Posted on 2007-02-02

Exciting News for horses in US

There will be implications in Canada

February 2, 2007

The Canadian Horse Defense Coalition (CHDC) applauds the efforts of all involved in the movement to protect equines from slaughter in the United States. In 2006, over 100,000 horses were slaughtered for human consumption in the U.S.; however, there have been recent favorable developments in the efforts to end this industry.

On January 19, 2007, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, Louisiana, ruled that horse slaughter is illegal in Texas. This overturns a 2005 Lower Federal District Court ruling and upholds a 1949 Texas law that bans the sale of horse flesh for human consumption. Sources have advised that the two Texas equine slaughter plants, Beltex (Fort Worth) and Dallas Crown, Inc. (Kaufman) are doing business as usual during an appeal process. As a result of the January 19th Appeals Court ruling, two major airlines suspended the shipment of horse meat to overseas markets.

U.S. Federal legislation banning the slaughter of horses (as well as export for the same purpose) has been introduced as Bill HR.503 in the House and S.311 in the Senate. The enactment of such a law would serve as a final and crucial step in protecting American horses from the meat industry, as at this time they can legally be slaughtered at Cavel International, Inc., in DeKalb, Illinois, and can further be exported to Mexico and Canada for slaughter. Until this legislation is passed, we can expect to see Canadian feedlots filling up with horses from the U.S., and the equine slaughter plants of our nation to be running at, or past, capacity. Although 2006 statistics have not yet been released, in 2005, 48,715 horses were slaughtered in Canada, and 9,353 were exported for slaughter.

It is well known and proven that horses are treated inhumanely before and during the slaughter process. There is documented proof and videotape evidence showing horses being grossly mistreated during transportation, as well as at the feedlots and slaughterhouses. The captive bolt gun only stuns the horse and does not provide a quick, painless end to life. For further information on the inhumane treatment that horses endure in the slaughter process, please refer to the CHDC website at www.defendhorsescanada.org.

You can help end this industry in Canada! At such a critical time, while momentum is gaining in the U.S., it is vitally important that Canadians rally and contact their federal legislators in order to express their concerns about the horrors of equine slaughter here in our own country. Remind them that an Ipsos-Reid poll conducted in May 2004 reveals that the majority of Canadians (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. Only through lobbying our government can we bring a similar Bill to the Canadian Parliament to be passed as Federal law.

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)

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."