Bear Valley Rescue: About Horse Slaughter "Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight" - Albert Schweitzer
THE END DOESN'T JUSTIFY THE MEANS
Many people don't realize that when they sell their horse at auction there is a VERY big risk that it will be purchased by a meat buyer. The majority of horses sold at livestock auctions do go for meat. At every auction we have attended, about 80 to 90% of the horses were purchased by the meat buyer - weanlings, yearlings, pregnant mares, mares with foals, broke horses, wild horses, healthy horses, sick horses, doesn't matter.
There are so many reasons that horses go for slaughter, from those that are raised as meat or through indiscriminate or over breeding, to those that are used and discarded once they're no longer useful, and those that end up at the auction simply due to bad luck, such as a divorce or death resulting in herd dispersals. Mainly it's feeding an industry that exists to supply horse meat to foreign markets.
It's often a difference of moral or ethical standards - people who see horses as just another source of protein or people that use them as they would any business or financial possesion, and at the other end if the spectrum are people that see them as companion animals and pets. Unfortunately, because there are so many differing views on the subject and very little common ground, we probably will not see the end of horse slaughter in Canada in the near future. So all we can do is save them, one life at a time.
THIS IS A MUST READ - White Paper on Horse Slaughter by Veterinarians for Equine Welfare - Click here While this paper specifically deals with the American horse slaughter industry, from what I've personally seen I don't believe that the handling of horses bound for slaughter here in Canada is much different.
THE CANADIAN HORSE DEFENSE COALITION: BILL C-544 – A BILL TO BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER IN CANADA What you can do to help! On June 16, 2010, NDP Agriculture Critic MP Alex Atamanenko tabled Private Members Bill C-544 that would effectively shut down the slaughter of horses in Canada for human consumption: http://alexatamanenko.ndp.ca/node/511. The basis of the bill is the fact that horses are not food-producing animals and many are treated with drugs that are prohibited from entering the human food chain. Canadians now have the opportunity to help this Bill become law. Your efforts will be critical for this Bill's success! Bill C-544, "An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act and the Meat Inspection Act (slaughter of horses for human consumption)": http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=4633655&Language=e&Mode=1 (Click on the various sub-titles on the left of the document.) A new petition has been created, http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/pdf/chdcpetition2010.pdf reflecting the components of Bill C-544 pertaining to the amendments of the Health of Animals Act and the Meat Inspection Act. Specifically, these amendments address the dangers to human health as horse-meat products are likely to contain prohibited substances. The message to our MPs must be specific to Bill C-544. Mr. Atamanenko states, “The fact is that drugs which are prohibited for use during the life of any animals destined for the human food supply are routinely being administered to horses. It is irresponsible for Canada to allow the sale of meat from horses as a food item when they have never been raised in accordance with the food safety practices required for all other animals.” This summer is our key opportunity to reach out to our Members of Parliament, while Parliament is in recess, before they reconvene in the Fall. Our target date to have petitions delivered to our MPs is September 20, 2010. Please commit to petitioning your Member of Parliament this summer. You may choose to collect names by going door to door, sitting at a table in a shopping mall or by leaving petitions at supportive businesses. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT CITIZENS SIGN PETITIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE RIDING THEY LIVE IN, so if your community covers more than one constituency, make sure to offer a choice of several petitions with the riding/MP name at the top of each front page. Collect as many names as you can. Please do this for the horses! Your MP's name and contact information can be found here: http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainConstituenciesCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E Explain to your elected official that horsemeat may contain drugs that are unsafe for human consumption. Proof of horse-meat toxicity can be found in this recently released scientific paper titled “Association of phenylbutazone usage with horses bought for slaughter: A public health risk": http://www.equinewelfarealliance.org/uploads/Food_and_Chemical_Toxicology_FINAL.pdf This summer's recess also coincides with new requirements from the European Union, being implemented on July 31, 2010, as a first step in the development of a comprehensive food safety and traceability program for the Canadian equine industry in an effort to protect consumers from tainted horsemeat. Here is a link to the CFIA announcement on this industry changing program: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/2010/20100129e.shtml The CHDC has researched the troubling issue of banned drugs commonly found in horsemeat, and has prepared this paper on what the European Union requirements will mean to North America 's horse industry: http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/pdf/finaldisc100314.pdf For more information on how a bill becomes law, read here: http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/pdf/leg_proc_canada.pdf The CHDC would be happy to answer any questions or provide guidance in your efforts to gather signatures on your petition(s). We can be contacted at info@defendhorsescanada.org. Please keep us up to date on your progress. We will be in touch with our supporters over the summer months on this critically important legislation that can finally end the slaughter of our beloved horses. Sincerely, Sinikka Crosland Executive Director
Canadian Horse Defence Coalition Click here New updates on their website - video footage from Feb/10 taken at the Alberta and Quebec slaughter plants. Horses are shot with a rifle before being hoisted up, their throats cut and their feet cut off. Unfortunately the first shot is not always accurate. It is heartbreaking to watch the footage, if you can. Also check out the links page for more information on horse slaughter. 'Save Our Horses from Slaughter' license plate holders can be ordered for $7.00 apiece (includes shipping to Canadian destinations). To order, please send an e-mail to info@defendhorsescanada.org