Canadian Horse Defence Coalition's Blog

French paper Charlie Hebdo publishes about Canadian horse slaughter

canadianhorsedefencecoalition — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:34:10 +0000

The French paper Charlie Hebdo today published an article about the killing of horses in Canadian slaughterhouses, accompanied by a compelling satirical cartoon with a horse begging a slaughterhouse worker: “No, no, don’t do it. I’ll do it myself.” indicating that the horse would rather hang himself than let the worker kill him in the routine inhumane ways that have been exposed at 4 different Canadian horse slaughterhouses by The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition.

To read the article and see the cartoon, go to: http://www.charliehebdo.fr/animaux.

Please use this opportunity to send letters to the editor to French papers in Canada and France.

Le journal français Charlie Hebdo a publié aujourd’hui un article sur l’abattage des chevaux dans les abattoirs canadiens. Cet article est accompagné d’un dessin satirique qui montre un cheval suppliant un employé d’abattoir: «Non, non, laisse, je vais le faire moi-même.”, indiquant que le cheval préfère se pendre plutôt que de laisser le travailleur le tuer d’une manière inhumaine ainsi qu’ exposé à 4 abattoirs canadiens par la Coalition Canadienne de Défense des Chevaux (CHDC).

Pour lire l’article et voir le dessin, allez à: http://www.charliehebdo.fr/animaux.

S’il vous plaît, profitez de cette occasion pour envoyer des lettres à l’éditeur des journaux francophones au Canada et en France.

CHDC and L214 send letters to the EU

canadianhorsedefencecoalition — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:26:00 +0000

As reported earlier, French animal protection organization L214 joined with the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition to expose the cruel stunning and slaughter of horses in Canadian abattoirs that export horse meat toEurope:
http://www.l214.com/

L214 is one of the largest animal advocacy groups inFrance.

In late January the CHDC joined with L214 in sending letters to two EU officials regarding the protection of horses during stunning and slaughter and Canadian horsemeat traceability.

The two officials are:

Mr Matthias Brinkmann, Ambassador and Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union to Canada and Monsieur John Dalli, Commissaire européen Direction Générale de la santé et des consommateurs Commission européenne in Brussells, Begium.

Copies of the letters can be found here:

Brinkman letter

Dalli letter

La Palette gets back on the horse

canadianhorsedefencecoalition — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:59:56 +0000

From postcity.com January 30, 2012….

Last summer, we reported that Queen West’s La Palette had pulled horse from its menu after a Toronto Star article shed some light on the shadier aspects of the horse slaughter industry. Well, after months of deliberation, La Palette is bringing the controversial delicacy back.

http://www.postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/Eat/January-2012/La-Palette-gets-back-on-the-horse/

War Horse author on CBC tonight

canadianhorsedefencecoalition — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:31:55 +0000

War Horse author Michael Morpurgo will be interviewed on the George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight show on Canada’s CBC TV. Please check your local listings.

CHDC 2011 Year End Wrap-Up

canadianhorsedefencecoalition — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:27:25 +0000

2011 was another eventful year with highs and lows in the ongoing campaign to protect our horses.

January 2011

CHDC’s Twyla Francois joined Jian Ghomeshi on CBC Radio’s “Q” to debate horse slaughter and human consumption of horsemeat. They were joined by Jennifer Woods, livestock industry consultant and owner of J. Woods Livestock Services, and Mark Schatzker, food columnist with the Globe and Mail, who wrote “Why you should eat horsemeat: It’s delicious”. (Archived program not available on CBC.ca).

Dr. Temple Grandin falls short in delivering pro-slaughter message at theSummitof the Horse:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/pro-horse-slaughter-summit-not-happy-with-dr-grandin/

Grandin described herself as “neutral” on the issue of whether to ban horse slaughter for human consumption.

OSPCA Fails to Protect Horses Again
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/ospca-fails-another-horse-this-time-with-tragic-consequences/

Much debate surrounded the tragic story of Gem andCocoa.

February 2011

CHDC Reports 48 Petitions Tabled for Bill C-544, plus another 13 presented for tabling:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/chdc-update/

(Note – Bill C-544 has been replaced by Bill C-322 in the current Parliamentary session)

March 2011
CHDC Spring Update includes news that Bill C-544 died when the 40^th Parliamentary session ended in March 2011. An impressive total of 62 petitions were tabled in Parliament:

http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/03/27/chdc-important-spring-2011-update/

CHDC Directors Twyla Francois and Shelley Grainger speak at the Thinking About Animals Conference at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario on Canadian Livestock Industry through Investigative Case Studies and The Changing Landscape of Canada’s Horse Slaughter Industry:
http://www.brocku.ca/social-sciences/undergraduate-programs/sociology/thinking-about-animals (log-in required)

Ground Breaking Initiative in BC by Critteraid to Rescue and Protect Wild and Feral Horses:
http://www.critteraid.org/equus.htm

Critteraid convinced the BC Ministry of Natural Resource Operations that humane alternatives can be found. From Critteraid’s website: Minister (Steve) Thomson directed that the two horses be handed over to Critteraid without any costs attached. Thomson has also directed Ministry staff to review current legislation to help find a long term solution to save any future feral horses from going to slaughter when rounded up.

