Long distance transportation
© WSPA
Every year, more than 700 million animals are slaughtered in Canada for food. But before that they travel. They endure grueling journeys, often over long distances, from farms to auctions and feedlots, across borders, and finally to slaughterhouses.
Canada allows farm animals to be transported on long, gruelling journeys without food, water and rest. Hungry and thirsty, crammed into overcrowded trucks, forced to lie or stand in their excrement in extreme temperatures - the suffering is immense. The fact that millions of animals arrive at slaughterhouses dead, diseased and injured shouldn't surprise us.
We already have the technology to transport chilled and frozen meat, and the science to prove the welfare benefits of local, humane slaughter. For these reasons, long distance transport is not only cruel, it is unnecessary.
Canada puts no limit on how long the entire journey can be, and the food, water and rest intervals are among the longest in the industrialized world. While the EU prohibits the transport of most species for longer than eight hours without food, water or rest, in Canada, horses, pigs and poultry can be transported for up to 36 hours without food, water, and being unloaded for a rest. For cattle, sheep and goats, the limit is 52 hours.
WSPA's report: Curb the Cruelty
© WSPA
In 2010, WSPA published findings from a review of Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reports (used to assess compliance with Canadian animal transportation regulations) between October 2008 and January 2009, obtained from the CFIA through the Access to Information Act.
Key findings:
1) Unacceptable numbers of animals are dying during transport
2) Animals are transported in overcrowded conditions
3) Severely injured, crippled and sick animals are transported in contravention of regulations
4) Severely compromised animals are transported and left to suffer for prolonged periods
5) A shortage of specially-trained animal welfare inspectors, particularly veterinarians, puts animal health and welfare at risk
6) CFIA's reporting and enforcement are often weak and inconsistent
7) Animals suffer as a result of poor driver training
Read WSPA's 'Curb the Cruelty' report in full >>
What you can do
On July 28th, Global TV aired an investigative documentary co-produced by Kevin Newman called "Revealed: No Country for Animals" which provides more evidence that Canada falls behind other countries in protecting animals from cruelty and abuse.
The documentary is heart-wrenching to watch, but it provides a great opportunity. If we can get politicians to watch it, they won't be able to turn a blind eye - they will have to do something about the many issues facing Canada's animals - including those raised for food.
WSPA, CCFA and CETFA are asking MPs to support stronger farm animal transport regulations and enforcement. The documentary provides further evidence that our federal regulations are being violated and penalties are not being issued. In a single year, as many as 2-3 million animals die before they even make it to the slaughterhouse.
Send a letter to your MP now. Encourage them to watch the documentary and stand up against animal cruelty. A copy of your letter will also be sent to the Auditor General of Canada, Sheila Fraser who is currently considering a request to audit CFIA’s ability to enforce regulations to protect farm animal welfare.
Send your letter now at www.wspa.ca/curbthecruelty >>
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