Canada’s export of live horses to slaughterhouses in Japan is a national shame, and an update on a recent flight reveals unlawful transport conditions, highlighting why a ban is so urgently needed.
In mid-December, dozens of horses were packed into crates at the Winnipeg airport and loaded onto a Korean Air flight destined to Japan, where they would be killed and cut up for raw sashimi meat. The horses were juveniles—they were listed as between 19 months and three years of age.
As revealed by government inspection documents obtained by the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition, their journey was even more torturous than what horses usually face on this route. The shipping company decided to reroute the plane even though the delay meant the horses would be forced to go without food, water, and rest for at least 30 hours. According to Canadian law, the maximum time horses can be transported without feed, water and rest is 28 hours.
Tragically, at least three horses collapsed on this illegal shipment. Documents reveal that the animals were found downed in their crates. No update was given on whether they recovered. The conditions of the December flight from Winnipeg were stressful, dangerous, potentially deadly.
Continued delay to make good on the government’s commitment to to ban the live export of horses for slaughter will doom more horses to suffer and die needlessly.
Petition e-4190 is calling on the government to act now to end the live export of horses for slaughter. The deadline for Canadian residents or citizens to sign it is fast approaching. Help us reach 45,000 signatures to make this the largest petition of this parliamentary session. The deadline is the morning of February 7.
If you haven’t already, please sign the petition. And please forward the petition to Canadian residents or citizens you think will be interested.
https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Sign/e-4190
Thank you,
Kaitlyn Mitchell
Director of Legal Advocacy
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