Prior to an upcoming meeting during which Senate Bill S-11, an Act addressing the safety and inspection of Canada’s food supply: (http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&billId=5654811) will be under consideration, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food needs to hear from you regarding the dangers of horsemeat.
It is common knowledge that many horses are routinely treated with phenylbutazone (“bute”), clenbuterol, and other drugs that are not permitted in food-producing animals. Yet, unbelievably, the current system rapidly pumps these animals through to slaughter and into the human food supply. Only random, infrequent testing on horsemeat is performed, and the much-touted Equine Information Document accompanying each horse to slaughter relies upon the honesty and integrity of horse owners and feedlot operators to supply an accurate drug history on each animal. Needless to say, the system is a sham. Yet the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada continue to promote the slaughter of animals unfit to be human food.
Additionally, conditions in horse feedlots and inside slaughter facilities have recently come under fire for posing potential public health risks: (https://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/sg-chdcbehindcloseddoorsoct22wlinks.pdf).
Please act now. The Committee is slated to assemble soon, so send your comments in today. A short form letter is included below for your convenience; however, your own original wording is generally considered to be a more powerful tool.
On behalf of the horses – thank you,
Your friends at CHDC
_____________________________________________
Copy and paste into “To” field of New Message:
merv.tweed@parl.gc.ca; malcolm.allen@parl.gc.ca; Frank.valeriote@parl.gc.ca; alex.atamanenko@parl.gc.ca; pierre.lemieux@parl.gc.ca; blake.richards@parl.gc.ca; RuthEllen.Brosseau@parl.gc.ca; lavar.payne@parl.gc.ca; brian.storseth@parl.gc.ca; randy.hoback@parl.gc.ca; Francine.Raynault@parl.gc.ca; Bob.Zimmer@parl.gc.ca; AGRI@parl.gc.ca
Body of e-mail:
To: MP Merv Tweed, Chair, and Members of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food
Dear MP Tweed and Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food Members:
I understand that Senate Bill S-11, an Act respecting food commodities, is coming up for consideration at a future committee meeting. In the interest of food safety, I would like to request that you seriously consider the impact that horsemeat consumption may have on human health. Here is a link to a related report from the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition: https://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/sg-chdcbehindcloseddoorsoct22wlinks.pdf. As you know, most horses have not been raised as food animals and are fed a wide variety of drugs, many of which are not permitted in the food chain, during their lifetimes (phenylbutazone and clenbuterol, to name only two). Random, infrequent testing of horsemeat and Equine Information Documents that can be fraudulently presented do nothing to keep dangerous drugs out of human food. The government of Canada would do well to support Bill C-322 and end the slaughter of horses without delay.
Yours truly,
(Name, address and email)
Canadian Horse Defence Coalition's Blog 
emailed all above
From “These Glass Walls”:
Just because something is status quo, that doesn’t mean it makes sense or shouldn’t be questioned — or changed. Compassion has no downside.
“We were not born critical of existing society. There was a moment in our lives (or a month, or a year) when certain facts appeared before us, startled us, and then caused us to question beliefs that were strongly fixed in our consciousness-embedded there by years of family prejudices, orthodox schooling, imbibing of newspapers, radio, and television. This would seem to lead to a simple conclusion: that we all have an enormous responsibility to bring to the attention of others information they do not have, which has the potential of causing them to rethink long-held ideas.” — Howard Zinn
We must continue to speak up for our horses! Thank You.
Reblogged this on delia1979.
This is so disgusting. Just watching those horses standing around in their own excrement makes me wonder just how does that animal feel prior to being slaughtered for human consumption. Most Hindus and Buddhists beleive you ingest the suffering that ended the life, of whatever you eat; and it becomes part of you. if this is true; and I believe it is, then the people eating this meat are ingesting fear, hopelessness, extreme pain and suffering. These feelings are so strong, you can feel them emanating from the pictures. I can’t imagine what mentality of human it takes to work in one of these hell holes. I find it hard to believe that anyone can be so cold and hard hearted that they can stand to be around this,everyday, for a filthy paycheck. I constantly pray that the laws against Horse Slaughter are passed in the US and Canada. The humans involved in this nasty business of slaughtering and eating companion animals have no idea how this practice affects their Karma and their soul. How could they when then ignore the very obvious health risks.
God bless the lost souls of those poor animals; and have mercy on the souls of their tormentors and consumers. When we know how this poisons people physically and karmatically, is it any wonder that the world is filled with so much hate, bias and war.
It ceretainly is a crying shame, and a disgrace for mankind.Thank you for your feelings about our horses.
PAS DE CHEVEAUX SUR LA TABLE , CA ME REND MALADE DE SAVOIR QU ON TUE CES PAUVRES CHEVEAUX , C EST UNE HONTE !!!
Very disturbing articles re horse meat.Thank you for keeping us posted. perhaps restaurant owners should be more aware of dangers to their customers. However ,lets stop the import of horses and the sale of horse meat.
Yes, it’s OK to just send one e-mail, as all of those addresses belong to Committee members. So the entire list of recipients can be copied and pasted into the “To” field of one e-mail. Thanks – on behalf of the horses!
Thank you….I have sent 1 email to all the recipients with my own comments added.
This is what i did also, since i dont know how to paste and copy.
It it takes 13 emails, then do it. Time is of the essence, and you can’t guarantee that they will all reach the intended recipient. I intend to write this weekend.
Further, as far as I’m concerned if people eat tainted horsemeat they get what they deserve. Sorry, but that’s how I feel about it.
Further to the above, as far as I’m concerned if people eat tainted horsemeat they get what they deserve. Sorry, but that’s how I feel about it.
If that’s what it takes then do it. Time is of the essence, and you can’t guarantee they will all get through to the intended recipient.
13 Emails?
Hi Sam – yes, but just copy/paste the body of letter into each email if possible…thanks for all your hard work, all the time!
I actually did it all in one and the e-mail has gone through. Just highlight all the e-mail addresses and keep on scrolling down till you have copied the whole letter. Paste it all in the message part, then copy and paste the e-mail addresses into the address box. Alter the letter then as you wish. Hope this helps!