April 2011
Norval Meats Memorial:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/norval-meats-permanent-closure-and-memorial/

Ontario horse slaughter plant had final closure for equine advocates on a cold April day with a memorial to the hundreds of horses that perished there.

Alberta Case of Neglect on a Large Scale:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/rescued-then-what/

A sadly familiar tragic situation for animals is exposed in Drumheller,Alberta where 140 horses and 200 cattle were found in a serious state of neglect. Another example of the mistaken notion that the slaughter option helps avoid cases of neglect and starvation. Alberta has 2 horse slaughter plants – it didn’t change the situation for these suffering animals.

May 2011
EU Inspectors Find Serious Violations at EU Regulated Horse Slaughter Plants in Mexico:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/eu-inspectors-find-serious-violations-at-eu-regulated-horse-slaughter-plants-in-mexico/

May Equine Awareness Campaign is Announced:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/may-equine-awareness/

(See May 2011 blog posts for campaign topics.)

Food NetworkCanada– Reality Check Required!:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/food-network-canada-reality-check-required/

A bad decision by Food Network Canada to highlight the consumption of horsemeat creates aNorth America wide backlash from horse supporters.

Report from an Alberta Auction – The Reality:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/report-from-alberta-may-2011.pdf

Elicits many responses on our blog from saddened supporters.

CHDC Participates at the Everything Equine Show in Uxbridge, ON and All About Horses Fair inLindsay,ON.

Uxbridge (scroll ½ way down):
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/may-equine-awareness/

Lindsay:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/chdc-participates-at-the-lindsay-ontario-all-about-horses-fair/

Many wonderful people attended our booths to show their support.

June 2011
S.1176 – American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011 is introduced:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/the-act.pdf

Another SPCA Tale of Betrayal to Horses – This Time in Saskatchewan. Seized Horses Sold for Slaughter at Auction:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/spca-horses-sold-at-auction/

U.S.Government Accountability Office (GAO) Releases Horse Welfare Report – Action Needed to Address Unintended Consequences from Cessation of Domestic Slaughter:
http://tuesdayshorse.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/gao_report_cessation_horse_slaughter_june_2011.pdf

Equine Welfare Alliance Provides an Analysis of the GAO Report: Disturbing Omissions and Cover Up:
http://www.equinewelfarealliance.org/uploads/GAO_Exec_Summary-final.pdf

July 2011
The “elephant in the room” appears again, when the tragic account of Deputy Broad illustrates once more the ultimate risk that racehorses face:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/the-sad-fall-of-a-racehorse/

This horse’s story brings forth familiar questions about horse protection and the risk to consumers with ”stable to table” contaminated horsemeat.

Canada’s Shame -CalgaryStampede
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/thoroughbreds-as-draft-horses/

Thoroughbred teams compete in chuckwagon races, with tragic results.

23 Arabians Auctioned Under the Innkeepers Act of Ontario:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/23-arabians-to-be-auctioned-under-the-innkeepers-act-in-ontario/

Another case of horses having to pay the ultimate price for ignorant horse breeders.

Equine Welfare Alliance releases The True Unintended Consequences of Horse Slaughter:
http://equinewelfarealliance.org/uploads/Unintended_Consequences.pdf

Revealing truths around pro-slaughter misinformation and propaganda.

Dirty Little Secret -Canada’s Slaughter Industry Under Fire:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1032379–shooting-horses-canada-s-slaughter-industry-under-fire?bn=1

Toronto Star’s Robert Cribb and David Graham tell it like it is in a front page report, following slaughter bound horses from Shipshewana,Indiana to Richelieu Meats, Quebec.

August 2011

Insensitive Woodbine trainer says of horse “He might be on my dinner plate by December”:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/unbelievably-insensitive-trainer-says-of-horse-he-might-be-on-my-dinner-plate-by-december/

Trainer’s remarks brings strong responses on our blog.

September 2011

Canadian Logging Company Wants Number of Free Roaming Horses in Alberta Reduced:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/canadian-wild-horses-at-center-of-controversy/

Wild Horses of Alberta Society, based in Olds, Alberta, said the horses are causing no harm and are living harmoniously with nature.

CHDC Directors Attend Canadian Premier of Saving America’s Horses – A Nation Betrayed:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/saving-americas-horses-canadian-premier/

Directors join film creator Katia Louise in Huntsville, Ontario for film premier.

