Updated 2026 | Originally published October 2016

We wish this wasn’t necessary to say — but as long as horse slaughter exists in Canada, every missing horse must be treated as an emergency.

Even if you’re not sure your horse has been stolen… you need to act immediately.

Before anything ever happens, take a few minutes and make sure you have clear, up-to-date photos of your horse.

At minimum, you should have:

– Left side
– Right side
– Front view
– Rear view

If possible, also include:

Close-ups of markings, scars, brands, or unique features.

It takes just a few minutes. Your phone is all you need.  And if the worst happens, those photos become critical for:

– Police reports
– Inspectors
– Auctions
– Social media alerts

In a system where time is everything, clear photos can mean the difference between life and death for your horse or horses.

In Canada, horses delivered to slaughter plants may be killed the same day they arrive.

There is:

– NOT a mandatory holding period

 – No reliable ownership verification – ownership verification is based on the ‘honour system’

In other words there are not any consistent safeguards to stop stolen horses from being slaughtered.

That means your horse could be:

– Taken overnight or while you are at work or away for a few hours or the day

– Transported to a small or large slaughter facility within hours

– And slaughtered before you even realize they’re missing

1. CALL LIVESTOCK IDENTIFICATION SERVICES (LIS)

403-553-2844

Call even if your horse is not branded

Call even if you’re not sure it’s theft

Do not assume someone else will call

This is your fastest entry point into the livestock system

———-

CALL MAPAQ (QUEBEC ANIMAL WELFARE LINE)

 1-844-ANIMAUX (1-844-264-6289)

Call even if your horse is not branded

Call even if you’re not sure it’s theft

Do not assume someone else will call

 Important:

This is a general intake/reporting system

Your call is logged and routed to inspectors

There may be delays

Which is why you must continue with Step 2 immediately

2. CALL THE ALBERTA BASED SLAUGHTER PLANT DIRECTLY

Bouvry Exports — Fort MacLeod, Alberta

403-253-0717

Do not rely on anyone else to notify them

Call immediately

———-

CALL THE QUEBEC BASED SLAUGHTER PLANT DIRECTLY

Viande Richelieu — Quebec

450-788-2667

– Do not rely on the system to notify them
– Do not wait for a callback
– Make the call yourself — immediately

3. CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT

Contact RCMP or local police

Ask for livestock investigators

INSIST on filing a report

If you encounter resistance — be firm.

You need this on record.

4. CONTACT LOCAL LIVESTOCK AUCTIONS — IMMEDIATELY

This is critical.

Horses are often moved quickly through auctions

Call:

Auctions in your local area

Auctions in neighbouring towns

Auctions in neighbouring provinces

Provide:

– Description
– Photos
– Date/time missing
– Your contact info

5.  USE SOCIAL MEDIA (AND IF POSSIBLE THE PRESS)

CREATE A POST ON YOUR PERSONAL PROFILE AND THEN…

Share the post in:

Buy/sell livestock groups

Community groups

Local farm groups

Province-wide horse groups

Lost pet groups

Include:

– Clear photos
– Location
– Timeline
– Contact info

Then:

Ask your family and friends to help share

The goal is saturation — fast.

DO NOT WAIT

Do not:

“Wait until morning”
“See if they come back”
“Assume someone else will act”

You must act fast, wide, and aggressively

Because in this system:

Horses move fast

Paperwork is weak

Oversight is limited

And once they enter the slaughter pipeline… it may already be too late.