Posted on 2006-09-18

End Horse Slaughter in Canada

Prime Time to End this barbaric practice in Canada

Dear Horse Defenders,

The U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to ban the killing of horses for human consumption overseas, and while this promising step still requires Senate approval, we are hopeful that the long, stoic battle fought by our southern neighbours will culminate in victory for the horses.

But what about Canada? Isn't it prime time to end this barbaric practice here? According to a news report from Tokyo, only a minimal percentage of horsemeat imports into Japan originate from the United States. Japan is virtually ignoring U.S. efforts to ban horse slaughter, and plans to keep horse meat on its plates. "Japanese imports of horse meat are unaffected by the US vote because first of all Japan does not import that much from the United States," agriculture ministry official Hidetoshi Akinaga said. "Japan's main trade partners for horse meat are Canada, Brazil and Argentina."

Canada sent 48,715 horses to slaughter last year. Yet an Ipsos-Reid poll conducted May 18-20, 2004 revealed that the majority of Canadian citizens (64%) do not support the slaughter of horses for human consumption. This message begs to be rolled out before our legislators!

The horses need you to take action on their behalf:

1. Members of Parliament and the Minister of Agriculture must listen to their constituents, who vote them into office. Please visit the following webpage to locate your MP. Click on his/her name to find contact information. The Minister of Agriculture can be reached directly through this link.
2. Send the following letter by post, fax, or e-mail. Better yet, personalize it by adding a few original sentences, or create your own message.
3. Do you know people involved in the horse industry (large animal veterinarians, tack and feed store owners, hay farmers, trail riding businesses, etc.)? Ask them to throw their weight behind the movement to ban horse slaughter in Canada. Make sure that they also contact their MPs. (Please ask them to copy their letters to The Canadian Horse Defense Coalition.) Legislators will respond to those who are involved in industry and bring revenue into the country. It's important to convey the message that horses in Canada are worth far more alive than dead!
4. Join The Canadian Horse Defense Coalition, and sign up to receive our action alerts, or simply visit online: www.defendhorsescanada.org

Dear Hon. _________________:

It has come to my attention that tens of thousands of horses are killed annually in Canadian slaughterhouses, and that their flesh is shipped overseas for food. Some "meat" horses are victims of live export, and are therefore at the mercy of foreign laws or lack of them. I am further aware of an Ipsos-Reid poll that was conducted in May 2004. This survey revealed that 2/3 (64%) of adult Canadians polled "do not believe in the slaughter of Canadian horses for human consumption" ( http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=2252 ).

Slaughter-bound horses originate from many sources. Show horses, racehorses, foals born as a "byproduct" of the Premarin industry (a female hormone replacement drug), wild horses, carriage horses, and family horses have fallen prey to the horse slaughter industry. Horses have not traditionally been raised for human consumption in Canada; however, they are being killed to satisfy the palates of overseas diners in Italy, France, Belgium, and Japan. Overcrowded feedlots, poor transport conditions, and cruel treatment of equines at slaughter plants are concerns that have been widely documented and continue to horrify many Canadians who believe that this industry must be abolished on humane grounds. Horses continue to be found dead on arrival at slaughter plants following transport. The slaughter process itself is not humane euthanasia; undercover video tells a story of terror, pain and prolonged suffering--hardly a fitting end for the noble horse.

Economically speaking, it is clear that live horses provide far more boost to Canadian economy than horses killed and exported as meat. Consider this excerpt from an online report: "The horse industry in York Region [Ontario] provides a significant contribution to the economy. With about $400 million in capital investment, the industry contributes $40 million in revenue to local farms and stables, $37 million in direct expenditures to local feed, bedding, product and service providers, and provides more than 6,000 full-time jobs within the Region. In addition, the industry brings approximately 100,000 people to the Region each year to participate in riding and other horse-related activities."

As your constituent, I seek your support in banning the slaughter of horses in Canada, and look forward to your prompt reply.

Yours truly,

____________________

(include your name and contact information)

For a pdf copy of this letter that you can print, right click here.
Download and distribute our End Horse Slaughter Flyer

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