Calling All Canadians!

http://www.nwhorsesource.com/news/2009/08/canadian-recommended-code-of-practice.html



The Canadian Recommended Code of Practice for Care and Handling of Farm Animals:
Transportation of Horses is not enforced, horses not properly stunned before slaughter, etc...

For more info visit: http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/

In June 2008, the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) released a second investigative report on horse slaughter practices at Natural Valley Farms (NVF) in Saskatchewan. This report proved conclusively that horses experienced cruel abuse and suffering throughout the slaughter process there. NVF went into receivership soon afterwards, but the plant continued to operate as Natural Meat Co. (NMC). In December ‘08, NMC was ordered by the CFIA to cease operations due to food safety concerns. Operators of the plant decided to walk away and closed the plant in February ‘09. However, every week there remains over 2,000 horses that will meet their awful fate in Canadian slaughterhouses. The number jumped to nearly 113,000 horses in 2008, a 225% increase over 2006. The number of slaughter plants has grown from 3 to 6 since that time. 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 the increase new is a result of the 2007 closure of the last U.S. plant. U.S. citizens fought hard to close the industry. However, until H.R. Bill 503 is 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 Canadians do not support it and an Ipsos-Reid poll reveals that 64% do not believe in killing horses for human consumption. The CHDC asks Canadians and Americans to contact Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency – the federal agencies responsible for the business of horse slaughter in Canada.

Speak out for the horses. Tell them why it is wrong and demand that horse slaughter end! These agencies are directed by:

Hon. Gerry Ritz Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

613 Confederation Bldg., House of Commons

Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

Email: Ritz.G@parl.gc.ca

Website:www.gerryritzmp.com/

Tel: 613-995-7080; Fax: 613-996-8472

Ms. Carole Swan, President Canadian Food Inspection Agency

59 Camelot Drive

Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9

Email: swanc@inspection.gc.ca

Website: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml

Tel: 613-221-3737; Fax: 613-228-6608

Dr. Brian Evans, Chief Veterinary Officer of Canada

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

59 Camelot Drive, Floor 1, East Room 100

Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9

Email: bevans@inspection.gc.ca

Website: www.inspection.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml

Tel: 613-221-4191; Fax 613-228-6608

Horses have not traditionally been raised for human consumption in Canada. In our country, horses are considered sport and companion animals. Many Canadians believe that this industry must be abolished on humane grounds. 64% of Canadians do not support it.

• There are now 6 federally licensed horse slaughter plants in Canada (3 more than in 2006).

• Horses are shipped in crowded trailers over long distances, and often arrive injured, sometimes fatally.

• The CHDC has compelling evidence of horse abuse and suffering as a result of rough handling and poor slaughter practices at horse slaughter plants.

• Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman, of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and Member of the Leadership Council of the Humane Society Veterinary Medica Association, said of our June ’08 report: “horses experienced sheer terror”, “some horses were not properly stunned”, and “this practice should be banned”.

• The Federal Health of Animals Act is not enforced, which would protect sick, pregnant and unfit horses, and prohibit overcrowding.

• 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 provide with feed, water and rest at required intervals. Double decker trailers are still allowed.

• The horse slaughter process itself is not humane euthanasia.

A CALL TO END HORSE SLAUGHTER IN CANADA YOU ARE THE HORSES’ VOICE - SPEAK OUT FOR THEM

One Response
edit this on September 2, 2009 at 4:09 am | Reply Barbara Ellen Ries
Click Here to visit The Cloud Foundations YouTube page.
Famous Wild Horse Herd Granted Two-Day Reprieve from Massive Roundup Monday, 31 August 2009 21:06

Press Release

BILLINGS, MONTANA- AUGUST 31, 2009: The Pryor Mountain Wild Horses, perhaps best known from the popular Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies PBS Nature series, have two more days of freedom before an unprecedented round up could begin. The Pryors roundup has been delayed for two days to allow Judge Sullivan of the Federal District Court to hear the case brought against the BLM by The Cloud Foundation and Front Range Equine Rescue.

The Bureau of Land Management, responsible for managing wild horses on public lands in the United States, plans to round up all the horses in Montana’s only remaining wild herd and remove 70 horses plus four or more foals. This will leave a non-viable herd of only 120 horses according to respected equine geneticist, Gus Cothran, Ph.D., of Texas A&M University. The Pryor Mountain wild horses are a unique Spanish herd renowned for their primitive markings, historical connections, and spectacular habitat.