First International Equine Conference hosted by Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA) and Animal Law Coalition was held inAlexandria,VA
http://www.equinewelfarealliance.org/Int_l_Equine_Conference.html

A strong coalition of animal welfare groups and individuals gathered for this important 3-day event which featured renowned experts on the welfare and preservation of both domestic and wild equines, as well as legislators and medical experts. CHDC Director Lonita Stewart presented on Canada’s fight against horse slaughter.

October 2011
NDP MP Alex Atamanenko Re-introduces Horse Anti-slaughter Bill C-322:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/bill-c-322-to-end-horse-slaughter-in-canada-presented-to-canadian-parliament/

MP Alex Atamanenko introduced Bill C-322, An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act and the Meat Inspection Act (slaughter of horses for human consumption). “Since I first introduced the bill in the last Parliament, tens of thousands of Canadians have petitioned the government to legislate an end to this practice. It is time for the government to listen.”, he stated in his presentation.

CHDC Provides Bill C-322 Petition and Supporter Instructions in French and English:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/bill-c-322-petitions-and-supporter-instructions/

Wild Horse Advocate in Saskatchewan is Featured in the News:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/wild-horses-couldnt-drag-me-away/

Ken McLeod, a dedicated wild horse advocate, has worked for more than 30 years fighting for protection of wild horses in the Bronson Forest, Saskatchewan.

U.S.Double Decker Ban for Horses Becomes Law:
http://rtfitchauthor.com/2011/10/07/horse-slaughter-double-decker-trailer-ban-starts-today/

U.S. Department of Agriculture praised for stronger new regulations against double-decker transport of slaughter bound horses.

AQHA Promotes Slaughtering Companion Horses for Human Consumption:
http://rtfitchauthor.com/2011/10/10/aqha-promotes-slaughtering-companion-horses-for-human-consumption/

American Quarter Horse Association attempts to manipulate public with misleading alert.

Bilingual Anti-Horse Slaughter Postcards Available:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/bilingual-anti-horse-slaughter-postcards-available/

Quebec horse welfare advocates create postcards so constituents can advise their MPs across Canada that they are in favour of Bill C-322.

A Gem of an Update for a Formerly Neglected Mare:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/a-gem-of-an-update/

An amazing transformation with good food, water and care for this lucky mare in the St. Thomas, Ontario region.

November 2011
Guest Column by Keith Dane, Director of Equine Protection, HSUS:
http://horsebackmagazine.com/hb/archives/12518

It’s still 70% opposed in the U.S. as it has been for a decade, despite pro-slaughter efforts to bring it back in the States.

CHDC November Update:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/chdc-november-update.pdf

Horse Protection Initiatives, NFACC Equine Survey, and the European Commission 2010 Horse Slaughter Plants Audit Report amongst the update topics.

Vickery Eckhoff at Forbes.com writes the first in an Excellent Series:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/vickeryeckhoff/2011/11/29/racing-industry-silent-about-slaughtered-thoroughbreds/

Racing industry silent about slaughtered thoroughbreds.

MP Atamanenko Writes Letter to CFIA President George Da Pont:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/dapont-ltr.pdf

MP’s letter states it is a strong likelihood that a great deal of horsemeat coming out of Canada is quite toxic for human consumption, and asks for a response.

NDP Interim Leader Nycole Turmel Announces Full Party Support for Bill C-322:
http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/ndp.pdf

Welcome news from the NDP Party!

December 2011
Pasture to Plate – A Fourth Canadian Horse Slaughter Plant is Exposed by the CHDC:
http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/lpn.html

The CHDC presents a fourth investigative report documenting inhumane horse slaughter in Quebec and provides compelling evidence that the much touted Equine Identification Document (EID) program put forward by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) invites fraud.

U.S.Equine Slaughter Legal Again:
http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/1887

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate approved the Conference Committee report on H.R. 2112, the bill that, in part, determines agriculture appropriations for FY2012. President Barack Obama signed the measure, making commercial slaughter legal once again in theU.S.

Canadian SPCA Responds to CHDC Report on Slaughterhouse in Quebec:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/canadian-spca-responds-to-shocking-footage-at-quebec-horse-slaughter-facility/

Alanna Devine, CSPCA Director of Animal Advocacy, calls for a prohibition on the slaughter of horses in Canada and the export of horses for slaughter.

Horse Slaughter Protest Takes Place at the Rainbow Bridge Border Crossing, Niagara Falls, NY
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/horse-slaughter-protest-december-26-2011-at-the-rainbow-bridge-niagara-falls-ny/

Town of Marathon Does it Again!:
http://canadianhorsedefencecoalition.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/town-of-marathon-motion-291-11.pdf

Town Council in Marathon, ON pass a resolution for the second time in support of Bill C-322.

