A group of animal rights organizations are calling on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to halt the practice of exporting live horses overseas for slaughter. Animal Justice and Life Investigation Agency conducted an investigation that revealed a disturbing pattern of flying live horses from Canada to Japan for slaughter. They found that the horses exceeded the legal time limit of 28 hours without food, water, or rest during transport. The organizations are urging the CFIA to take immediate action to stop these shipments until the companies involved can comply with the law.
According to Animal Justice, over the past seven months, all shipments of horses from Winnipeg exceeded the legal time limit, while 60 percent of shipments from Edmonton also exceeded the time limit. The organization, along with other animal rights groups like the Winnipeg Humane Society, is calling for a moratorium on these shipments until the companies can prove they will comply with the law. The organizations believe that horses are suffering needlessly during these long journeys and that they are at risk of injury, illness, and even death due to the conditions they are transported in.
Bill C-355, an act to ban exporting horses by air for slaughter, is currently under review by the Senate. Animal Justice is urging the CFIA to take immediate action now, as the legislation won’t be revisited until the fall while more horses are shipped in the meantime. The organization believes that exporting horses from rural Alberta and rural Manitoba to Japan causes undeniable suffering for the animals, as they are not trained for travel and endure stress during the journey. Animal Justice and other groups are advocating for a moratorium to prevent more horses from sharing a similar fate.
Kevin Wilson, with the Canadian Equine Exporters Association, disputes the claims made by the animal rights organizations. He says the Canadian horse meat industry is highly regulated by the CFIA and that draft horses are bred specifically for the industry in Western Canada. The horses are raised on farms and undergo thorough inspections before being shipped overseas. Wilson argues that a moratorium or outright ban on exporting horses for slaughter would be detrimental to the industry, as many Canadian farm families have invested their life’s work into this market. He believes that a halt in shipments could create financial problems for these farmers, as flying horses has been a longstanding practice in Canada.
The Canadian Equine Exporters Association, along with other industry organizations, have written letters opposing Bill C-355. They believe in following science and evidence to regulate the industry and ensure the well-being of the animals. Wilson emphasizes that the horses are inspected by CFIA veterinarians once they arrive in Japan and spend a minimum of three months under the care of their new owners. The industry argues that a moratorium or ban would negatively impact Canadian farmers and ranchers who have been involved in the horse meat industry for decades. They believe that the industry is regulated and transparent, and allegations made against them should be supported by evidence before any action is taken.
The animal rights organizations, led by Animal Justice, are calling for immediate action from the CFIA to halt the export of horses for slaughter until compliance with the law can be ensured. They believe that horses are suffering needlessly during long transport journeys and are at risk of injury, illness, and death due to the conditions they are subjected to. With the Senate in recess for the summer, Animal Justice is urging the CFIA to take action now to prevent more horses from undergoing this grueling journey. The debate between animal rights organizations and the equine exporting industry highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding the practice of exporting horses for slaughter.