Posted on 2010-01-12

CHDC Newsletter

Horse defenders take action!

Greetings from the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition!

2009 has so far been complex around horse welfare and slaughter issues. We have come to realize how closely our battle to defend horses in Canada is linked to unrelenting efforts to fight for horses' rights and to ban slaughter south of the border. Please read on to learn about the latest developments and what you can do to help.

EU Regulations Affecting Shipment of Horsemeat to Europe

On August 25th, the CHDC and the US-based Equine Welfare Alliance sent out a joint news release regarding the European Union (EU) April 17th notification to "third" countries that supply equine meat to the EU (including Canada). Requirements have been established by the EU regarding slaughter-bound horses, including the identification of horses intended for food production, a system of identity verification, a prohibition on the use of anabolic steroids & other prohibited drugs, and a minimum 6-month withdrawal period for veterinary medicinal products. The letter stipulates immediate steps required to implement a food safety program for countries supplying horse meat to the European Union. A link to our news release is

Dr. Claude Boissonneault of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) eventually responded to our letter of concern, "The European Commission (EC) requested that action plans for meeting the law requirements be submitted by July 17th, 2009. However, that deadline has been extended to October 17, 2009." To date there have been no updates to report. We will post news about any developments as they unfold. The understanding is that the CFIA is working collaboratively with stakeholders to enhance the Canadian system in an a effort to meet EU requirements. The stakeholders are abattoirs slaughtering horses, Equine Canada, Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada & Health Canada, and the Bureau of Veterinary Drugs.

According to the Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada (a pro-slaughter organization), the only steps being advocated at present are for people to maintain health records for their horses. A far cry from the conditions mandated by the European Commission!

Response from the RCMP

After analyzing our June 2008 investigative report Black Beauty Betrayed on Natural Valley Farms horse slaughter plant, the CHDC opened a police file at the Broadview, Saskatchewan RCMP detachment. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, it is an offence to willfully cause unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal. Film evidence obtained for the report provided proof that an investigation was in order, as several horses were beaten willfully while in the kill box, and five different Acts covering everything from animal welfare, transport of horses, humane slaughtering and environmental regulations were violated...

More than a year later, a response was finally received from the RCMP. In their letter to the CHDC, workplace inconsistencies and poor practices were acknowledged, however they were closing their file due to the closure of Natural Valley Farms. Any concerns regarding worker misconduct will have to be taken to the CFIA. To view the entire letter in JPG format, click

Petition to MP Barry Devolin

On May 20th, supporter Denise Lockhart and CHDC director Shelley Grainger presented a petition that Denise gathered, containing over 400 signatures, to Ontario MP Hon. Barry Devolin of Haliburton - Kawartha Lakes - Brock. Way to go, Denise and Shelley! A follow up meeting on September 24th was successful and additional signatures were presented for a total of 585! Mr. Devolin promised to table the petition in the House of Commons. In addition, he promised to write to Minister of Agriculture, MP Gerry Ritz, concerning poor transportation standards and lack of enforcement of them for slaughter-bound horses, the European Union's April 2009 directive banning horsemeat containing drugs and certain contaminants from third country suppliers, as well as the ongoing issues and concerns around horse slaughter.

We are awaiting Mr. Ritz's reply to Mr. Devolin's October 5th letter. Clearly, more pressure on individual ministers is required if we are to alleviate the suffering of our horses. We would ask that as many supporters as possible start gathering signatures on petitions with the intention of presenting them to your MP. The more signatures that they see, the more the Canadian government must pay attention to this issue. Here is a link to a you can use. The CHDC would be glad to assist in your efforts to gather signatures and present them to your MP. Please feel free to contact us to get involved.

Wild Horse Shootings in Alberta

In April, the CBC reported on the investigation into the shooting of another 3 wild horses near Sundre , Alberta . This brings the total number of horses shot and killed in Alberta , to over 22 in the last 4 years. For more on this disturbing story and about how to help Canada 's wild horse population, please visit the Wild Horses of Alberta Society (WHOAS). WHOAS is offering a $10,000 reward for information that helps solve these killings.

Statistics

Statistics from Agriculture Canada reveal that between January and July 2009, 31,140 horses were imported into Canada for slaughter from the US . During all of 2008, 42,319 horses were imported for slaughter. These tragic numbers reveal that US horse imports are on the rise. Interestingly however, statistics for all horses to slaughter in Canada (up to August 2009) are down 17% over 2008. Up to August last year, 72,191 horses met their death in Canadian slaughterhouses. In 2009, the number to the end of August was 60,478. While this number is down marginally, there are still over 1,775 horses going to slaughter every week in Canada !

US Mustangs

Many of you may have been following the situation in the Arrowhead Mountains of Montana involving the legendary stallion, Cloud, and his herd. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced a new initiative that includes the "possible creation of wild horse preserves on the productive grasslands of the Midwest and East". However, the Cloud Foundation is concerned that the BLM is not following the law in the management of America 's wild horses and burros, and the Foundation questions why new preserves should be created. Instead, why not return the horses to their native lands? Currently 32,000 wild horses are in government holding pens... To read more, please visit the website of the at: Cloud Foundation . You can sign the petition located on the right sidebar, as well as call the offices of President Obama and Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior.

US Agricultural Act Passes Senate

We are encouraged by news from south of the border regarding USDA inspections at horse slaughter plants. On October 8th, the US Senate passed the final version of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R. 2997). This bill was subsequently approved by the House of Representatives... In a nutshell, it prohibits any funds to be used by the USDA to inspect horsemeat for human consumption and therefore effectively bars horse slaughter plants from operating in the US for the fiscal year 2010. The bill awaits Presidential approval.

Subsequently, an October 15th Associated Press article quotes Montana Rep. Ed Butcher (leading supporter of re-establishing horse slaughter in America) as saying that French and Belgian companies didn't express much interest in a possible plant in Montana. For more insight into developments south of the border, see this opinion article by R.T. Fitch .

Horse Protection Initiatives

TRACS (The Responsible Animal Care Society) has launched a new program designed to help speed up the rate of adoptions from qualified Canadian rescue centres, and to alleviate the suffering of elderly, lame and ill horses at risk of being shipped for slaughter. For more information, please visit TRACS (Horse Protection Initiatives).

Horse Welfare Workshop - Sunday, November 15th

On Sunday, November 15th, CHDC Director Shelley Grainger will be conducting a workshop for people to learn and network on horse welfare issues. Topics to be covered include petitioning and meeting with your MP, horse auctions and transportation issues, operating a horse rescue, obtaining non-profit charity status and fund-raising ideas. This afternoon session will take place at Royal Canadian Riding Academy (RCRA) in Cedar Valley , near Newmarket , Ontario . Please contact Shelley directly at sgrainger2434@rogers.com to confirm your attendance to what promises to be an informative afternoon.

Canadians for the Ethical Treatment of Farm Animals (CETFA)

Our friends at CETFA have a very informative web site. CETFA is an investigative and educational organization established to examine intensive farming practices, hazards to human health and environmental impacts. They've put out an excellent flyer titled Black Beauty Betrayed that can be printed out and distributed (Warning - graphic content).

AND just in time for Christmas, visit the CHDC Shop at Cafe Press.

The CHDC's mission is to protect and defend the horses of Canada from abuse, neglect and slaughter. All proceeds will go to work immediately to further this mission. Select from dozens of shirts, hats, sweatshirts, home and pet items. Help display the message while looking cool!

"Help us lead Canada's horses away from barbarism . .
and into the protected pastures of a civilized nation."