaughter for human consumption is something that is allowed in Canada. You can watch the 2 minute follow up story by clicking here.
The CTV Edmonton News Report (VIDEO ABOVE) about Molly the missing Clydesdale references a story from 2017, where two pet horses were slaughtered for human consumption. Details on that story may be found by clicking here.
Thankfully Molly was found wandering near Cindy’s home on December 24th, 2018.
She was in decent shape, her mane and tail recently brushed, and free of debris.
She was obviously being hidden some where, and because the press and the public did not let up on pressure to find her, she was set loose by those who had stolen her months before.
Since Molly’s return Cindy Thomas has become an even more outspoken advocate for horses who might other wise be slaughtered for human consumption.
Cindy has networked and put together a team of like minded individuals, who in the first 3 months of 2019 have saved over 80 horses, who would otherwise have been slaughtered.
Cindy and her team have worked countless hours, to foster, feed, and where necessary secure veterinary care for these horses, and they’ve carefully screened potential homes and placed many.
Unfortunately the paper trail when selling horses for slaughter is extremely weak.
Horses can be dropped off at a slaughter plant, and the person dropping off simply fills out a form stating that they are the rightful owner of the horse and that it has not been treated with drugs that are not meant to enter the human food chain.
The document when selling horses to a slaughter facility is based on the honour system.
(This is why eating horse meat “produced in Canada is NOT safe”.)
There is NOT a mandatory hold time before slaughtering a horse that has been sold directly to the slaughter plant
There is NOT any verification of ownership required by the slaughter house (unless the horse is branded (What if the horse has a winter coat, or the brand is barely legible even in the summer?) and again horses may be slaughtered the same day they are sold to the slaughter facility.
AS A HORSE OWNER….
Really think about that for a moment.
Depending on where you live, especially if you are in British Columbia, Alberta or Saskatchewan, you could be at work, Someone could pull in, load your horse, drive to a slaughter plant in Alberta (OR QUEBEC) and YOUR horse could be sold and slaughtered before you even know that he or she is, or they, are missing.
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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.
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