A critical bill to ban live horse exports for slaughter is under threat! Bill C-355, which would end cruel shipments of Canadian horses to Japan for slaughter, has been stalled in the Senate for six long months—and time is running out.
Canadian actors Kate Drummond, Rachael Ancheril, and Kristin Booth have joined Animal Justice and the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition in urging Senators to swiftly pass this legislation to protect horses from heartbreaking cruelty. Unfortunately, Conservative Senators have a pattern of using delay tactics to stall animal protection bills, including the “Free Willy Bill” which banned whale and dolphin captivity and recent bills to restrict the keeping of elephants and great apes.
Each year, thousands of horses are trucked from feedlots in Western Canada and shipped out of airports in Winnipeg and Edmonton. They endure long, gruelling journeys in cramped wooden crates, deprived of food, water, and rest. At their destination, these terrified animals are fattened and slaughtered for a raw delicacy consumed by the wealthy. These shipments are not only frightening and exhausting, but also incredibly dangerous and deadly for the horses involved.
Widespread Injuries & Death in Live Horse Exports
By law, horses can be shipped for up to 28 hours without food, water, and rest. Yet a recent joint investigation by Animal Justice and Life Investigation Agency (LIA) in Japan found that most shipments exceeded this limit, further endangering the horses’ lives. Every hour in transit increases horses’ suffering and the risk of injuries, illness, and death.
In September, Animal Justice and LIA released a second damning investigation based on documents from the Japan authorities, showing that between June 2023 and May 2024 alone, 21 horses exported from Canada died during or shortly after transport. These animals suffered and died from causes including dehydration, injuries sustained during transport, stress, and even miscarriages.
These brutal fatalities were not reported to the Canadian government, and neither were over 50 incidents of serious injuries and illnesses that took place during this time. When Canadian Food Inspection Agency representatives testified before a House of Commons committee studying Bill C-355, they claimed to be aware of only five horses who died during export for slaughter in the past 11 years. But in reality, many more horses are suffering and dying than ever imagined.
Take Action—Pass Bill C-355 & Ban Live Horse Export!
The vast majority of Canadians support a ban on live horse exports for slaughter, and calls to ban the practice span over a decade.
The governing Liberals promised to outlaw this industry during the last federal election, but since then, over 6,000 sensitive horses have been shipped to their deaths overseas. The introduction of Bill C-355 by Liberal MP Tim Louis in September of 2023 was a huge step forward, but the fate of the bill now lies with the Senate.
Please join us in urging the Senate to stop the delay and pass Bill C-355 immediately. Together, we can keep up the pressure to protect these animals and end the cruelty of live horse export once and for all!
