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Sunday, October 16, 2011

Update ! Take Action!

Update to

SUPPORT PROPOSED BAN ON CANADIAN HORSE SLAUGHTER – URGENT. Send Emails Now

(Click HERE to see original post.)

UPDATE! One of our horse warriors, Monika in CO, has compiled an email string of all these officials! You may only be able to send a few at a time, depending on your server, but here is the list. Thanks, Monika!
(I re-posted the letter below the email addresses. Just copy/paste the letter and add your own information.)

Here is the letter again:
Dear ________,
Re:   Bill C-322 An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act and the Meat Inspection Act (slaughter of horses for human consumption)
I am writing to ask you as a Member of Parliament/Canadian Legislative Assembly  to support the newly introduced Biill C-322. On October 5, 2011, Alex Atamanenko tabled Private Members Bill C-322, proposing to shut down the slaughtering of horses for human consumption in Canada, and I am asking for your help.
http://openparliament.ca/bills/41-1/C-322/
According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada statistics, 88,915 horses died in Canadian slaughterhouses in 2010. This translates to over 1,700 horses every week that meet their awful fate in Canadian slaughterhouses. There are currently 4 federally licensed horse slaughter plants in Canada (2 in AB, and 2 in QC). About half of the horses are exported from the U.S., where slaughter plants have closed, but exports still continue. Horse slaughter has been in Canada for years, but U.S. imports have increased as a result of the 2007 closure of the last U.S. plant. U.S. citizens fought hard to close the industry. However, until laws are passed, horses will continue to be exported to Canada and Mexico. A market for horse meat for human consumption exists in Europe and Asia. However, the majority of people do not support it and an Ipsos-Reid poll reveals that nearly 2/3 of Canadians do not believe in killing horses for human consumption.
Drugs, which are prohibited for use during the life of any animals destined for the human food supply, are routinely being administered to horses. Mr. Atamanenko states, “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”.
• Horses have not traditionally been raised for human consumption in Canada. Horse meat products are likely to contain prohibited substances. Horses are considered sport and companion animals, not livestock. Many Canadians believe that this industry must be abolished on humane grounds. 64% of Canadians do not support it.
• The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition has compelling evidence of horse cruelty and suffering as a result of rough handling and poor slaughter practices at 3 Canadian horse slaughter plants. See “Black Beauty Betrayed” (2008) and “Chambers of Carnage” (2010) on the CHDC website.
• Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman, of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and Member of the Leadership Council of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, said of our June 2008 report on Natural Valley Farms plant in SK: “horses experienced sheer terror”, “some horses were not properly stunned”, and “this practice should be banned”.
• Dr. Debi Zimmermann B.Sc. (Zoology), D.V.M. (AB) stated upon viewing footage from Bouvry Exports (AB) and Viande Richelieu (QC) in April 2010: “I conclude that the wary and flighty nature of the horse, coupled with the poorly designed kill plant systems currently in place at Bouvry Exports and Viande Richelieu, results in unacceptable levels of suffering endured by horses (both in number of horses and degree of suffering), and poses inherent dangers to
plant personnel.”
• The Federal Health of Animals Act is not enforced, which would protect sick, pregnant and unfit horses, and prohibit overcrowding; as well the Recommended Code of Practice for Care and Handling of Farm Animals: Transportation of Horses is not enforced.
• The CFIA does not enforce their own weak rules that slaughter bound horses must not be transported for longer than 36 hours straight and must be provided with feed, water and rest at required intervals. Double decker trailers are still allowed. Horses are shipped in crowded trailers over long distances, and often arrive injured, sometimes fatally.
• The horse slaughter process itself is not humane euthanasia. It is a predatory business that sustains a culture of cruelty to horses.
Please do the right thing for the horses in Canada by supporting anti-slaughter legislation in Parliament.
YOU ARE VOICE FOR THE HORSES, PLEASE SPEAK OUT FOR THEM!
Sincerely,Your name
Address
City/Zip
Phone number
_____________________________











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