BLM is dispatching National Wild Horse and Burro Program staff for this round up, perhaps because they expect trouble from humane advocates who are currently being prevented from observing this roundup. “Never before in my experience have plans been so vague and operations so secret in the Pryors,” says Ginger Kathrens, Volunteer Executive Director of The Cloud Foundation.” The BLM will be closing down roads to the mountain top where the majority of the herd spends their days grazing peacefully in their subalpine meadows. Young foals, only days old will be driven by helicopters and are in serious danger of being hurt or killed. Billings BLM Field Manager Jim Sparks told one advocate that they would expect a loss of 2% or six horses as a result of this operation.

The BLM has always had signs posted at the entrances to the horse range that tell the public to ‘report violations of harassment, death or removals.’ “Why are they above the law?” Asks Crow Tribe Historian and Elder, Howard Boggess. “Everything that is against the law for me they are planning to do to these horses. This is a very sad thing as far as I’m concerned. The horses have lived here for over 200 years. Even under the harassment of the BLM they’ve survived since 1971.”

The BLM claims that it is necessary to remove 70 horses in order to “maintain a thriving ecological balance.” However, the range is still green in late August following three years of above average precipitation after a multi-year drought. The horses are fat, preparing to go into winter. “Why are they removing nearly half the horses after the drought is over? I’ve told them [the BLM] if you take these 70 horses you’ve destroyed the bloodline, the gene pool will no longer be there,” continues Boggess. “Their whole goal is to get rid of the horses.”

“What they are proposing to do is criminal— people locally and all across the Nation worked so hard to save these horses from eradication in 1968,” explains Kathrens. “This range was specially designated for wild horses, the first of its kind in the nation. This is their refuge and it is about to be invaded.”

The BLM plans to remove 17 horses over ten years old and by BLM’s Standard Operating Procedures, “old, sick or lame horses shall be destroyed.” “When they take out the old horses they remove the ones that know the way to the water, the good grass, the way around the canyon – they’re taking out all of the knowledge of the herd,” Boggess explains. “It is really sad to sit there and look at the horses and think that in the next ten days they’ll be taken off this range and they’ll never see it again.”

This case is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday, September 2nd, and thousands of people around the United States and the world await the decision of Judge Sullivan which will decide the fate of the unique and beloved Pryor Wild Horse Herd.

Please Keep Calling! Wednesday, 26 August 2009 13:46

WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE! KEEP CALLING
We’ve just been told that BLM Director Bob Abbey is meeting with other officials regarding this round up due to the number of calls and e-mails they are receiving. KEEP IT UP- KEEP CALLING, FAXING AND E-MAILING.
These are our wild horses living on our public lands!

HALT THE PRYORS ROUND UP and all others across the west.

BLM Director Bob Abbey
Call: 202-208-3801 or 866-468-7826
Fax: 202-208-5242
Robert_Abbey@blm.gov This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Help us keep you updated– join Cloud on Facebook and Twitter now! 11th Hour for Cloud’s Herd – Act Now!!! Wednesday, 26 August 2009 13:11

Please act now to stop this unnecessary and cruel round up— the BLM still plans to move forward on September 1st
The Bureau of Land Management is rounding up and eliminating 12 herds (650 horses) off 1.4 million acres in Nevada right now– next they plan to destroy Cloud’s herd with a massive removal of 70 horses that would include OLDER HORSES and YOUNG FOALS.
Many of the horses you have come to love in the Cloud shows and will meet in the new Cloud show on October 25th will lose their families and their freedom next week. By zeroing out whole herds and reducing others to below genetic viability, the BLM is circumventing the will of Congress. The House just passed the Restoring of American Mustangs (ROAM) act and the Senate will review this bill (now S.1579) when they return from recess in September. Is BLM just trying to do as much irrevocable damage to America’s wild horses as they can before Congress can act?
This round up will start on September 1st unless we can stop it. Removing 70 horses will destroy this unique little Spanish herd, leaving them well below the bare minimum for genetic viability. The range is in great condition and the horses are healthy. This removal should be stopped. Please do all you can to help! Listen to Ginger Kathrens on Endangered Stream Live– a special edition show “Angels for Cloud”

National Call in Day for Cloud is Friday, August 28th — SPREAD THE WORD! Have your kids call in and write too– These horses need to be preserved for future generations and we must act NOW

1. Call/write/fax President Obama as often as you can—this herd is a national treasure and should not be wiped out by a government agency. Please flood the phone lines with calls! Phone: 202-456-1111 or 202-456-9000 Fax: 202-456-2461
E-mail Obama

2. Ask Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar to stop this round up
Call: 202-208-3100
Write: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

3. BLM Director Bob Abbey, tell him to halt this round up– he must reconsider his agency’s actions
Call: 202-208-3801 or 866-468-7826
Fax: 202-208-5242
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

4. Call and write your own Senators and Congress people- tell them that Montana is allowing the destruction of Cloud’s unique and historical wild horse herd. Politely express your outrage and ask them to help stop this round up. Find your state offices here