EWA Reports on Mystery Surrounding Abandoned Horses Solved:
http://equinewelfarealliance.org/uploads/Abandoned_Horses-FINAL.pdf

A 6-month investigation reveals abandoned horses in the U.S. southwest are actually ones rejected for slaughter at the Mexican border and left to die in feedlots in Texas.

National News Agency CTV Reports on Horse Slaughter inQuebec:
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111221/OTT-horse-meat-ban-disturbing-video-stun-Quebec-111221/20111221/?hub=OttawaHome

Media coverage on Pasture to Plate hits several news agencies after this CTV report.

CBC Radio-Canada Interviewed CHDC Director Dr. Olivier Berreville on Les Viandes de-la Petite-Nation horse slaughterhouse in QC:
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2011/12/06/005-abattage-douloureux-petite-nation.shtml

Dr. Berreville speaks to French speaking Canadians on the CHDC’s disturbing investigative report.

Dr. Berreville was also interviewed on Quebec’s TVA Nouvelles news network:
http://tvanouvelles.ca/video/1311383673001/chevaux-tortures-en-outaouais-reportage/

Quebec’s media reported extensively on this Quebec exposé.

Forbes.com’s Vickery Eckhoff Faces Off with Dr. Temple Grandin in “Horse Slaughterhouse Investigation Sounds Food Safety and Cruelty Alarms”:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/vickeryeckhoff/2011/12/06/horse-slaughterhouse-investigation-sounds-food-safety-and-cruelty-alarms/

This 3rd piece in a 4-part series discusses the defective EID horse identification system and reveals Dr. Grandin’s surprising acceptance of faulty stunning practices at Quebec’s La Petite-Nation horse slaughter plant.

All Horses are Created Equal

canadianhorsedefencecoalition — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:14:11 +0000

The little palomino colt stood close to his mother, trying to hide from the big people that gathered around the corral. One of them tried to reach out for him, but he quickly moved away, out of reach. His mother pinned her ears at him, warning him to stay away from her.

“Did you have the vet look at him?” one of the people asked.

“I can’t be wasting money on crippled horses. I was just gonna to put him down. You all want him, take him. Hell, even his momma don’t want him. He ain’t worth nothin’.”

To read how things turned out for this little guy please go here:

http://habitatforhorses.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/all-horses-are-created-equal/

Vickery Eckhoff interviewed on Maritime Morning radio show

canadianhorsedefencecoalition — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:01:26 +0000

Vickery Eckhoff was interviewed on Maritime Morning, News 95.7, a radio station in Nova Scotia that reaches New Brunswick and Halifax on Wednesday January 25th.

The topic was horse slaughter in Canada. You can listen to it here:

http://www.news957.com/listen/listenplayer/323451–wednesday-january-25-1000

The CFIA were supposed to be on the show on Thursday Jan 26th but did not. We’ll keep you posted.

Unapologetic kill buyer speaks out

canadianhorsedefencecoalition — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:30:40 +0000

Horses for Slaughter

By: Samantha Elizabeth Esquivel January 14, 2012 – 5:32 pm

Many horses bought in Arizona are sent to meat processing plants in Mexico despite the recent lifting of a ban on horse slaughtering in the United States. The ban was lifted to stop horses from being killed after grueling journeys across the border.

Video report here: http://tucson12.nytimes-institute.com/14/horse-for-slaughter/

Race Horse Sent to Retirement, Instead Goes to Slaughter

canadianhorsedefencecoalition — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:25:16 +0000

More on the case of Kelsey Lefever who apparently send over 100 horses to slaughter after promising unsuspecting owners that they would find good home.

Beau Jacques in happier times

The sad demise of former racehorse Beau Jacques will upset any horse lover.

Here was a thoroughbred gelding who, at five, was at the end of his racing career.

Owner KevinPatterson had spent $US1000 in veterinary care to help Beau Jacques over a tendon injury suffered on March 29 last year, in the first step in getting him right for a new career after racing.

Kelsey Elva Lefever, 24, met withPatterson in May and held out the promise of a bright future for Beau Jacques.

Please read on here:
http://rtfitchauthor.com/2012/01/24/beau-jacques-case-not-only-sad-but-worrying/

Here’s his pedigree. Beau Jacques

Reminder – Protest on Saturday January 28, 2012

canadianhorsedefencecoalition — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:33:28 +0000

Originally Posted on January 9, 2012 by canadianhorsedefencecoalition

Just a reminder that a group of horse supporters will be holding an anti-slaughter protest at the Peace Bridge in Niagara Falls, NY on Saturday January 28, 2011.

The time on the Facebook page is incorrect as the actual time will be from 12:00pm to 3:00pm.

They would like to get as many supporters as possible out to this to show their support for horses.

For more information please go to their Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/105746222879785/

If anyone on the Canadian side can set up something that would be terrific.