Newly obtained Government of Japan records show that horses exported from Canada in June for slaughter overseas sustained serious injuries during transport. According to the data obtained by Japan-based Life Investigation Agency (LIA), at least one horse died after suffering agonizing injuries during the harrowing flight to Japan. The fate of a second horse removed from a separate flight via forklift is unknown.
Horse Deaths, Injuries, & Illnesses Not Reported to CFIA
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) does not collect data on injuries, illness, and deaths discovered after horses land in Japan, even when those injuries, illnesses, or deaths are a direct result of transport. Even deaths that occur shortly after landing but before horses reach the quarantine facility in Japan are not included in the CFIA’s reporting.
For instance, Animal Justice and LIA released a shocking report in September showing horses die after landing from injuries sustained during transport, severe dehydration, stress caused by transport, painful miscarriages, and “shipping fever”.
But even deaths and injuries sustained during flights are not reported to the CFIA. The last death that appears to have been reported by exporters occurred in May 2020 and the Agency told a House of Commons committee that it was aware of no significant injuries since 2013. The Government of Japan data released in September clearly contradicts these claims and shows that horses are collapsing and becoming injured on planes, and even dying during transport and the incidents are not being reported to the CFIA.
June 2024: Another Deadly Month for Horses
The data previously released by Animal Justice and LIA covered the period between June 2023 – May 2024. Unfortunately, the most recent data shows that the troubling and deadly reality for horses continued in June 2024. On June 16, 2024, 132 horses were shipped from Edmonton to Kansai airport in Japan. Upon landing in Japan, two horses were down in their wooden crates, with one of the collapsed horses unable to stand up during the unloading process. The records do not say how she was ultimately removed from the plane, but for past shipments, Japanese workers have used a forklift to remove downed horses. The records do not show the fate of this horse and whether she was ultimately able to recover from her injuries.
Earlier this year, Animal Justice worked with LIA to track this flight and discovered that it likely went over the legal limit of 28 hours for transporting horses without food, water, and rest. This increases the physical and psychological toll on horses, as well as risks of injury, dehydration, extreme hunger, and illnesses including pleuropneumonia or “shipping fever”.
Ten days later, on June 24, 2024, 99 horses were shipped from Edmonton to Kitakyushu airport in Japan. There was turbulence during the flight and at least one horse was discovered collapsed upon landing. One horse sustained such serious injuries from being stepped on during the flight that he suffered for days and ultimately died of his injuries, along with apparent heat stroke. Four other horses on this flight developed high fevers, and one appears to have tested positive for salmonellosis while in quarantine. Salmonella bacteria are often found in healthy horses but the bacteria can cause clinical disease when animals are subjected to extreme stress, leading to clinical signs of illness.
Government of Japan data released by Animal Justice and LIA in September shows fever, diarrhea, and other symptoms of illness are rampant in horses exported from Canada for slaughter.
Bill To Ban Horse Export for Slaughter Stalled in Senate
The new data shows that with every month that goes by, Canadian horses are suffering and dying prolonged deaths due to the horrific conditions that they are exported in for slaughter overseas. It has been nearly three years since the Prime Minister instructed the Minister of Agriculture to ban this cruel practice once and for all, yet the flights continue. Since then, more than 7,600 horses have been shipped overseas to their deaths.
Bill C-355, which was introduced by MP Tim Louis in September 2023 to ban the export of live horses for slaughter, passed the House of Commons in May but has been stalled in the Senate since that time with little progress. More than 15,000 Canadians, along with leading Canadian celebrities such as Jann Arden, Bryan Adams, Chantal Kreviazuk, Robert Bateman, Elisha Cuthbert, and Brady Oliveira have written to Senators urging them to stop delaying the bill. Numerous Senators and animal protection groups have called on the bill’s critic, Conservative Manitoba Senator Donald Plett, to stop blocking the bill and allow it to finally proceed to committee study.
Please take action now and let Senators know that you want to see this lifesaving bill passed into law as soon as possible. With every week that goes by, more horses suffer needlessly at the hands of this despicable industry.
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