Slaughter Plants Not Doing Job Properly?
I received this bit of news from a friend. I can’t say I have watched the videos as I have been intentionally trying to give myself a wee break from all the bad news lately but she pointed out that just because I am a little fragile right now doesn’t mean I couldn’t put this out to others who might be interested. The following is a statement from The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is appalled by evidence of grossly inhumane slaughter of horses taking place in Canada. We have been sent video footage that is stated to have been taken recently in Bouvry Exports Calgary Ltd slaughterhouse in Fort Macleod, Alberta and Viande Richelieu Inc./Richelieu Meat Inc. slaughterhouse in Massueville, Quebec.
It is clear that neither the facilities nor the behaviour of the personnel shown are suited to the humane slaughter of horses, and that extreme suffering results for many individual animals. Problems include failure to restrain each animal’s head properly before shooting, shooting from too great a distance, shooting in the wrong part of the head or body, failure to follow up with an immediate second shot in animals that were not killed by the first, hoisting apparently conscious animals, and – in the case of the Richelieu plant – cruel handling and treatment of the horses, including excessive whipping and overuse of an electric prod as well as an apparent callous disregard for the animals’ suffering. An additional cause of very major concern is the presence of what appear to be either plant supervisors or inspectors who observe the employees’ actions and yet do nothing.
The WSPA calls on the appropriate authorities to take immediate action to close both these plants down and ensure that those responsible are disciplined. Neither plant should be reopened until or unless they have been redesigned to meet humane slaughter standards, and all staff in contact with these intelligent animals have been trained to treat them with the dignity they deserve.
Furthermore, as we understand that these are the two largest of only four slaughter plants federally registered and licensed to export horse meat abroad, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food should revoke their registration as well as any export permits immediately. To ensure that similar problems are not occurring at the two other federally registered horse slaughter plants, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) should commission independent audits of those as soon as possible.
Measures must be taken to ensure that procedures at the slaughterhouse are carried out in accordance with legislation, including the Canadian Meat Inspection Act which requires that all animals should be slaughtered humanely. We understand that slaughter should be overseen by the CFIA. That oversight should guarantee avoidance of practices that inflict extreme pain and suffering on slaughtered animals, such as those witnessed here that affect hundreds of animals. The WSPA would be happy to provide advice on appropriate facilities and training for humane slaughter, if required, to help protect animals from needless suffering.
MVDr. Rasto Kolesar,
Farm Animal Programmes ManagerWorld Society for the Protection of Animals
222-236 Gray’s Inn
RoadLondon WC1X 8HB
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we need these horse slaughter plants whether we want to admit it or not, but the regulations,fines and monitoring of the slaughter practices have to be done and watched over. As it said in the Western Producer “They do not fine slaughter houses” I want to know why not????? Is it in their mindset that the animals are going to die anyway so WHAT HAPPENS IN THE LAST MINUTES OF THEIR LIVES DOES NOT MATTER? Well, to every human being that thinks that way, who gives a darn if you are in pain!
SPCA,Peta and whoever else there is that are trying to get the Rodeo stopped, pay more attention and go after these places to make sure that the animal dies with the respect that it deserves, after all they are keeping your bellies full!